KEVIN R. REILLY

GCEP/TRMA 585: Developing A Professional Online Identity Spring 2013

ONLINE IDENTITIES, PERSONAL BRANDING, SOCIAL MEDIA

LINKEDIN

The purpose is all in the name. Linkedin describes its’ mission …“to connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful “.

I have been able to connect and re-connect with colleagues from my past and present. This has become a very effective online business card.

www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-r-reilly/64/443/42b/

ONLINE PRIVACY

Before going much further we must discuss privacy issues. What can go wrong?

1.1.It is easy for content to get out of control. Privacy It is easy for content to get out of control. Privacy settings must be managed.settings must be managed.

2.2.Your professional image may be at risk and your Your professional image may be at risk and your private life may be more open than you desire.private life may be more open than you desire.

3.3.““Once posted, always posted” seems to be the Once posted, always posted” seems to be the motto of privacy. Be cautious about pictures and motto of privacy. Be cautious about pictures and discussions.discussions.

4.4.Beware of hijackers and/or hackers. Stay vigilant Beware of hijackers and/or hackers. Stay vigilant and use secure passwords.and use secure passwords.

TWITTER #GCEP585

Twitter is amazing! After having been introduced to Twitter and opening an account I was able to connect with colleagues all over the world.

Following people and groups that have shared interests and concerns has become a part of my daily routine. Being able to share information through tweets and have discussions that you can in turn share with others is a fantastic way to connect with other professionals.https://twitter.com/reillykr

PROFESSIONAL FACEBOOK PAGES

Professional facebook pages may prove to be a fruitful advertising method for certain types of businesses, but not for me.

I have chosen to keep my facebook presence private. This part of my online experience is reserved for family and close friends

GOOGLE PLUS (G+)

Google Plus intrigues me. It is definitely something I will include in my future.

Here are several reasons why…1.It can attach your online presence to a

search engine through SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

2.The use of Hangouts is a powerful tool. The possibility for me to present training workshops online is something I will consider in the future.

3.There may be the potential for some group therapy options if ethical concerns about confidentiality can be overcome.

BLOGS: BLOGGER, WORDPRESS, TUMBLR

This is what I wrote about my experience in week 7 as the class looked into blog formats…Blogger appeared to be the easiest format for someone just Blogger appeared to be the easiest format for someone just starting out but I liked the Wordpress format best and the fact starting out but I liked the Wordpress format best and the fact

that it could be directly linked to a professional website that it could be directly linked to a professional website intrigued me. This is something I will be looking forward to intrigued me. This is something I will be looking forward to

being a part of my professional future.being a part of my professional future.

Here is a great example of a blog by a Mental Health Professional that is a must read to feel the emotion that can be expressed through blogging.

 http://thetherapistwriter.wordpress.com/2013/01/

LEARNING FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS & ORGANIZATIONS

Here is where the use of social media really shines. I have been able to connect with over 30 professionals and several organizations that work in the area that I am currently working in and will specialize in as a Mental Health Professional.

• Check out these professionals on Twitter:• Melanie Greenberg  @DrMelanieG• Andy Fenwick  @Alternativeandy• Successful Practice  @PracticeBuild

• Jeffrey Guterman PhD  @JeffreyGuterman• Dan Parton  @socialcaredan

• DeeAnna Nagel  @TherapyOnline• Dr. David Ballard  @DrDavidBallard• Dr. Jennifer Howard  @DrJennifer

MANAGING YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY

You are really visible online; Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, Google+, & more……

NOW WHAT???

HootSuite is an application thatcan help sort through the myriad

of information on other sites

PORTFOLIOS & PROFILES

http://about.me/reillykr56

CURATION TOOLS: SCOOP.IT/PINTERESTSOCIAL MEDIA ETHICS FOR THERAPISTS

Scoop.it is a great tool to gather professional material and I will continue to create topics to share with others.

Pinterest is a fun place to gather ideas and I will continue to use this in my personal life and share it privately with family and close friends.

WEBSITES & DOMAIN NAMES

One of my goals for this next year is to create a professional website that I can link together with the rest of my online presence. Wordpress.org seemed to be a wonderful platform to fulfill this vision. I was pleased to find that the domain name that I searched was available on nearly all of the social networking sites.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE GOALS & STRATEGIES

Everything I desire to do in my future was spelled out in the article, 8 Real World Marketing Strategies From Successful Therapists, by Julie Hanks, LCSW

1.1.Public SpeakingPublic Speaking2.2.Dynamic WebsiteDynamic Website3.3.Say “Yes” to social MediaSay “Yes” to social Media4.4.Connect With Other ProfessionalsConnect With Other Professionals5.5.Everyday Life NetworkingEveryday Life Networking6.6.Word of MouthWord of Mouth7.7.Expert Media AppearancesExpert Media Appearances8.8.Write for Papers & WebsitesWrite for Papers & Websites

SLIDESHARE

One of my passions in life is training and coaching individuals to better themselves.

Slideshare allows me to develop training materials and post them for the world to see.

Watch this space for more training materials on assisting people with disabilities manage the effects of mental illness in their lives.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Adventure BeginsI have learned a great deal in this course. Much of it was new ground and at times I struggled to grasp the immense amount of information that is present in the realm of social media. Some of the applications have made it easier for me to progress to where I know I want to be professionally, others I will never use. My experience with “Developing a Professional Online Identity” will prove to be very fruitful.

Kevin R. Reilly