It’s All About “Bility!”

Stability.  Findability.  Referability.  Credibility   – they all stem from having a great image online.  Being found consistently on page one makes you someone people can easily send clients to – and helps your actual standing with those clients and others who find you.

 

So, how’s your “bility?”  Have you checked lately?  Do you think it matters?  Do you want to have more success and expert status?  Do you know you need to become someone online? Do you know how important it is to position for the new ways in which people are both being searched for, found and judged?  (often without them even knowing it happened)

 

If this worries you or scares you, good – you’re grasping the depth and breadth of the situation!  (ever since I had to take depth and breadth classes at Penn State, I have yearned to use those words together in a sentence – at last!)  Seriously, though, there is so much risk to having old information, or bad information or no information out there about you that you have to be sure to lead with the best you can.

 

Most of the time, people simply assume they are not being looked for, unless perhaps they are looking for a job.  But simply, stop and ask yourself – “How do I find information when I am coveting new knowledge or old connections?”  Once you realize the answer is likely “Googling it.” your next questions almost has to be:  “What is my Google-ability?”  See, it really is all about “bility!”

Netweaving Tips For Professionals

Knowing how to network – but going beyond it to making sure your referrals are all to the most incredible people possible – makes you into a netweaver.  Knowing how to grow your netweaving database takes practice, and some help perhaps from guru Bob Littell.

 

Being found online properly is perhaps the most important thing to be able to make your networking easy and your refer-ability simple.  What if the next time a contact or client wants to refer you, if all they have to say is “Google her”?  How much does that help you out?  How easy does that make it for the person referring you?  They no longer have to type in details about what you do – your online profile tells them.  The other day I told two friends to “just Google each other” and then in two sentences, told them how I saw them helping each other.  They loved the intro, I loved the ease – and a business deal is brewing between them, as I type.

 

Knowing the best people is a large part of the netweaving battle – but having them make themselves easy to find, easy to refer to, and easy to work with – is almost as important.  If you do a lot of business of a partner, suggest to them they get to page one of Google.  They will become easier for your to refer, easier for their clients to find – and they will gain new traction to help pull the information they want to share onto page one with them.

Establishing and Creating Your Personal Brand

 

When you think of branding, what comes to mind—logos, taglines, commercials, certain companies and their products? As consumers, we are barraged with countless brand messages and images; products are competing daily for our attention and recognition. But what makes one brand stand out over the other; why do some of us choose a particular brand?  

 

Truly successful brands instill loyalty and trust in their product. A brand you trust is consistent; you can always count on it to be what you expect.  You will continue to buy it—you are a loyal customer. There may be comparable products or services out there, but their brands haven’t resonated with you. And that’s the secret of a successful brand; it builds trust and resonates with the consumer.

 

But what if you’re not a huge company with millions to spend on branding; what if you’re just starting out launching a new consulting practice or business? Anyone who’s been in this position knows that much of what you have to sell is You! Understanding what’s required to become a successful brand can be applied to your own personal brand. You become the product, the logo and tagline, the commercial message, and the company. You become a brand whether you realize it or not.

 

When you are starting out, everything you do, the things you say, even the clothes you wear are creating awareness about the brand that is You. What is your personality and image saying about Your product and service? What is Your commercial message? How do you instill loyalty and trust in You? And how well do You resonate with your clients?

 

These are critical questions to think about as you are establishing and creating your personal brand. It makes one realize that growing awareness about yourself and building trust and loyalty is more than marketing and the tools available to you (although don’t get me wrong, you do need those tools). The emphasis here is on You. You, and everything you do, reflect your brand.

 

We live in a highly competitive society; look in the mirror and ask yourself, “What type of brand is established in the minds of people I meet and interact with?” Then, do what’s necessary for people to remember you; create a personal “brand” that is impactful, a personal “message” that is memorable, and a personal “product” that builds trust and resonates with your clients.

 

Alisa Petitt is founder of Petitt Communications, Inc., and Inspiring Style Consulting where she guides others in achieving their unique personal brand. She is a member of the Association of Image Consultants International. You can email her at apetitt@petittcommunications.com

 

 

 

Do You Share a Name With Many Others?

John Smith.  A common name for sure (the most common in the US), but unless you’re the founder of Jamestown, good luck making the top grade on Google.  Amanda Brown.  When you share a name with a shoe company, gaining a page one presence can seem impossible.  James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Michael Moore.  Try sharing a name with a top celeb.  Good luck making your own mark online. 

 

These are just some of the many common or popular names that would have been hard to share and still be found online….Until now.  With the surge in people Googling for Information, we’ve seen a huge upturn in people seeking people – and not just for singles dating.  If people are searching for you – you want them to find the right you, the real you – and have you be found where they should find you – at the top, with professional panache.

