Should You Be "authentic" With Your Online Reputation?

The particular matter of being authentic in how you develop your online reputation can be a sticky point to some people. While in some respects, a "what you see is what you get" attitude sounds appealing, it may not necessarily be what's in order. Let me explain.

First of all, let's examine the nature of authenticity in relation to your online reputation. Let's start with the meaning of the word, "authentic." Authentic means to be real, true, or genuine. While this is perfectly fine in dealing with your family and friends, it doesn't bode well for business.

Have you ever dealt with a customer, or even better, a boss, who infuriated you so that you just wanted to tell them where they could go? Did you? In all likelihood, probably not. Now, why exactly is that? Because you understood that doing so could be harmful to your money making. It is with this idea in mind that it's not always good to be authentic in your online reputation.

Let's think of it another way. If you really wanted to be authentic in your online reputation, you wouldn't bother to clean yourself up and look your best before recording a video or taking a picture. You might go ahead and choose to write a sales page directly after attending your company's Christmas party. Even worse, you might launch a product half-cocked if your mood dictates it.

That right there demonstrates the problem of being genuine with your online reputation. Having a good online reputation demands a certain level of consistency in demeanor. I'm not sure that anyone is so perfectly in control of their moods that regular snapshots of their mindset of the moment will portray the same thing consistently.

Now, this may, to some people, seem dishonest. In all actuality, it's part of the professional relationship. By applying this idea to your online reputation, you portray yourself as being a professional. Yes, you may have your changing moods, you may even get a little toasted at the Christmas party.

Just remember that you seem less trustworthy by making it obvious to people you do business with. In your online reputation, you want to appear to "have your act together." This statement in and of itself implies a preference toward a portrayal of an ideal. You wouldn't show up to the office without having groomed yourself, would you?

In the matter of your online reputation, where being authentic really comes to your benefit is in your goals and intentions. While the display of professional courtesy is a possible falsehood generated by respect, deception and manipulation are bad for business in the realm of the transaction. Once you lie to someone about your product in order to sell it, you will soon be discovered and have a black mark on your reputation.

All told, this blend of concealing negative opinions and openness about your intentions blends together into what we call integrity. By adherence to this respectful attitude, you can go a long way in augmenting and maintaining your online reputation.