Help! Is “Yelping” Good for your Career?

Can that witty Yelp! review that you wrote about a local bar has an impact on your career?  What about the rant you wrote about your former hair stylist?  Anything you post under your actual name is an extension of your personal brand. Here are a few tips to keep your online posts career-friendly.  We’ll break it into two categories, brand protection, and brand building.

Brand Protection

1.) Post under an alias.

Creating alias or pseudonym will enable you to honest reviews without associating your strong opinions and personal activities with your professional brand.  An alias will afford you the freedom to write on Yelp! about a wide range of experiences, including those that you may not want to share with a potential future boss.

2.) Be selective about the subject of your post.

If you post under your actual name or a user name that easily identifies you, be very selective about the subject of your review.  When you view someone’s Yelp! page, you see a picture of this person’s life.  For example, you might gather this information from a particular Yelper.  She enjoys dive bars, is a shoe shopaholic, practices yoga, is a cat owner, and loves good Italian food.  Make sure that your posts do not tarnish your professional brand. 

3.) Think twice before you post.

You just had the worst experience possible.  You are eager to post every detail of your bad experience.  You are going to name names and drag this business through the dirt.  Be careful if you are posting under your name.  Before you get “down and dirty,” think twice. Is there a more mature way to advise other consumers about this business?  Share the facts in an interesting and honest way without sounding like an irrational person.

Brand Building

1.) Post under a name so that others can identify you.   

If your name is taken, try adding a middle initial or name. Strive to consistently use the same name across all of your social media sites.  This will help others know they are reading something posted by “the real” you.

2.) Build a reputation.

Your reviews can contribute to your online reputation.  If you have something negative to say, try to communicate it in a constructive way.  Also, find one positive statement about the experience, even if it was minor.  Write a substantive review.  A brief, “Cool place for pizza” is not enough. Describe the dish you had, the service, the atmosphere, and what makes this experience unique.  Treat each review as an example of your ability to assess the business, as well as showcase your writing capabilities. Spelling and grammatical errors are still No-no’s here.

3.) Write reviews relevant to your career.

If you are a designer, you might want to share your professional opinion of a company’s logo or the shop’s physical design.  Leverage your unique knowledge and experience when reviewing a business.

The Bottom Line

Everything you post online has the potential to harm or help your professional brand.  The good news is that while you do not have control over all things about you on the Internet, you have control over what you post.  This includes personal reviews that you share. Follow the above tips to keep your Yelp! reviews career-friendly.