By Charlotte Weeks

The internet has added a whole other dimension to reputation management. With the anonymity and easy access it brings, the chances have increased that you’ll end up being the target of a negative comment at some point. While most people will take an isolated remark with a grain of salt, if you’re seeking a leadership position, it is vital that you are seen in the most positive light. The first step involves doing what is known as an “ego search” – googling your name. Hopefully, you haven’t found anything damaging, but don’t stop there. Online content can change in the blink of an eye, so make it a rule to search yourself at least once a week. So, what can you do if you come across something online that you wish wasn’t there?

1) Bury it: Most people don’t search results past the first few pages. Push the negative information farther back by putting out positive information. An article, blog comment, or press release can be distributed by you and will likely rank high in the search engines.

2) Take legal action: If there is something you need completely eliminated, talk to a lawyer or consider a service like reputationdefender.com, a company which helps people manage their online reputations.

Whether you’re in job search mode or not, be proactive and keep your online identity spotless. You never know when someone is going to find you online and consider you for a position. Control what they see and make sure it’s positive!