It wasn’t that long ago that looking yourself up online by entering your name in a Google search was considered an act of vanity in some circles. In today’s business environment (and in your personal world) Googling you is not only necessary, it may be critical.
Why? Because the very essence of the internet is user-created content. Anybody can post just about anything online with little, if any, repercussion. It doesn’t have to be factual, it doesn’t have to be true, it doesn’t have to be real or even exist, but it can be posted online. Any standard of presumed privacy or exhibit of good manners has gone right out the window. Don’t believe it? Just ask Erin Andrews, the ESPN reporter who was the very unfortunate victim of the posting of a surreptitiously taken video of her on the internet. (Andrews and ESPN are going to great lengths to track the perpetrator down and take action.)
That’s why you should Google yourself. You have no idea what negative or untrue information may be floating around in cyberspace that you are not aware of.
Recently, we were in discussion with a medical doctor who was thinking of launching a consumer product under her name. She wanted to create a personal brand. One of the first things that we did when we returned to the office from our initial meeting was to Google her. We found 22 online references, including a lengthy list of comments on a web site that specializes in “rating” doctors and dentists. Of the 22 “ratings,” 13 were negative, 4 were neutral and 5 were “good” or “excellent.” Reading deep into the comments on this site, we found out that the issues that the patients had were not with the doc, but were mostly with her receptionist, who seemed to have an attitude problem. Once identified, the problem was addressed, and hopefully fixed, but those negative comments will remain on that site, potentially, forever.
A few months ago, I was walking my dog through my neighborhood and was surprised to see a giant banner hanging on a house stating that a particular homebuilder built the house. The banner also stated that the homeowner thought that the builder did shoddy work. In big, bold 6” letters at the bottom of the banner was a URL to a web site. As soon as I got home, I jumped on the site and found a rant about the builder’s work, complete with several photos. Unfortunately for this homebuilder, this was the only Google search result for his name. The banner was removed from the house months ago, but the web site will remain up until the URL expires or the owner takes it down. Anyone who Googles this homebuilder will see this site and it’s rant at the top of the first page of search results. Maybe he’s a good homebuilder and this was an unfortunate incident. Or, maybe he’s just a shoddy homebuilder – at least that’s his online reputation.
So, what if you Google yourself and find negative or untrue information? What do you do? You can’t make the “internet” take it down (unless you want to finance a couple of years of private school for your lawyer’s kids).
Everyone understands that each of us probably has some person out there that doesn’t like us, or feels wronged by something we did, perhaps long ago. The point is, you can’t keep those people from flaming you on the internet.
What you can do is make sure that there is lots of positive information on the internet about you. Lots of positives go a long way to offset one (or maybe two) negatives. And, you can do this without too much effort and at virtually no expense.
Start with a Google Profile (www.google.com/profiles). You should be able to complete the info and add a photo in less than 15 minutes. Since most of search is done via Google, and Google Profiles just seem to have high, usually first page, search results return, you can have some positive info on the first page of your Google search results.
Next, create a LinkedIn Profile (www.linkedIn.com). If you already have one, make sure that you add lots of information, and most importantly, get recommendations. LinkedIn is an online resume’ – complete with recommendations for all to see, and it usually turns up on the first page of Google’s search results. Six to ten positive recommendations say a lot about you.
Then, a Facebook page. Make sure to include lots of info and pictures that portray you as a good guy. Resist the urge to post “party pictures,” and if you have them on there, remove them now!
You may merit a Wikipedia entry, if so, create one.
It is a fact of both business and personal life that everyone is Googling you – potential customers, employers, employees, dates, new friends. You name it; they want to know about you!
Spend a little time and make sure that you know what is floating around on the internet about you. Take some effort to make sure that you have a positive message and image in cyberspace. It will pay off in ways that you will probably never even know about!
Mike —
I know you love this stuff so in case you didn’t see it in today’s New York Times there is an article from which I plucked this quote, “Social media for business now is life or death.” You can see the article titled “Managing an Online Reputation” at http://bit.ly/14XELx
My name “Rob Abdul” for the last 3 years has been my brand name.
I was so proud when my name appeared in Goggle’s suggestive list.
It may not sound like much but at least 60 to 80 people goggle me a month.
It is nice for the Ego, I must admit!
@Mike that article in New York Times is Gold Dust!
Thank you for sharing!
I would like to add that for those who have information about themselves online but is not comfortable sharing that information and seeing it on the top pages of Google; they can opt to try the services of http://www.reputation-technologies.com/. Though there is no permanent way to erase information that has been indexed by search engines, Reputation-Technologies.com works by pushing down certain links to the bottom pages.
Yes, google isn’t always our friend. We may not be able to remove our names from google, or any other search engine, for that matter, but if we contact the right people – people who know what they’re doing, they can bump those websites to google hell. Someone once posted all sorts of crap about me on his blog, but CLEANmy.NAME http://www.cleanmy.name/ did my reputation cleaning for me. It’s like having your personal, online rep laundromat. I do intend to check out other products, but for nor, this suits my purposes.
I concur – Google yourself! You may find something bad… it’s sad, but true. But you also may find something quite good.
Here’s a ‘for instance’: on a certain blog I left a comment that I recently read a book that I really loved. I left the name of the book and the author: “Wake Up! Your Life is Calling.” by Andy Feld.
A few days later the author, Andy Feld, responds to my comment thanking me for mentioning him. Not only that – the owner of the blog did a Skype interview with Mr. Feld, which was seen by thousands of people.
Look for the good and you just may find it. =-)
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