Book Review: Wild West 2.0, How to Protect and Restore Your Online Reputation

Wild West 2.0: How to Protect and Restore Your Online Reputation on the Untamed Social Frontier is the first book I’ve read as a Kindle edition on my iPad. I’ll give a quick overview of the book first, and why I think it’s important that you read it, and then I’ll discuss some of the specifics of reading the Kindle edition.

First, I highly recommend this book to anyone that cares anything at all about their reputation.  Your reputation online IS your reputation, whether you realize it or not.  The authors, who happen to own the online reputation management service ReputationDefender.com, make a very compelling argument for understanding the impact that Google search results and social media can have on your business, your career, your ability to get hired, and even your ability to date. If that sounds a little dramatic, consider that just about any hiring manager is going to take a few seconds and Google you before making a hiring decision.  And, how often do you make a major purchasing decision, or decide on a professional service provider, without first checking out what others are saying online, either with a Google search or a quick query to your Twitter followers?  Even if you aren’t as “search-savvy,” you should be aware that many others are.

If it exists, Google can find it.

Wild West 2.0 gives an in-depth overview of what you need to do to make sure you present yourself in the best possible light online. It tells you how to make sure your Google search results are accurate and positive, and what to do to protect yourself from negative information. If you own a business, plan to run for office, or work in marketing, you must read this book.

If you have no idea where to even get started, this book gives a step-by-step plan, in non-technical language. I’ve worked in web design and online marketing for several years, and I still gained lots of very useful tips and a deeper understanding of how to build a positive online portfolio.  Though the book seems mainly aimed at building and defending personal reputations, there are sections for businesses and high profile people such as politicians as well.  There are also sections on what to do if you and your reputation have been attacked online.

Overall, I strongly recommend this book (you can click here to buy it on Amazon.)

Regarding the specifics of reading it as a Kindle edition on my iPad:  I can honestly say that I seriously believe five years from now, we’ll all be reading digital books.  I read lots of books simultaneously … a chapter from one, a few pages from another … it’s impossible for me to carry around that many physical books, and I never know what I’ll be in the mood to read when I have a few spare minutes.  But, on my iPad, I can carry hundreds of books, all at the weight of a single paperback. I LOVE IT! I can download a book in just a few seconds, instead of having to wait for it to arrive in the mail (even though Amazon has very quick shipping.) I can bookmark and highlight without causing any damage to the original. It remembers where I left off.  It even adjusts from landscape to portrait depending on the more comfortable position at the time.

But, there are a few issues:

1. Sharing a book is almost impossible.  I have a colleague that I really believe must read this book … in the past, I would’ve just loaned him my copy.  Of course, I can’t really do that with the Kindle edition.
2. No more reading at the beach. At least not without some kind of protective cover. And I can’t really go into the water and leave the iPad laying around, it won’t be there when I return.  Most crooks wouldn’t bother stealing a paperback.
3. I’m not sure about other Kindle books, but Wild West 2.0 had a few graphs and illustrations that were almost impossible to read on the iPad. Couldn’t get the font sizes to adjust in the images (although you CAN adjust font sizes in the regular text portions of the book, which is a great advantage if your eyesight isn’t perfect.)

Despite these issues, I’ve already downloaded several more Kindle for iPad books, and have started a few. I’ll do some more book reviews soon. I hope you enjoyed this review, and thanks for stopping by my blog!  Please feel free to leave me some comments, or to repost this review on Facebook or Twitter if you think it would benefit your friends.

Twitter Starts Offering Personalized Suggestions of Users to Follow

Twitter is rolling out a new feature similar to Facebook’s “friend suggestions.” Check out this article at Mashable if you’re interested: Twitter Starts Offering Personalized Suggestions of Users to Follow.

How Social Media Can Make Us More Productive

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For My Dad

Two years ago today is the last time I saw my dad.  He’d brought my grandma and my mom over here to Houston for their annual doctor’s appointments in the Medical Center.  My mom had called me the night before and asked if I could meet them for lunch. I hesitated, and told her because of so many things going on at work, I probably wouldn’t be able to take off.  The next morning on the drive into Houston, my dad called me at my office to let me know they were getting close, and again invited me to lunch.  Once again, I hesitated, and told him that I was so busy I didn’t think I could make it.  He said he understood, but that he’d love to see me if I could make it happen.  Something told me to forget about work and go see my family.  So, I did.

There’s a train that runs from downtown Houston to the Medical Center. I rode it to the hospital, and as soon as I got off the train, I saw my dad standing outside the doctor’s office smoking a cigarette.  His face completely lit up as soon as he recognized me. He smiled and waved and seemed so happy to see me. It had been several months since I’d gotten to go home to Louisiana for a visit. As I approached him, he made some joke (as he always does) and we laughed and hugged.  He made another joke about driving with both my mom and grandmother in the car — something we’d always joked about.

We went inside and had lunch at Miller’s Hamburgers in the hospital — it’s been one of our favorite places for many years. Lunch was great, the conversation was great — we laughed and had a great time together. My dad looked great and seemed like he was feeling great.

After lunch, he drove me back to my building, and the whole family came up to see my office and meet my co-workers. As usual, my dad charmed everyone with his incredible sense of humor.  They spent a little time walking around my floor and visiting, then had to head back to Louisiana.  I walked them back to the car, and hugged them all.  As my dad was driving out of the garage, he waved and winked at me.  I said, “I love you.”

Two days later, my died passed away in his sleep.  He wasn’t old, he hadn’t been sick – I guess God just needed him in Heaven.

While my family has had a very hard time adjusting to life without him, I’ve heard other people say that they had such guilt when they lost their fathers, because they never got to express how much they loved their fathers.  I am so fortunate that my dad knew how much I loved him, and I know how much he loved me.  I’m not the best son, but he never failed to show me that he was proud of me.

For the rest of my life, I will be thankful that I met him for lunch on July 22, 2008.  Thank you, God, for that perfect memory.  I miss you, Daddy, and I love you.

Flipboard Launches as the iPad’s Social Media Magazine

If you’ve got an iPad, check this out … it turns your Facebook and Twitter streams into a magazine-like interface.  Very nice: Flipboard Launches as the iPad’s Social Media Magazine.

12 Clever Social Media-Friendly Business Cards

If you’re looking for some ideas for a business card, and you want links to your social media profiles, check this out:

12 Clever Social Media-Friendly Business Cards.

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