Reputation is what precedes you. And online reputation is the most powerful form. A potential business partner, romantic interest, friend, or anybody else anywhere in the world can use Google to search for your name. Employers and college admissions offices are using Google to learn about job applicants and college applicants. But, on the other hand, executives are using online services to maintain their own reputation.

Are there past indiscretions out there? Have angry or jealous people smeared your name?

Find out!

1. Google yourself. Try using your first and last name together, with and without quotes. Then try any nicknames or initials that you have frequently used.
2. Next, check any online "user names" or "handles" that you've used. If you've blogged under the name "Boston1918" then search for that to see if anybody has blogged about you.
3. Check other search engines. Yahoo! uses a different search database and frequently has different links than Google.
4. Check social networks, like Facebook, MySpace, Xanga and others. Even if you're not a member, it's possible that other people have talked about you.
5. If you're in college, then check JuicyCampus. It's a growing social site that is becoming famous for the number of anonymous mean-spirited comments that users post.
6. Check to determine how many data brokers are selling your personal information. If your name, home address and home phone number are readily available then you give stalkers and hackers an easy target.

What to do if you find something negative? Often, just asking the site owner nicely will get rid of it. Otherwise, you'll need to try to launch your own protective measures. Find out more in a later Wiki.