| p>I know it's a tongue twister. Forget trying to say it | | | | There are so many people who believe you don't |
| three times. I want to know what happens when | | | | even exist if you don't have a virtual presence. |
| you do it one time. What comes up? What's the 411 | | | | Here's why it matters: |
| on you? If someone were to type your name in the | | | | * Clients, colleagues, executive recruiters and hiring |
| world's most famous search engine, would they be | | | | managers all use the Internet to determine your level |
| blown away by the results? | | | | of knowledge |
| Ten years ago when you wanted to know more | | | | * 23% of people Google business associates or |
| information about someone, you simply asked around: | | | | colleagues before meeting them |
| What do you know about so and so? Should I hire | | | | * 77% of recruiters Google candidates-and 35% |
| do business/date this person? Sure, you could do a | | | | eliminate them, based on what they find |
| web search (Google was founded in 1997), but things | | | | Accenture included the total number of relevant |
| weren't nearly as comprehensive as they are now. | | | | Google results as one of the three measures they |
| Today, pretty much everything you do leaves and | | | | used to develop a list of the Top 50 Business Gurus. |
| imprint on the web, and that's both good and bad | | | | So let me ask you again, what does your online |
| news for us all. | | | | profile say about you? Starting today, make a |
| The good news is, in a little over a decade Google | | | | conscious effort to build your personal brand on- and |
| has pretty much been able to do the | | | | offline. |
| unthinkable...level the playing field. Anyone can take | | | | Did you know that a professional with 5-10 years of |
| the steps to position themselves as an "expert." | | | | industry experience should have between 50-500 |
| Everyone now has global access and with just a click | | | | quality results? And a person with more than 10 |
| of the mouse, you can do business with, investigate | | | | years of experience should have 500-5,000 results? |
| or contact anyone, anywhere. | | | | Action Steps for this week: |
| Now the bad news. Too many women ignore the | | | | 1. Start acting as your own Brand Manager: Google |
| amazing technology they have at their finger tips. | | | | yourself at least once a week and stay on top of |
| They don't take ownership of their online brand, | | | | the results. Put your name in quotes for the most |
| many don't give it a second thought. | | | | accurate returns. |
| Proper online branding has the potential to catapult | | | | 2. Set up your name in "Google Alerts" so when your |
| your status into the stratosphere. Where do you | | | | name is mentioned anywhere on the web, you will |
| think publishers, producers and clients go when they | | | | know about it. |
| are looking for industry experts---online! | | | | 3. Clean up your image if you aren't happy with it. |
| As a serious entrepreneur, it is your absolute | | | | Reputation Defender is a top company that |
| responsibility to take control of your brand online. | | | | specializes in reputation management on the web. |