Why it is Important to Google Yourself

 

How you show up in Google search results matters.  What do people see when they Google your name?  Do you show up on the first page of the results?  How do you show up? More importantly, how do you want to show up?’

 

If you don’t know the answer to these questions, then it is time for you to Google YOU. We all search for businesses, stories, and people online. Why would we assume that no one is Googling us? Try seeing what comes up in your Google search results when you search you! If you do this exercise, I suggest that you search for your first and last name in an incognito browser window so that you see how the world finds you online.

 

Why Google Yourself?

Most people, when asked, don’t think that they are being Googled. At a KEAP convention (back in 2019 when in-person events were still a thing), Linzi Boyd, founder of the Business of Brand (BOB), (my global brand building entrepreneurial partner), asked a crowd of close to 700 people if they Google people. 90% of the attendees put their hands up. The same audience was asked if they were being Googled, and only a few hands were raised. What a shocking response!

 

There are things in life that are inevitable; death, taxes, and the trusty Google search, yet no one likes to think about these things. Trust me, I can guarantee that one day, at some time, you will be the subject of an online search — a business owner before your job interview, new customers checking out your business, your current boss checking on your online profile reputation, or even a love interest. Whatever the reason, you want to be proactive and confident in the search results they will see.

 

We are all brands whether you think of yourself as one or not. Your online search results influence how people perceive you, which leads to how they interact with you, your company, or your personal brand.  

 

So, what will people see when they Google you?

Do you show up at all? Will your search results misrepresent you and confuse people? Or, perhaps you are happy with what you see, but there is just not enough of you showing up on the first page of search results. 

 

For most people, this type of personal profile online audit is quite surprising. Regardless of your current search results, the important question is how do you want to show up on Google. Then, get busy creating an online profile that you are proud of. 

 

Most likely, your LinkedIn profile showed up somewhere on the first or second page. We all have one. And that’s the problem! Even with the most pristine business profile, you are one of 260 million active users. So why depend on LinkedIn’s templated landing page to share who you are — especially when you can communicate your true purpose and brand far more effectively with something as simple as a custom personal landing page.  The key is to purchase the domain name (URL) using your first name and last name (FirstNameLastName.com). 

 

 

 The Power of Curating Your Search Results

No longer do faceless brands run the world. The advent of the internet gave birth to Google and Social Media and with it, people could now look into other people’s lives— who they are and what they believe in. All kinds of Information started being shared on the internet about you, whether you were aware of it or not.  Here’s the good news — you can be in charge of what people see. 

 

Are you a change-maker, a thought-leader, an upcoming author, a professional wanting to advance your career, or a mom that is creating a positive impact for her child’s school?  Whatever you do in the world, consider what your online personal profile is saying about you and the power of having the right information beaming to the world 24/7 – 365.   People can be digitally connected to anyone in the world. Now, everyone’s voice can be heard; people can share their purpose, monetize their passion, and make a positive impact in their community, business, industry, and the world.

 

Business owners need to change their mindset to the 21st-century modern era and start including people-brands alongside their company brand. We are now in the WHO era, and it is all about the emotional connection with your customer or a community. People connecting with people. If you are a business owner or have a personal brand, your personal online profile must provide a human connection and speak to them from an emotional standpoint.  Purpose-led companies and people-brands gain more market share and raise the equity evaluation of the company.

 

Tips for elevating your personal online profile.

• The first step is the Google audit (you Googling you) to gain insight into your current search results and how others are seeing you.
•  Then take time to uncover your purpose. What you want to be known for and what you want to share with people.  This is an exciting step on the journey to your True Brand. 
•  Along with your purpose discovery, write down who you are today, what you want to be tomorrow, and extend your creative imagination to see what you could be in the future. Don’t limit yourself.
• Now you can start updating your online profile with the right messaging.  Start with rewriting your LinkedIn profile.  Share your purpose — break out of the mode of just writing a list of daily tasks that you do. 
• Finally, consider developing a personal brand landing page. This will take you to the top of Google search almost immediately, allow you to share who you are the way you want to be seen and heard, and it is the greatest way to amplify your vision/purpose.   Remember to purchase a domain name using your name (FirstNameLastName.com). 

 

There is immense power in people-focused brands.

You are your brand. Whether you are profiting off of it as a business or not, your brand exists. You already have it; all you need to do is start shaping it into one that illuminates you and your true purpose to the world.