What’s Your Rep?

Guest Blogger Jackie Nees from Integrity Office Solutions offers us the following great insight.

I've noticed a pattern recently: I'm getting promoted by people I've never done work for, I'm receiving compliments from high profile individuals, and I'm getting invited to participate in exclusive events and networking opportunities. You're thinking, "She must know people in high places." You would be wrong!

I'm just a small-town girl doing her thing. So why am I getting so much positive attention and feedback? The answer is, I'm building a solid reputation online and off. How am I doing that? Here's how I'm NOT doing it:

1. I'm NOT speaking negatively about anyone or anything that I see while networking online.
2. I'm NOT posting status messages on Facebook or anywhere else with negative connotations or writing off-color or obscene messages on friends' walls.
3. I'm NOT spamming all of my contacts by sending them invitation after invitation to join this group or attend that event or join a cause.
4. I'm NOT sticking my nose where it doesn't belong in someone else's conversation.
5. I'm NOT promoting myself with every tweet or update.
6. I'm NOT using auto-follow messages to send people to my website or anywhere else.

So then, what AM I doing? Well since you asked...

1. I AM greeting the day with "good morning" posts on Twitter and Facebook and wishing other people a good day.
2. I AM paying attention to things like noticing when someone isn't feeling well and wishing them a speedy recovery.
3. I AM promoting other people I admire or think have something important to say or offer.
4. I AM offering to help someone with a problem or directing them to where they can find help.
5. I AM trying to make someone laugh at any given time throughout the day.
6. I AM always trying to stay positive and encourage others to do the same.
7. I AM talking about my business when appropriate and at no other time.
8. I AM telling people how they can get helpful information by not only subscribing to my ezine or blog but to other people's as well.
9. I AM myself and not trying be someone I'm not or say I can do things I cannot.

I'm also obviously doing the best job I can for my clients. Of course I do this to give my clients the service they expect, deserve and pay good money for, but also because I know my clients have friends—friends who may ask if they know of a good VA who can help them. Honestly though, one of the biggest reasons I enjoy serving my clients is that they inspire me every day. I am able to be positive and upbeat when I have amazing people to work with. It isn't uncommon for me to hop on Twitter and tweet about how much I love what I do and who I do it for.

The point is that all of this positive, encouraging and loving energy that I try to put out there every day makes its way around whether I realize it or not. Others pick up on it and it affects them, or at least that is my hope. My clients are great and many of them do promote me whenever they can, but the real joy comes from getting referred, introduced and spoken about in a positive light by those whom I don't know or have never worked with but they still tell others about me because of the way I carry myself while interacting online publicly and privately.