Pertingo Computer Support

I came across a phrase recently that I thought was a good way to summarize what is happening as we do more and more online. We are creating our own "digital shadow" online. It follows us around and gives indications to viewers of who we are. Just like a real shadow, the size and shape of our digital shadow depends on the angle of the light and the vantage point of the viewer. And just like our real shadow, we can impact the size and shape of our digital shadow by altering "where we stand." That gets a little tricky online. So many factors impact our digital shadow that it becomes important to think in terms of our Online Presence. That is more than the information we put out about ourselves online. It includes all the information that others put out there too, and the rumors that build up around the information out there. Add to that the annonymous data that gets collected as we search and visit sites looking for information. It sometimes gets connected to us as well.

Some of my Indianapolis small business computer consulting customers think they can manage their digital shadows by keeping their private information to themselves. This ostrich approach will not work any more. The level of information growth on the Internet means that we'd all better take a "best defense is a good offense" approach to our online presence. If you don't manage your online presence, it will manage itself, and that usually doesn't result in the best picture of you.

Over the next few weeks, I'll make suggestions about things we all can do to improve the look of our digital shadow. For now, be aware that yours already exists, and it's growing all the time.