The Google Problem

Today, Deb Ng posted a piece called “Yes, Your WILL Be Googled” that talks about the fact that potential clients probably will use Google to search for your name. There are a number of problems with this:

• Other people may have the same name as you.
• You may have personal accounts that pop up attached to your name.
• Someone who’s not a good Google searcher could find bad or confusing information.
• You may write under multiple names.

What does this all mean to you? It means that when someone googles you, they could find your work, a page for a nude modle with the same name, your MySpace account, and information about you in college that is no longer accurate. They could miss some of your best work because you write under a pen name or use a shortened version of your name.

So what can you do to combat the Google problem?

• Search for yourself regularly so you can see what your clients see.
• Use two specific and separate names online – one for writing and one for personal accounts. For example, you could use “Joseph A. Smith” for writing and “Joey Smith” for personal non-writing stuff.
• Associate your middle name or initial with your writing. It can help distinguish between you and others who have the same name.
• Give your potential client tons of links to your work online. That way, they won’t miss the most important pages trying to wade through everything on Google.
• Remove old information from websites so that it doesn’t appear on Google.

Remember, since your career places you online so readily, you need to be very careful about the information you choose to share. Deb’s post has some very good points, and although you may love connecting with friends or posting on casual message boards, the Internet is your office – try to act professionally at all times, as though your boss is watching you.

Picture via thms.nl.