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Saying “Just Google me” is so 2010
Obviously if you have a website, blog and belong to a few social networks, people searching for you by name should be able find references to you, and links to web pages where you’re mentioned. Mind you, I’ve seen a few interesting mix ups with some individuals sharing the same name, but that’s another post for another day ….If you want people (potential employers, prospective clients for example) to be able to explore all your online homes, you might want to consider putting together a summary on a single web page.
One rather neat solution is to register your name at About.me (it’s free) and set up an attractive one-page online home (called a personal splash page) where you can include all your various social networks, blog, websites, etc. and make each of them clickable too. Here’s a screenshot of one I quickly put together for myself (do look at some of the other profiles too, many are very creative and beautifully presented).
Rather more functional is the Google Profile
For obvious reasons, I strongly recommend you set up a Google Profile so that you can be found in searches. You’ll see from my profile below that Google has pulled in links to a number of additional websites that I hadn’t thought to include and some I’d forgotten about! You do have the option of editing which you want to display.
Once your profile is ready to be seen in public you can direct people to a single url, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be able to fully explore all your other online homes too from that one page. You could promote it in your email signature and on your physical business cards too.
I (Louise) made the mistake recently of trying to include too many social network web addresses when I ordered some new business cards – what a mess! Next time I’ll just put my about.me url and possibly my Twitter handle, but that’s all.
Even if you aren’t ready to design or put together your about.me or Google Profile just now, please do at least register your name as soon as possible, in order to secure it and stop anyone else from getting it.
Was this helpful? Please let us know in the comments below.
About Louise
Louise Barnes-Johnston has been working in social media marketing since 2007 after realising that it was a powerful marketing tool which would enable her clients to raise the profile of their businesses on the internet, even when working to a limited budget. Her specialism is in researching social media practices; trying out the most effective online tools and then sharing the best of them with her clients.
Useful information. Also a well edited article that gets straight to the point.
Hi Dennis
Thanks for for your kind comments – hope you’ll be able to make use of the resources.
Louise
Louise
Great ideas for business cards too.
What fabulous information, thank you! Brilliant; i have registered my pages and will work on them over the next few days
Sue
Hi Sue – so glad you like the post enough to take action on it
Look forward to seeing your pages when they’re ready!
Louise
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