Roy Murphy | Creative Director

Louis Halpern, my-co author on personal reputation management writes about not getting any sleep and the writing process here. I know how he feels. The writing process is a well worth it in the long run. But by the lord harry, isn’t it painful when you are in the middle of it. I’ve found it easer running through treacle (not recommended outside of vivid, nightmarish dreams) and probably one of the hardest creative tasks I undertake, or at least it feels that way until a new brief comes in…

Personally I have no trouble starting writing, it seems to flow quite easily, and I never have any issues with getting what’s on my mind down on paper. Where I run into problems is second, third and fourth draft. That’s where it all slooooooooooows down for me. I can happily leave a piece that I started and never touch it again for ages, well forever actually.

This is how I try to deal with the dreaded second draft

1. Try not to finish any work that’s flowing in one session, much easier to come back to something when you have a fair idea of how it’s going to end to get you started again.

2. Don’t write any passages out in full, use frameworks, keywords etc.. To keep the mind flowing and not focussing on any one subject too much (the old look at it by not looking at it trick – works wonders for me)

3. Write on paper first, I used to do this all the time, preferring to lay out everything in front of me and piece the ideas together. It’s quite a natural process when you think about it, similar to laying out the plans for a building or website before diving straight in.

4. Distraction. I find distracting myself quite easy at the best of times. When I’m writing I find making tea, reading the newspaper, and not doing any writing quite motivating. It might sound a little odd but the thought of a looming deadline and a possible repeat of countdown can do wonders for your get up and go

5. Never write after 10pm. This is the one I find hardest to stick to, being a bit of a natural night owl, however, anytime I write after 10 my eyes start bulging, sweat starts pouring down my face and the veins in my forehead start trying to meet in the middle – sure signs that I should stop writing, and perhaps go easy on the chilli sauce.

Finally, the first prints are here and ready. Much excitement in the office now that we’ve gotten our mitts on the actual books themselves. 18 months in the making, some pain but now all worth it. good stuff.

Along the journey to writing our book personal reputation management, we talked to numerous individuals about their thoughts on reputation management actually is. Mostly the replies were in the “I don’t have to think about it until my reputation is attacked” variety. For me, this is a dangerous perspective to have. to get yourself an advantage, particularly today, is hard enough. Waiting for your reputation to be besmirched or for a competitor for a job to use your profile against you is just plain careless.

Much better to be pro-active and have a half-decent reputation strategy in the first place. the basics don’t take long at all to do: be consistent, tell your story and use the big internet shop window for what its good at – making you visible online.

Imagine a position that you you were well qualified for, worked hard to find and interviewed brilliantly for went to another person. The prospective employer gave the reson that they searched for you on the internet and found content that was rather unprofessional to say the least….you would be pretty annoyed wouldn’t you? maybe even kicking yourself. Welcome to the world of personal reputation management, where how you are percieved online can directly enhance or detract from your job prospects.

Nearly a quarter of web users believe there is content on the internet about them and they wouldn’t want to be seen by their employer. Today, more than ever, you need to be visible online, and more importantly you need to be seen in the best light possible by those who could offer you land your next job or contract.

In the competitive job market you have to be unique, be aware of market trends and the most up to date with new techniques and technologies. but today that isn’t anywhere near enough to get you where you want to be. What you really need is to have an effective personal reputation management strategy – and to use the internet to amplify it.

As the great philosopher Socrates said: “Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of”

The Internet is now the defacto way of presenting the information you would like seen about yourself to the world. Social networks and online communication tools such as forums, blogging, viral marketing are now essential in managing your online presence how you are perceived by potential employers or customers.

All businesses take time to protect their names, their brands, and reputations now it is becoming increasingly important for individuals. Anyone who is concerned with their personal reputation (and really, who doesn’t need to impress prospective employers, clients or customers?) needs to take control of their personal reputation to actively protect and promote their online presence.

Managing your personal reputation in a tough job market could make all the difference in your job hunt. Here are some basic tips to help;

Clean up your online profile across any social media networks you use. This means taking down any pictures of you that don’t show you in the best light (for instance on a stag night…)
You can create personal and professional profiles on social networks to separate the personal and professional you
Also ask friends or colleagues to remove any unprofessional images, or videos that they might have uploaded on the internet
The internet is your shop window and your best chance to show a prospective employer what you can do, showing an professional attitude to how you are percieved online will help to enhance trust in your judgement, and put you ahead of many of your peers
Use social network tools to maximise your visibility through writing short and punchy executive summaries about you, your interests, background, status and achievements

You can read the first chapter of our reputation management book free at www.reputation-book.com

Our book – Personal Reputation Management – Making the internet work for you – is finally finished. Hooray. The book will give you an in-depth understanding of how your reputation affects your financial and professional status and offers straightforward, practical advice on how your online reputation can land you a new job, a new piece of business or even keep you employed at your current company. Go to www.reputation-book.com where the Digital download is available now for £12.99 / $19.99

(by the way the ETA for the paperback version is September 15, Pre-order now and be the first to get your hands on the print version)