It is easy to lose your reputation in real life through misconduct or bad behaviour. However, the fallout is generally confined within a relatively small geographical area. You can always shift to a new location and rebuild your reputation.
But on the internet the story is different. On the internet your reach is much greater. Thus the vulnerability for your reputation damage is exponentially higher. Needless to mention that what goes on the net stays on the net unless you take steps to overcome it.
These are few of the most likely things you may be doing that are ruining your online reputation.
Spamming people – If you are running a business, you may be sending too many messages to customers or potential customers. Further, most of these messages are likely to be spammy, sales-pitch messages.
Posting inappropriate content – You obviously can not delete your online activity. No matter how many times you hit the delete button, that post, picture, or comment will remain there, stored forever and ever and those who know how to find it can.
Not Tracking Yourself – Not Googling yourself frequently. You might be surprised how much negative comments come up. Depending on how active you are online, there could be pages of results. Googling yourself is a general way to see how your online presence is being seen by others.
Being Negative – Psychologists aver that people’s natural tendency is to be negative. You constantly complain about things instead of being positive. Remember you will be known by your perceived attitude, and that perception is shaped online by what you choose to post there.
Talking about oneself – Being egoistic could be a big sin online. The problem is you think there is nothing more interesting in the world than you and what you have to say. But people are not interested listening to your self-praise. At times, your followers, friends, and subscribers may have a different opinion of what is interesting.
Social media is all about engagement. Posting lacklustre and drab content will make your fans turn away. Your readers don’t have to excuse themselves. They only stop reading and don’t come back. If you are not capturing their attention, you are losing the online realm.
What you say and do in the privacy of your own home is your own business and none is bothered. But what you post on social media channels is not only read by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people, it’ll be there until the end of time.