Happy New Year 2012!  Hope your 2012 is starting off fabulously! 🙂

One of the things I had noticed looking at the conversations via Facebook was the overall feelings towards 2011 as a whole.  I personally thought that it was a fabulous year and many exciting events occurred during the last year.  I graduated with my PhD from Tennessee and started my new position at the University of Louisville (Go Cards!) and was able to present at many professional and academic conferences.  I was also able to spend a lot of fun times with friends and family.

In many ways, what you post and comment on is a reflection of how others are going to perceive you – and this can impact your overall online reputation.  Your online reputation is not just now focused on what you share on your website or blog, but it is how you interact and engage in conversations on your Facebook Timeline or Twitter handles among other social media platforms.  More importantly, your friends are not going to be the only ones who will be viewing your profile and interactions online – but employers will be able to see this as well since they are going to continue to recruit more via social media.  Managing your online reputation and persona are just a few ways to help get yourself a position in 2012 as well as establish your own presence in the industry – both via socials media as well as with mobile technologies.

What remains the same in most cases is that employers will continue to look for individuals who do bring in a new perspective to the field that is innovative and creative, but they will also have to be willing to work hard and have the strategic mindset.  The days of having “vacations” or free time are nearly over – we are working in a profession that is constantly updating and sharing information – and the people that are willing to put in the time and dedication for this will be successful.  Professionalism (etiquette and manners) will continue to be a characteristic people will be looking for.  Observing how others interact with you and whether or not you have just one persona or multiple will be the question.  Also, determining if you are consistent with your overall reputation will also come into play as well.

2012 will bring many great changes and opportunities, and what we have to be aware of that some of the traditional lessons we know in PR and social media will still apply.  In addition, traditional manners and etiquette practices will also remain the same – and in many cases, are even more valuable and respected in 2012. Having one set of manners to present in real life and online will continue to be a golden rule for professionals operating and working with new media.

Hope you all have a great day!

Best Wishes,

Karen