From USA Today’s Tech Now with Jennifer Jolly (click here to watch the video):

You already know how to make yourself look good in the real world — or at least try: a bit of hair product, an outfit that compliments your eyes, and your favorite shoes are a good start. But shining up your digital self can be a bit trickier. Your Facebook profile is almost always your most visible virtual self, so here are a few insider tricks to keep in mind whether you hope to be loved by all or simply want to keep your friends and family from pretending they don’t know you.

PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD

Your Facebook account is like a living person, and its face is your profile picture. It’s the first thing other people see about you and it can instantly make either a good impression or a bad one.

Keep your profile picture free of anything offensive. For example, downing a giant mug of beer or wearing an obnoxiously skimpy Halloween costume might not bode too well with a future boss, significant other, or even some of your own relatives. But don’t be afraid to add some personality. A charming photo from a recent vacation, getaway, or otherwise happy times are your best bet for giving your digital face a good vibe.

Don’t forget to give your cover photo a similar treatment. Any scenic photos you happen to have will do fine, but you get huge bonus points if it matches your profile photo. Just get back from the beach? How about a smiling profile photo of you with the ocean at your back and a cover photo of the beach? That’s a perfect combination that will not only get smiles from your friends, and let visitors know you put some thought into your social presence.

When something changes in your appearance — like a drastically new hair style or a shiny new pair of glasses — make sure you update your digital “face” as well. Your profile photo should be as close to a current representation of you as possible. One of my most liked photos of all time? Nope, not a photo of me and someone famous. Not a photo of the Grand Canyon. It was a photo of a new haircut, me showing the world my new bangs.

VIRTUAL VOICE LESSONS

If your profile photo is your face, then your posts are most definitely your voice. That means you don’t want them to be annoying, obnoxious, or over-the-top.

Your Facebook posts should be timely and relevant. If you’re just catching up on a TV show from the ’80s, that’s probably not the kind of thing your digital comrades are going to care too much about, so keep it fresh. Tell your friends about a new book you just read or an album you discovered that they might not have heard about. Share funny moments in your daily life, and make sure your digital self has a good sense of humor.

Every time you post a comment, remember everyone who may see it. Posting risqué details about a recent party or disparaging comments about your boss will probably end up being read by people who shouldn’t be seeing it. Keeping your voice positive and professional at all times is your best bet.

YOUR ONLINE GOODIE BAG

Your Facebook profile is more than just your online eyes and ears; It’s also a collection of everything that is important to you. Pages you’ve “Liked” in the past never leave your profile unless you make them. If you’ve been on the social network for more than a couple of years, your tastes have likely changed, and so should your likes!

Browse through any old Music, Movies, TV, and other media pages you’ve liked in the past and make sure it represents present-day you. This is also a great time to add some new pages you may have forgotten about. If someone visits your profile page and sees that the newest show you’ve liked is half a decade old, it’s a dead giveaway that you’ve been phoning in your virtual personality.

DON’T DISAPPEAR!

The single greatest mistake many social network users make is devoting themselves to their digital lives in fits and starts. Don’t post 10 times today and disappear for the next two weeks or you’re going to become an instant candidate for de-friending.

Keep a consistent presence, and don’t overdo it. If you feel like you have a lot to say today, maybe you should save half of it for tomorrow. If you overwhelm your friends and then vanish mysteriously, there’s a good chance they’ll eventually grow tired of it.

But whatever you do, have fun with your digital self! Facebook turn you into whoever you want to be, so make that person someone worth knowing.

Posted in TechNow, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news