Right now, as you read this, somebody, somewhere is typing in someone’s name in a search engine. They click search and a life’s work (or lack thereof) unfolds at the speed of light.
What if it was your name? Would it represent you in a way that you would be proud or would it lend itself to a rebuttal of “I was young and needed the money”?
Whether we like it or not, our online footprint is playing more and more into the trust building process. People expect us to leave an online trail. Not having one is quickly becoming unacceptable.
Here are 2 quick and easy things you can immediately to dramatically increase your online footprint within days!
1) Create a public profile on Linkedin by clicking this link http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?editwp Doing so will show up on Google and set you up brilliantly for the next way to increase your Googleability.
2) Comment on articles and blogs. And not just on the aspiring rock star blogs like mine. How about places like FastCompany, Businessweek, Inc Magazine etc? Of course you’ll want to show up in areas that you want to be associated with your brand such as a vertical or within your industry. Now wherever you show up and comment, there’s usually an option for you to put in your website. If you have your own website or blog, then you’ll want to take full advantage of some free publicity. I’m not a big fan of putting my employer’s website because I want to do things that help me with my personal brand. To that end, if you don’t have your own website or blog simply use your linkedin public profile.
Rinse and repeat . . . its that simple!
This is exactly how I started in November 2008. I started with some basic comments and eventually found my online voice.
Actually, that’s only partially true. When I started this crazy journey, I started by facing the music and Googling “Paul Castain”.
So go ahead, check your “Googleability” and whatever you decide to do from there, just know that somebody, somewhere is gonna be looking for your trail in their assessment of the brand called YOU!
To check out my ridiculously cool Linkedin group click on the rock star
To get free, lethal sales tips click on the Jedi
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Tis true! I met you online shortly after your launch and I’ve seen you kick a$$! Rock on, Uncle Paul!
Hey Paul, this is so true. It’s becoming increasingly important for individuals to “leave a digital footprint”. You have to be searchable in this age to find your space. Companies do their research online before hiring someone, sales guys look up their targets online before engaging with them. There are tons of other stories.
To begin with, here’s a blog I wrote on how businesses are using digital people data to connect better with them: /bit.ly/chttp:/LwKjZ
Cheers and rock on!!!
The other simple thing that really worked was editing myself on whitepages.com because they now have spots for personal web pages. Of course the usual facebook and myspace add extra bumps too but I was surprised by the whitepages one. Give it a shot!
@ Berni: Thanks
@ Gaurav: Yep! It was long ago that we “Googled” them. Now they are “Googling” us back. How dare they and how dare we not take that into consideration!
@ Jason: Thanks for that resource. I will check it out!
Berni, Gaurav & Jason . . . Thank you for taking the time to contribute!
Respectfully,
Paul Castain
Hi Paul,
Excellent points! This should be posted in every high school, too. Just recently, I saw some pics on facebook of a group of college aged “kids” at a party. Clearly, not pics they will want anyone to see, yet they are there for all the world… Our online footprint is a part of life now.
I often Google myself because I clearly have too much time on my hands. When others with my name also pop up, I laugh at “my” accomplishments. Evidently I’m also an actress, a cellist, and have several other careers!
You bring up excellent points: leave a trail, and one that you would be happy to have in public.
I’m so glad to that I subscribe to your playbook…you always provide insight, wisdom and thought provoking commentary.
Cheers,
Jen
so true…I need to apply this to myself and comment/blog more.
@ Jen Kuhn: You know Jen, when I was growing up, when you did something stupid, you did it and then moved on. Today its kind of hard to do when someone tagged you in a photo or commemorated the moment on Youtube
And thank you for your kind words. You made my day!
@ Elizabeth: That first step (when we decide) is always the toughest. I won’t lie to you, it was scary for me when I first started my “Castain 2.0″ adventure.
Even if the ROI wasn’t there, the personal growth and friendships I have today as a result made it well worth my time.
Thank you Jen & Elizabeth!
Respectfully,
Paul Castain
Manta.com, Merchant Circle, and Craigslist pop right up on Google. What really helped push my name up was participating in discussions on my VA forum. So find and join a forum in your industry.
Erika
Hi Paul,
To compliment your point Paul, there are a couple more (inexpensive) links that could be helpful for anyone whishing to build a personal Brand online. For instance, you could go to http://www.godaddy.com and buy yourname.com and if it is unavailable, you can buy therealyourname.com. This will provide you with your name in the domain of URL. The second link is to http://www.weebly.com and once there you can set up a free account and design your web page with a blog in about one hour. No technical skills are required, except for drag & drop and a little typing. Once done all you have to do is type http://www.weebly.com/weebly/main.php in your browser and finish by configuring your domain with what you created in the previous step http://www.yourname.com and your web site will com up. You know have a web site of your own and you can start building your Brand (YOU).
Best regards,
Robert Couture, CSP
Great article. I would also say this applies equally to businesses, especially B to B. It’s amazing how many businesses still do not realize potential clients are Googling them. And if they come up empty, these potential business partners and clients are not impressed! Just like with a person, whose Google search results become his/her resume… For a business, Google results are their marketing campaign.
Thanks for the article!
Point well taken Jeannette – if I could only practice what I preach! LOL
Thank you,
Robert Couture, CSP
Paul,
Very true! That also means that people should be very careful what they say and post on social media sites. If you disagree with something someone has said and feel the need to be verbally abusive, STOP! And Jen is right when she says that high school and college kids need to be much more careful and understand that what is posted, is online for everyone to see forever!
Paul,
Once again I am glad I took the time to read your blog. Each and every time I learn something useful. I have recommended you to my business networking groups and mastermind groups too. Thanks for what you do. Have a great weekend.
Paul,
Great connection between the online footprint helping to establish trust and the unavailability of that footprint becoming unacceptable. It’s as if people are hiding something if they don’t have anything out there. Well done, as always. Your posts rock!