In a world where everyone and their dog have an online presence, it's time to start wondering what your online image may say about you. Employers are increasingly going to the internet and running searches on the names of potential employees before they even decide to do an interview. This trend is quickly growing in popularity and can hurt or help you depending upon your online image. Think about it this way: You wouldn't show up to your big interview in flip flops, would you?

Image is everything online. In fact, a potential employer may see a less then flattering photo of you doing a keg stand and that might be all they need to make a decision. Follow these tips for keeping a professional image online and you may very well beat out your competition before the interviews have even started.

If it's on the internet then it's in the public domain. If you want to publish something online that you wouldn't want your mom or kids to see, then don't. The simple fact of the matter is that everything you put online can, and will, be viewed by everyone who has the inkling to do so. This is the first and most important piece of knowledge in creating a professional image online.

Show your personality, not your bad judgment. Spring break photos, blog entries about what happened while you were drunk last weekend, and layouts that could offend rather then inspire are all potential red marks against you. You want tasteful photos of you having fun, blog entries about the positive aspects in your life, and clean and simple layouts.

Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation. When writing, be it in an About Me section or a two page blog entry, do your best to follow what you were taught in grade school. Don't use your text messaging short-hand language in a professional site or blog. Being lazy, cutting corners and shortening words makes a person wonder exactly what you were doing in those English classes.

Sparkle, shine, and wow them. Even with all the little things you need to watch out for, remember this is still your space! Tell about your hobbies, places you've traveled to, community service you've participated in and anything else that makes you look the model citizen. Online you can put up all the things you can't fit on your resume and really polish them up.

I still really want that picture of me doing that keg stand. If you must insist on posting pictures or writing entries that may cast a negative light on you, create a separate site! If you have a Facebook or MySpace, create a new account to use as your professional one. Make sure that on every personal site you have you use an alias, nickname, or just your first name and last initial. On your professional site use your full name and make sure it's the same on your resume, business cards and any other professional documents. Keep two separate email accounts as well. Never link your professional and personal sites in any way, shape, or form!

Put Your Best Digital Foot Forward

Image is the first step in making a positive impression, especially as our society continues to become more focused on the information we find online. Before you even get to that interview and wow them with your verbal wit and firm handshake you may very well have already been sized up and compared to the rest of the roster. Get a jump on the competition; after all if everyone else would wear flip flops and Hooters t-shirts to the interview, your suit and tie would look that much better, wouldn't it?