Building an online reputation takes time. Media professionals like me know that we will eventually benefit from that investment in one way or another. But not everybody feels that way. That’s why I decided to post four reasons why you should build an online reputation.

People often talk about how you should be represented on the web. An interesting topic for sure, but not what I want to talk about today. Before you decide on how to be represented you need to understand why you need to be represented. Doing it because everybody does so is a bad reason, but I’m sure you knew that.

So why do you need to get yourself out there? I gave it some thought and came up with four simple reasons why you too, should start building your online reputation:

1. Everybody else is doing it

Wait, didn’t I just say that this was a bad reason? Maybe I should have added it’s not a bad reason to copycat when you know why you are doing it. Personal branding is all the rage the last couple of years. Maybe you’re not doing it, but some of your peers definitely are. But don’t take my word for it: Google ten of your friends, collegues or anyone else you may know. You will be surprised what you’ll find.

2. You’re already doing it offline

At school, at the bar, at the sportclub or at work. We all build a reputation somewhere sooner or later. We usually put in a lot off effort to make sure people will keep seeing us in a certain way. You’re peers use the internet, as do you. Doesn’t that make it fair game to put some effort into your online identity?

3. You will get Googled eventually

People are curious by nature. Eventually someone will think of Googling you. It may be just for fun, but it could also be more serious. Employers are known to dig up as much information on an applicant as they can find, and Google makes finding information about you super easy. It doesn’t takes a rocket scientist to see that the way you appear in Google might give you an edgy over other applicants.

4. You get a head start

In the offline world, you’re visible. People will create a picture of you whether you interact with them or not. The same goes for the online world. Any available information on there will help build an image about you. It doesn’t really matter who provides the information at that point. Taking action yourself will get you a head start in steering your online identity towards your strongest selling points.

I could name a lot more reasons, but in the light of this blogpost by Ernst-Jan Pfauth I decided not too. I welcome any thoughts, tips or tricks you might have about this subject and invite you to help me expand this list further.

So, who’s in?