Just because you have been convicted of a crime in the past does not mean that it has to impact you for the rest of your life. In many cases, an expungement can at least help you get back on the right track and once again have a fresh start however, negative information may still exist online. In addition, many convictions cannot be expunged making managing your online reputation even more difficult.

In a world where many prospective employers will “Google” your name before an interview, a bad online reputation can have more than just a little impact on your life. While a first impression once occurred when you stepped into the interview room, thanks to the internet, most first impressions actually occur online long before that actual first meeting. Little mistakes which may otherwise have no bearing on your life may still show up in search engines like Google for years to come, tarnishing your name and making getting a job much more difficult.

If you are still paying the price for a conviction that you already served time or paid money for, you are not alone. Thousands of others are facing the same problem as well. Thankfully, there is something that you can do about this. To help you to get your fresh start, we have compiled a list of things you can do to help improve your online reputation.

1. Create a Facebook profile  – Facebook is a great way to share everything you want with both friends and colleagues. The most powerful social platform today, it is by far, one of the most necessary profiles you can create.
2. Create a LinkedIn account –  – LinkedIn is the premier online platform for any and every professional. It is a great way to share your experience, your background and your connections.
3. Create a Pinterest account  – Pinterest is fairly new in the social world but is already quite powerful. A social site unlike any other, it harnesses the power of photos and more.
4. Create a Twitter account  – Twitter is the easiest way to keep up-to-date and to keep others up-to-date as well.
5. Create a Myspace account  – Though Myspace may be waning in popularity of late, it is still an easy profile you can create which has plenty of power. The Facebook of the past, Myspace is a way to stay connected.
6. Create a YouTube account  – Share videos you like with others and watch videos with your YouTube account. Part of Google, it links with your other Google services.
7. Created a Gravatar profile –  – Your online profile has to come from somewhere and in many cases, it is from here. Gravatar helps you to create your avatar, a graphic representation of you. Anytime you comment on blogs, this is the profile which will be linked to your comment or post. It helps to make you a more “real” person online.
8. Create a blog on WordPress –  – Powerful blogging software, WordPress blogs allow you to share your opinions and useful information online for free.

Important note: Be sure to set your privacy settings and be careful who you friend if you have an open legal case. Never mention your case on any social media site.

While creating these profiles is the first step to managing your online presence, it is just the beginning. A good online profile will be well maintained, linked with your other accounts and will have all pertinent information filled in. The more complete your profiles, the more likely they will rank high in Google and help kick the negative listings out of sight. Furthermore, once you create a positive presence, it is important that you keep that presence positive. Watch what you share with others both in and outside of your circles and maintain a professional appearance.