Unfollow. Delete. Block. Repeat.

Who follows you and who you follow on social media is completely in your hands.

You have total control over who has access to you on

Whether you like it or not, you are being Googled each day by clients, potential clients, the media, adversaries, referral sources, potential employers, your current employer, recruits, friends, family members, even a potential romantic partner – the list goes on. But most professionals aren’t regularly conducting Google searches on their own names, which is extremely risky in managing your online reputation and professional brand.

The lines between our personal and professional lives are getting blurrier by the day in today’s hyper-connected digital world. As a result, it’s imperative to take cautionary steps to protect your professional reputation and brand, while also embracing social media as a necessary networking, business development and branding tool, especially in today’s environment. Here’s how.