How Important is Your Online Reputation?

Chris Pirillo recently recorded a video about online reputation, and how to maintain it. As I was uploading it and writing up the commentary for his blog, I couldn’t help but think of my own online reputation.

My online life as it is now began in September of 2002. I was a n00b as far as computers were concerned, and managed to get my system badly infected with all sorts of nasty Malware. I joined Spywareinfo for some free help on getting it cleaned up. The person who helped me back then goes by the nickname of Metallica all over the Internet. He is a pure genius, and an amazing friend. I asked so many questions during my clean-up that he convinced me to join the free malware removal training program on SWI. I haven’t looked back since that day.

Within a year, I was an Administrator for GeeksToGo. GeeksToGo is one of the largest and busiest free computer help sites on the ‘Net. We have well over a million posts, and nearly 300,000 members. I also teach in our malware removal program, as well. I’m also a Staff member, Moderator or Expert at many other sites.

Thanks to my work on forums such as these, I was recognized as a Microsoft MVP in 2006, and have been renewed both years since then. This is an incredible honor, and one I am very proud of.

Through being a member of the various forums, I found my way to WyldRyde IRC. I have been fortunate to make many wonderful friends there, and have been a regular for about five years now. I was asked to be an IRCop a bit over a year ago, and have a blast with that.

One of the people I met through IRC is, of course, Chris. When his last Assistant left him, I was asked if I would be interested in the job. You bet I was!! I love the work I do with Chris. And, of course, working for him has led to other writing projects for several others. I’m always open to doing more, and challenging myself with new things.

So there you have the background for my ‘online reputation’. If you ask most people, they will tell you I am smart, funny, trust-worthy, hard-working, honest, and dependable. I’m very proud of where I am and what I’m doing online. I work very hard to always be honest, to present myself the best way I can. I’m very open about myself, who and what I am. I don’t pretend to be more or less than what I am. What you see is literally what you get.

I feel that in order to maintain my reputation, I need to constantly work at it. I must always be aware that what I say or do could turn around to bite me, so I choose my words carefully at times. I know when to have fun, and when to be serious. I always do my best to attempt to be open-minded and friendly.

So… what’s your online reputation?