Forget diamonds; the Internet is the new forever. From silly message board contributions to more serious problems like identity fraud, an individual’s personal reputation is still shaped by their presence on the Internet. This also leaves them vulnerable to many issues beyond their personal control.
The personal web manager takes over the task of ‘scrubbing’ their client’s online persona, tracking down embarrassing or inaccurate information or images, protecting privacy and reputation in the process. Combining the skills of hacker, public relations assistant, security agent, and professional guidance counsellor, a personal web presence manager will become an important partner for people who see the need to carefully express their digital selves. A personal web manager’s clients depend on them to avoid disruptive “blasts from the past” and ensure that their reputation—and personal brand—remains strong and free of controversy.
The personal web manager is very technology and especially Internet savvy. They know how to get into the nooks and crannies of the web to find the information that they need. However, they must also have a deeply ethical outlook to know the difference between right and wrong, so that they are able to build strong trust relationships with their clients.