These days consumers’ first impression of you is likely shaped by Google results. A recent article on Forbes looked at the importance of Google in terms of giving yourself and your brand a strong identity.<\/p>\n
Read more: Fall in Love With Google Again<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If you want to analyze your Google identity, the first thing you need to do is Google yourself. (e.g. \u201cYour name\u201d with quote marks around the search term). That will offer up an image of how others are seeing you. It can offer a look at who you are and how visible you are \u2013 both critical pieces to personal branding.<\/p>\n
Not finding too much? \u201cDon\u2019t worry \u2026 there are many options available to you that will take your personal brand from digitally doomed to digitally dazzling,\u201d writes Forbes contributor William Arruda. \u201cAll you need to do is build and act on your online personal branding plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arruda urges exercises in framing your Google presence, such as first identifying your differentiator in your business and finding ways to link the personal with the professional among your online content (\u201cstrive for 70-80 percent professional text and 20-30% personal text, he notes).<\/p>\n
Page 1 of the Google results is all you mostly need to be concerned about, he notes.Eighty-seven percent of all clicks occur from page 1 results; 62 percent go to the top three links.<\/p>\n
Arruda suggests a few ways to amp up your Google appeal, including:<\/p>\n
Write a better, more engaging bio. Let people know more about who you are. Here are some tips on crafting a more dynamic online real estate bio<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Update your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn profiles often appear in one of the top three spots in Google result pages when searching for a name. Make sure your headline, headshot, and summary are up to date. Also, take the time to fill out your skills\/endorsements, experience, and education. Check out more tips: The Ultimate Guide to Maximizing LinkedIn for Career Success<\/a><\/p>\n
Secure vanity URLs on all the social media that is helpful in reaching your target market. \u201cNamechk<\/a>\u00a0can help you determine the sites on which your name is available,\u201d Arruda notes. \u201cIf yours is not available, for SEO purposes, add something to the end of your name rather than putting something between your first and last name.\u201d<\/p>\n