Your Digital Footprint Follows You…For a Long Time
In a previous post, we discussed the importance of being strategic with your message. As a powerful community leader, you have the ability to shift public sentiment and elevate issues on which others should focus. That’s power. And it’s important to use it carefully. Here’s why.
Many people underestimate the permanency of their words and actions. Particularly in this digital age, there very well may be a record of much of what you do or say. As such, I wanted to offer a few reminders and tips to help you carefully steward your digital footprint.
Be Wary of Tangents
If you are speaking to an audience you are comfortable with, it can be easy to go off on tangents. I’ve seen this happen more times than I can count. The problem is we’re never just speaking to one audience. We’re speaking to the people in the room, the people who will hear our comments after the fact, and the people who our audience engages. However, tempting as it may be, be mindful of the dangers of going off on tangents. Stick to your message and your future self will thank you.
Be Careful About Speaking For Too Long
One thing that can often lead to mistakes is speaking too long. When we speak for too long, we increase the likelihood that we’ll go off-topic. The longer you speak, the greater the opportunity to make a mistake. When you speak for too long – longer than 20 minutes in most cases – you may stray from the topic at hand. When this happens, there is a higher likelihood you could say something you’ll later regret.
There is truly a benefit to keeping your remarks focused and to the point. If you find the conversation moving to an unrelated topic or question, you can pivot in a respectful but productive way.
Be Strategic About Your Commentary
If you decide to comment on one issue or another, think about your overall strategy. Think about whether your comments are in line with your strategy or a departure. This is particularly important if you’re addressing subjects which may invite strong reaction, or topics outside of your usual purview. Don’t be afraid to consider whether you should weigh in, whether someone else should weigh in, and how commenting furthers your broader goals.
Prepare Before the Interview Opportunity Arises
There are many steps you can take to prepare for issuing a public comment. You can study topics of interest. You can participate in a self-guided media training or a group media training. Additionally, you can familiarize yourself with reporters whose work you admire or dislike. This will help you understand their style, the types of stories they tell and how you might handle an interview with that person. Also, it may sound quirky, but we recommend mock interview sessions. Such sessions will enable you to offer quick and confident responses which will help establish you as a reliable source. Practice sessions will ensure you are prepared for whatever may arise.
Why is This Important:
All of us make mistakes. But some mistakes are publicized. Such mistakes don’t go away and comprise your digital footprint.
Whether it’s on social media, in an interview, or in a public place, there is no expectation of privacy. Anyone can capture what you say or do.
With so much content shared online, things you say today or even years ago can come back to bite you at an inopportune time. With over 54% of Americans getting their news from social media at least sometimes, it’s important to have a presence on social media. However, a careful review of your content and comments before posting can save time and pain down the road.
No one wants to get bogged down by preventable flubs. Having a plan, knowing your message, and remembering that your footprint follows you will help protect your brand. Spotlight PR is here to help you, and you never have to face PR issues alone. Contact us and schedule a consultation to see how we can help serve you.
Sophia Shannon is a media relations associate for Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out our other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.