It has never been easier than it is today to have a personal online presence. Web sites like MySpace, Facebook, blogs and all sorts of other social sites allow anyone to easily share and publish anything online. People are uploading videos to YouTube.com, sharing photos on Flickr.com and finding interesting news on Digg.com.

Consider going online and joining a community of like-minded people if you haven’t done so already. It can be a lot of fun and, honestly, quite rewarding. You can connect with your friends both locally and long distance. I’ve found that being online has not only strengthened local friendships, but I’ve also been able to reconnect with old friends, stay in touch with out of town family and have even made some good friends with people I’ve “met” online.

However, when you venture online there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Do find one website community that you’d like to join and sign up. It’s usually free and easy to do. The decision of which one to join should be based on where your friends are or what you want to do. For instance, Facebook.com is great for connecting with friends whereasLinkedin.com is better for professional networking.

Don’t sign up for every social website or blog right away. You’ll end up spreading yourself too thin. Pick one or two and start there.

Do tell others a bit about yourself. Most sites give you an area to fill out a personal profile. Feel free to tell readers what some of your interests, hobbies and biographical information are. It is, afterall, about being social and visitors to your page will want to get to know you.

Don’t tell them everything about yourself. There are some things that should stay offline! Ask yourself what you believe should be protected because not everyone has the same answer. Use discretion when deciding to publish contact information like your e-mail, phone number and home address.

Do upload a nice photo of yourself so your friends can recognize you.

Don’t use a photo that is potentially offensive or unprofessional because you never know who is looking at your profile.

Do add value to your profile by uploading or sharing things that are interesting. Communicating virtually can actually be quite real. Social media sites are about having online conversations - so participate in them when you can.

Don’t post just anything online. Remember that if it is on the Internet, anyone can find it even if it is password protected. You wouldn’t want a perspective employer to see all the skeletons in your closet before an interview! Some have found it helpful to use a measuring stick before publishing anything such as, “Would it be okay if my kids, spouse or parents saw this?”

This holiday, give yourself the gift of an online presence and reconnect with friends locally and around the world. Reach out and meet new and interesting people on the Internet in the new year. It can be fun, rewarding and even productive! Remember to be yourself but use discretion. Just like in your offline practices, stay merry and professional and you’ll go a long way!

Article by Rob Williams