I thought I’d spend some time discussing the importance of establishing a solid online reputation. For those looking to make money online, a strong footprint on the Internet can mean the difference between wild success and barely breaking even.

There are a few simple things you can do to manage, improve, and enhance your personal brand online.

Use an Avatar, and Use the Same One Everywhere

Images are the first thing on any web page that a reader will see first. Most social networking sites like Facebook, MyBlogLog, BlogCatalog, WhyDoWork etc. use avatars. (definition: A graphic or pictorial repesentation of a user. Usually chosen by each user, the avatar can be an animal, caricature or any other image the user feels “defines” them.) The Internet is an anonymous place, and using a consistent avatar across sites will allow those that follow your work or comments to easily pick out things you’ve written, sites you’ve visited, and products you’re endorsing. By making sure you are using that same image at each site, you’ll ensure that your followers can easily spot (and remember) you.

Do Not Promote Products You Don’t Believe In

One way to enhance your brand is to not push every product under the sun. Quite a few blogs I regularly follow are quick to take on paid reviews of any kind, push the latest pyramid scheme, or plug a new advertising program with an affiliate program. While this will earn these bloggers regular income, they will miss out on MASSIVE success associated with only promoting extremely high quality products when they come along.
Quite a few similarities can be drawn from looking at the success of popular investors, like Warren Buffet. Warren’s approach, which has led to his $52 billion fortune can best be described as:

.. known for being conservative when speculation is rampant in the market and being aggressive when others are fearing for their capital. This contrarian strategy is what led Buffett’s company through the Internet boom and bust without significant damage, although critics have also noted that it may have led Berkshire to miss out on potential opportunities during the same period.

As I was saying, sure you may miss out on the income that comes with promoting the latest craze, but you will be successful when the time comes to push the right products.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Personal

Readers of any site are looking for someone they feel they can relate to, and not just a machine spitting out blog posts. Don’t be afraid to share something personal once in a while. Post about your favorite restaurant, tv show, or a movie you liked. You’ll build a much more loyal following of readers, and build a more personal connection to your audience.

Reciprocate When Someone Shows you Some e-Love

If another site owner mentions your site in a post, gives you a link, or regularly visits your site, don’t hesitate to give them a plug. More site owners will see the rewards of plugging you and collectively you’ll both be rewarded with some strong links. As of late we have had a few bloggers give us an unsolicited shout out. First up is Chris Jacobson, who runs the money making scoop, wrote a post called Why I Love WhyDoWork.com which highlights some of his favorite features of our site. His blog is quickly gaining in popularity and definitely worth checking out for some ideas on internet marketing strategies. In another great unsolicited review, Trent Brownrigg proclaimed us his “favorite work at home forum” which is a great seal of approval coming from a guy who’s an expert in successfully running a home business. Another WhyDoWork member Tel, published a post about our iPod giveaway, and also threw in some kind words about how much he likes our forums. His blog specializes in teaching readers how to honestly earn a living online. If you have some time, I’d definitely recommend checking the above blogs out.

All of these bloggers have a great digital footprint and have established themselves online as credible. Keep in mind that someone can very easily piece together all of your online interactions quite easily, so keeping your personal brand in a positive status can have great results.

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