This was inspired and sponsored by Domain.ME, the provider of the personal domains that end in .ME. As a company, they aim to promote thought leadership to the tech world. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Domain.ME offers an online presence perfect for business or personal use. Domain.ME offers .ME domain names that are just as accepted across search engines as .com, .net, and .org. They're a domain name provider which allows anyone to create a unique, safe identity online.
Domain.ME and #MentorME - Interesting Internet Facts
Whether you have an online business like myself or not, you need to have control over your online presence. If you're an online business, you want people to be able to quickly and easily find you and learn what you're about. Even if you don't have a business, having a .ME domain can help tell potential employers and the population in general what you're all about.
Web presence is a huge deal for both businesses and private individuals these days. Have you ever Googled yourself? As a blogger, I actually do it all the time, you'd be surprised at some of the things that pop up!
If you haven’t, you should... you never know what you’re going to find. Domain.ME recently surveyed 1,000 adults who were frequent users of social media and the internet, and what they found was very interesting. It also prompted them to begin a campaign called #MentorME which stresses the importance of managing your online presence.
We all know that our online footprint is important, but did you know that over a quarter of Americans believe they are more likely to make a first impression online than they are at a party? Over 40% of those who took the survey have changed their opinion about someone based on online content. AND just under 1 in 4 people surveyed reported being negatively affected by online information relating to them. Even more interesting is that for millennials, all of these statistics were nearly doubled.
And for all you Facebook stalkers and internet creepers, consider this. 23% of those surveyed searched for people online because a friend mentioned the name in a conversation. 16% of people searched for people as part of their business or work prep. This one is also interesting in our brave new world of internet dating: 14% of those surveyed said they checked out a person's online presence before their first date.
How to Protect Your Good Digital Name
With all of these facts from the Domain.ME survey, it's clear that the internet has now become THE place for people to find out about each other. So what is the internet saying about you? Does it say what you want it to?
If it doesn't, there are things you can do to make it reflect who you are.
Rectify Poor Post Choices
If there was a time in your life when you were a party animal, but maybe you've calmed down, it might be time to take down those crazy party picks. If you no longer drink your body weight in alcohol, take down all those pictures that show you partying like it's 1999. It doesn't have to be alcohol. Whatever it is, if it doesn't portray who you are now, get rid of it.
Reach Out to Friends
Along the same lines as above, reach out to friends and family, and ask them to remove any pictures that reflect a person you don't want to portray.
Show the Internet Who You are Now
As important as it is to erase the "old" you, it's just as important to get the "new" you out there. Have your passions changed? Get it out there on social media. Starting a new business? Let the world know. Make the internet work for you instead of floating along the digital tide.
Get a Website on a .ME Domain
This is what the #MentorME campaign is all about. Controlling your digital destiny. Whether you're starting up a service based business, a blog, or just a personal website so employers, possible dates, and the public in general can get a feel for you, you can do it with Domain.ME.
Domain.ME has become popular among both the public and private sectors because of their unique .ME presence. Websites on a .ME domain are immediately recognizable and unique. And because they are just as search engine friendly as more traditional domains, .MEdomains are perfect for almost any application.
Master Your Digital Domain with Domain.ME
With Domain.ME, you can master your digital domain whether you're a business, a blog, or just a person who wants the world to know who he or she really is. As a widely accepted domain extension working with 190 accredited registrars that operate as .ME resellers, Domain.ME is easy to use, and they even offer reserved premium domain names which naturally create calls-to-action and catchy marketing messages.
Erika
These are great tips. I know that I need to look into a .me!
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
Domains have been around for so long it was starting to seem like there weren't many good ones that would be relevant left. These are a unique way to have a memorable presence online.
diane
Interesting info. As the mom of teens I am always telling them to be aware of their digital footprint. I may look into a .me domain for myself.
Andrew
I would have to agree, a personal website can help you manage your online reputation, when used properly. We're in the digital age, we all need to carve our a corner of the net for ourselves!
Kristi
So many good points in this post. I agree we all need to be aware of what is out there on the internet about us. Checking often is important.
Aubrey
Great article. Now I want a .Me. Being aware of what you're putting on the internet is very important.
Vera Sweeney
This is all great information! It is crazy how much information is out there when you google someones name.