How to Tame Your Name on Google
Companies and brands spend millions of dollars each year on search engine optimization (SEO), because their management knows that having control of where their companies’ websites rank within Google search results for both their own names and for various industry-specific keywords can be the difference between being found and being completely overlooked by their target consumers.
While you as an individual do not necessarily have the budget to launch similar SEO campaigns for yourself across hundreds of different keywords, it is essential for you to invest your time, effort and even a little money into taming or controlling your own name’s search results on Google and other search engines so that you’re more easily found by your target audiences: employers and recruiters.
Do a quick Google search of your name. Do you show up in the results on the first or second page? For many of us, we don’t, mainly because we haven’t done a whole lot to SEO ourselves.
So how can you start taming your name on Google and increase your searchability?
Domain Name: Use GoDaddy or another top domain registrar and claim your name as a domain name (i.e., johnsmith.com). Most domains cost around $10 per year. While .com names are most popular, I actually use a .me since the .com version was already taken. However, it also makes sense because the site is all about me. This can be linked to a personal website or blog or forwarded to a LinkedIn profile, is good for SEO purposes and is easier to share with your network and easier for them to remember and search for.
LinkedIn: Every student and professional should have a 100 percent complete and up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Follow the steps it provides you to complete your profile. LinkedIn is your online resume, regardless of how much you use it for active networking. It also has high Google ranking and will help get your key information up to the top.
Personal Website: Not only does it make you look more professional, but creating a personal website is also a great way to house all of your information in one SEO-friendly location. There are a number of different services that can help you build a website, but I actually recommend using a blog service like WordPress which allows you use its page feature to create a personal website without adding the blog.
Blog: While this may be separate from your other profiles and personal website, an industry-specific blog is a great way to get relevant content out on the net under your name for Google and other search engines to index and bring up in the search results. This can also show you off to be a thought leader and value contributor within your industry and can help you build your network. I recommend WordPress for all new and veteran bloggers.
Google Profile: Most people don’t know it, but if you sign up for a free Google account, make sure to fill out your Google profile as it is unsurprisingly well-indexed in Google search results and will help get your name and picture up higher for keyword searches involving your name or relevant keywords from your profiles, website or blog.
Twitter: Twitter is also a higher-Google-ranking network on which to have a profile and be active under your name. And like a blog, it can show off the value you contribute to your industry and networks and can cross-promote and link viewers to your blog, profile or website.
Vizibility: Vizibility is a really powerful tool that allows you to create your own link to customized Google search results for your name, meaning that whoever clicks on this link from your website or profiles will see exactly what you want them to see on Google.
HARO: Help A Reporter Out (or HARO) is a free service that connects professionals across all industries and areas of expertise with journalists, bloggers, authors and writers seeking experts to quote or interview for their articles and projects. This can be a great way to get your name indexed on other high-ranking media websites and blogs and look impressive to employers, recruiters and network contacts at the same time. Also, if a link to your personal website or blog is included, it will help the SEO of your site which will inevitably improve its Google ranking as well.
Guest Blogging: If you don’t necessarily want to start and commit to your own blog, guest blogging can be a great way to get your name out in front of a number of new audiences while increasing the results for your name in a Google search. Identify a couple top blogs in your industry, and send a message to the owners or editors inquiring about opportunities to contribute an article.
Commenting: You can always leave comments on others’ articles and posts across the web, and most comment areas allow for your name and a link back to your website or profile. This is great way to contribute value without authoring an article yourself. Just ensure that your comments are substantive and a value-add to the original content.
Whether you do all of these or just one or two, come away from this understanding the importance of where your name ranks in Google and what results show up when your name is searched. Because many of us share the same names, it becomes increasingly important that we do a little self-SEO and ensure that we are coming up for both our name and specific keywords in our industry or area of interest. It can also be critical that we create positive search results for our names in the case that someone sharing your name has less positive or irrelevant results coming up and overshadowing your name and reputation.
Related articles:
- 4 Tips to Take Your LinkedIn Profile from Good to Great
- Blogging to Boost Your Personal Brand
- Top 3 Must-Have Apps for Your LinkedIn Profile
- LinkedIn: Your Job Search BFF
- Does Your LinkedIn Profile Get a Passing Grade? 5 Tips for a Captivating Profile
Category: Personal Branding
