Online identity. Why we should care, and how we can develop

a professional midwifery online

identity

Sarah Stewart 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763131@N00/3642098619

What is online identity? How you are perceived online

Created deliberately or by default

Looks & behaviour

Why is there such concern, especially from professional

midwifery bodies & employers?

Unprofessional behaviour that reflects poorly on the profession

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44073171@N00/27416248

May breach professional standards and ethics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819968@N00/2926150908

May breach patient confidentiality

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62472560@N00/4679740934

Putting ourselves at risk of litigation

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83049159@N00/2298671281

Breaking the law

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11051496@N00/3156829076

Cannot bury out head in the sand and ignore the issue...have to be proactive

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15102741@N00/221839613

1. Midwives are setting up business

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819968@N00/12647639

Vital to think about “branding” and how you “sell” yourself online

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49968232@N00/5868717929

2. You will be “googled”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25064547@N06/2568436053

3. You may already have an online identity without realising it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40780016@N02/3914728401

Much better off to take control of your online identity than have others

define it for you

6 ways to build an online reputation

Decide how you want to be perceived online

http://midwifethinking.com

Invest time

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7264550@N03/3362637206

Be consistent

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Be authentic

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Always respond to people

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Get out and about and make relationships

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503019876@N01/1824234195

7 ways to protect your online identity

Create a profile

Think before you post

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21745851@N00/3342002083

Do not talk about patients/clients/colleagues unless you have their specific permission

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16043897@N00/2590521839

Talk in generalities about clinical practice

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Check your security setting in Facebook etc

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27590002@N04/4660452869

Google yourself

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16441028@N00/2226178289

If in doubt...DON'T!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61436699@N00/1208632794

Remember...

….it is not then tools that make online identity but the people that use them....!

Presentation is available:

http://www.slideshare.net/sarahs

sarahstewart07@gmail.comhttp://sarah-stewart.blogspot.comTwitter: SarahStewartSkype: sarah.m.stewart