Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Googled yourself lately?

Here is my 5 minute brain dump as part of this great series. Here goes …

Just this week I was talking to a friend who was mad that she’d been Googling herself to find that in the top 10 results, below the usual suspects like Linkedin and Facebook, there was a post she’d written for my site that was NOTHING to do with what she did. It made me think about how important it is to develop your personal brand online.

Nowadays, if you can’t Google someone and find results there is something wrong. We expect to at least find out something about that person. It’s next to impossible to exist 100% below the google radar.  Never has there been a better time to focus, mould and develop your online identity.  Ok, you can’t claim to be a rocket scientist if you are an teacher but I guess you could try. At the end of the day, if you are having things published online you NEED to be in control and on top of your game. Is your online presence really something you want to leave in the hands of your company, your community groups or your sports club?

I know that when my real name is googled: Ameena Falchetto – the first 5 pages of searches are links I am 100% cool with and mostly ones I have orchestrated by posting on my blog or others.  I mentioned last week that I took a step to change my name on twitter to my real name and nothing has really changed in my search results.

C’mon, it’s never been easier to be in control of your online results with social media … so the question is … are you riding or are you hiding?

 

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This is my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

  • Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
  • Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
  • Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
  • Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
  • Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
  • Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

 

14 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Googled yourself lately?

  1. Janine

    Very rarely do other people put information about you online that is going to come up in searches. It is what YOU do that is going to pop up. I am sometimes surprised by which of my posts take off but it really is true, Don’t put it online if you don’t want EVERYONE to see it and possibly judge you by it!

    I get annoyed that there are other Janine Fowlers messing with my results!

    Reply
  2. Crystal

    I haven’t Googled myself in a while. Maybe its time I did again and see what pops up.

    Reply
  3. Elyse

    I haven’t googled myself lately but my dad’s name gets over 125,000 hits. It amazes me!

    Reply
  4. Good Girl Gone Green

    I am riding…not hiding! I am ok with my google searches, twitter, Facebook, linkedin etc! I think everyone probably has some sort of presence on google. I think its hard to hide if you use the internet especially social media! Love your posts and your blog! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Fadra

    I actually haven’t googled myself in a while. I do have Google alerts set up but it still can’t replace checking out how you look in a search.

    Okay. Just did it. I’m happy but it is funny that a guest post I did for someone else came up on the first page!

    Reply
  6. Audra

    Such a hard decision to make! I’ve kept my full name off of my blog to protect my family (we recently had some identity theft) but I think we’re moving towards personal branding here.

    Reply
  7. Melisa - Mommy This and That

    I have a friend that you can try and Google and will get nothing. He has never joined any of the social media outlets from the start. He has always been funny about it and I always have to wonder what he is hiding!

    Reply
    1. Ameena Falchetto Post author

      I get suspicious sometimes when I can’t find ANYTHING online or if someone is really against social media! BUT some people really don’t have anything to add or share so maybe it’s for the best!

      Reply
  8. howie at sky pulse media

    Since I prefer anonymity except for my work my solution is my name as posted. Since it is my business not me that is important to me for long term success. I also never wanted any personal information I wouldn’t share with strangers when someone googles me. My proper name is Howard. But I go by Howie. So if you google my name with Howie a nice page of results I am ok with comes up.

    Luckily for me a very rich geek with my proper name fixed everything by winning the world series of poker. So if you google me with Howard he comes up. 8)

    Reply
    1. Ameena Falchetto Post author

      Hey Howie! I am yet to understand the desire for anonymity now that I have gotten into the blogosphere UNLESS you blog soley for pleasure. Awesome you have a great poker player who shares your name … it could be oh so much worse 🙂

      Reply
      1. howie at sky pulse media

        LOL yes could be worse.

        I don’t want to be a personal brand. I want my company known. I don’t want people saying I need to call Howie to help (though initially that is the case) because when I one day hire people to work for/with me I want people viewing the company and team as what is important.

        Also I have led a very alternative life over the years centered around underground art and music and don’t want my personal life mixed with my business life. It is my issue with Facebook. Initially it was just my friends/social network mostly from Los Angeles where I lived 17 years. Photo galleries of some rave parties, burning man trips, things my business associates don’t need to see. I don’t want that stuff found via Google.

        I am proud of who I am and when I get to know someone and feel I can be friends besides a business contact (like what happened with getting to know John, or Gini Dietrich) I became friends on Facebook.

        Not saying that things might not change some day. But I always like being the person in the background making things happen while the showboats do their thing in the spotlight. 8)

        But your point is valid. Most people especially bloggers would want to be known as a personal brand. I just blog for my business and I stalk blogs to network and learn. I am always learning school never stops 8)

        Reply
        1. Ameena Falchetto Post author

          Ooooh Howie! You have whet my appetite to know the other you!!! 🙂

          I hear what you are saying … I think the other side of you – if package correctly – could compliment you now

          Reply
  9. Janine

    I OWN my Google search results. Literally for the most part. 😉 Although sometimes you really don’t have much control over what posts blow up. My most popular stuff is never my own favorites. The key is just not to put anything out there that you aren’t comfortable with representing you.

    Reply

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