Presenting yourself in a good light is important in any situation, from old friends to new acquaintances to prospective and even a current employer. Now, more than ever, your online presence may be making those first impressions and establishing your reputation for you. With spring cleaning top of mind, let's do some social media sprucing up.

1. Start with Google. You don't have to be a movie star to find something embarrassing out there. Performing a simple Google search of your name once in a while is always a good idea. If you find something you want removed then a firm, but polite, email to the Webmaster asking for the offending item to be removed will usually work. Remember, it's more likely someone other than the Webmaster posted the item, so be friendly and get the best service. If that fails to get the result you want, you can ask Google to remove pictures or pages showing up in search results by following these instructions.
 
2. Social Media Don'ts: According to a Corporate Executive Board study of 215 recruiters, "44 percent of recruiters said that trashing an employer on social media is enough to land an applicant in the reject pile." Thirty percent considered inappropriate language unforgivable and 17 percent looked unfavorably on excessive personal information. Social Media monitoring company TrueCare suggests the following shouldn't be found on any social media profile:

• Inappropriate pictures. It almost goes without saying you should remove photos (and tags) showing your participation in any illegal, excessive, or questionable activity. Delete if ever in doubt.
• Inappropriate posts. Posts (or tags) containing foul language, radical religious or political opinions, sexual innuendos or content, or discussions that may reflect poorly on your personality should be deleted and untagged.
• Friends without filters. If you have friends who seem to specialize in inappropriate posts and comments, feel free to disassociate from, remove or restrict them-after all, it's your social circle that may be under the microscope. Give them fair warning and delete if they neglect to acknowledge your request.
• Check for typos. Improper spelling and grammar can make you look bad. Check your posts carefully and remove the most egregious examples.

Also, keep in mind recruiters are looking for team players. If your posts or tweets are frequently critical of others, or your LinkedIn profile has you taking sole credit for team projects, they may pass you by.

3. Social Media Do's: These days a "clean" social profile is almost essential, especially if you're on the job hunt. Forbes suggests you focus on the following to make your profiles ready for the public-including prospective employers:

• A completed, engaging bio. Sometimes attracting attention is a good thing. When it comes to your bio, make sure it's thorough, showcasing your true abilities and with personality. Only 50 percent of all LinkedIn profiles are complete, so you'll stand out just by being thorough.
• Up-to-date information. As your info gets more out of date your profile starts to feel stale. A quick refresh is all it takes to make a good impression.
• Feel free to post and pin. Don't shy away from sharing your work online, if it's good work it will reflect well on you.
• A professional image. If a picture is worth a thousand words, make sure yours says the right thing about you!
• A public image. Employers and recruiters are often suspicious of blocked accounts or profiles that don't reveal any information at all.  It's up to you how much you want to publicize, just keep in mind it's a factor.

It's your life, your future, and your image. Social media can be great fun, but as more outside of immediate social circles take it seriously, the consequences of not maintaining a clean public profile can be unexpectedly detrimental!