 

So, how do you do this?  Does it cost a ton of money?  Does it require a lot of work?  We can hear the questions swirling around in your head.  How about if you found out it takes 10 minutes to set up, maybe an hour to populate if you don’t have a bio written, and costs less than $10 a month?  Would you want to know how to gain top page listing?

 

You want to be the one to stand out – and stand above – the other folks with the same name.  Sign up today and even if someone with the same name signs up – you’ll gain page one – and within two clicks, they’ll find you.

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Andy “Google Me” Greider is a marketing consultant and radio show host of business growth solutions show, Uniqueness is Power. Andy is also Brand Manager with qAlias, plus he is a Self Promotion maven, serial entrepreneur, author, blogger, and inventor of the Gorelephant, first eImpressions and networthing.  He’d love to help you grow your business or develop and deploy your online personal brand.

Surprising Branding Benefits of Search

We found a great article in our inbox recently, from Stacy Williams, at Prominent Placement – thanks to her for allowing us to reprint and comment – her article appears in blue:

One of the great benefits of search engine marketing is that it’s more measurable than most other forms of advertising and marketing.  Search marketers are able to see exactly how many conversions (online leads or sales) they’ve driven, along with revenue generated and ROI.  It’s every marketer’s dream!

 

But are we missing half the picture by focusing on conversions?  Just because we can easily measure conversions, does that cause us to focus solely on this single metric and ignore other, harder-to-track benefits of search engine marketing?

 

I’m talking about branding.  You may be surprised to hear how much search engines impact brand awareness and the propensity to purchase.

 

Just seeing a paid search listing, for example, made searchers 38% more likely to have a perception of “exceptional quality” for the brands featured – they didn’t even have to click to visit the advertised sites for this increase in brand equity to occur (1).

 

High search engine rankings translate into perceptions of leadership and credibility across various industries studied.  For auto insurance purchasers, 79% said search introduced them to brands they were previously unaware of (2).  For wireless service customers, 61% said they expect brand leaders to consistently be in the top results (3).  And for travel web researchers, 56% said they looked at a site they didn’t intend to because it was one of the first few results listed (4).

 

People using search engines are more likely to consider multiple brands (77% did so) than Internet users that don’t use search engines (70%) or non-Internet users (46%).  On average, searchers considered 2.5 brands before making a purchase (5).

 

The positive impact that search has on nearly every step in the buying cycle is increasingly being recognized and valued by marketers.  Companies are now actually more likely to use search marketing for increasing brand awareness (61%) than for selling directly online (58%) or generating leads (20%) (6).

 

We’ll add that this phenomenon is not just for companies as brands, but for people as brands, too.  Gaining page one priority for your name has a huge effect on the psyche of those searching for you – sometimes subliminally, sometimes more recognizably – but either way, impacting their perception of you immediately upon search.

 

Sources:

1.  Search Brand Studies, June 06

2.  Yahoo Search Marketing Reach & Engagement, Nov. 05

3.  The Role of Search in the Wireless Market, Aug. 05

4.  The Role of Search in the Travel Research Cycle, Nov. 05

5.  Yahoo’s “Long & Winding Road” research, Dec. 06

6.  SEMPO’s Annual State of Search Survey, Jan. 08

Special thanks to Ron Belanger and John Cattarulla of Yahoo, whose presentation at the June meeting of the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association brought these statistics to light.

About Stacy Williams and Prominent Placement:

For more information, visit Prominent Placement or call 888.SEM.MKTR.  Prominent Placement, Inc., is a full-service, award-winning search engine marketing firm based in Atlanta, GA, serving clients throughout the US since 2001.  We provide strategic search marketing solutions, delivering efficiencies that traditional marketing channels can’t touch, with a level of client service that can’t be matched.  We manage the process for you so that you can focus on your business.  Since your business is unique, so are the recommendations we make, backed by hard numbers that give you the confidence and knowledge you need to make smarter decisions.

How to Portray a Successful Image Online, Starting With Page One Relevance Today

So, you have realized you need to be online – and need to have a presence on the web?  You’ve put up a website, but it isn’t bringing you the traffic you want, it is a pain to maintain or costs a bunch to do so, and it costs even more to promote and push to the top of the search engines.  Want to know how to help people find the site and you?  Want to gain the most powerful marketing tool in the land?  How about one with a built in marketing plan?

 

Step one – sign up for QAlias – and link it to the site you want to promote.  Begin promoting yourself – tell people “Google Me” when they ask how to find you.  You’re who they do business with – and you’re who they will refer – not your business.  Think about it.  How do you refer?  Do you say “Go to InXpress” or “Contact my friend, Dustin Hansen.”  What if you could just say – Google Dustin Hansen to find out how he can save you money on your shipping?  (use code ATL101 for special owner service!)

 

Would you like that kind of instant findability, refer-ability and Net-Cred?  Would you like people to see a successful you immediately online, without having to  do more than put your name in Google?  Do you understand how important it is to pass the litmus test of these times?  Do you give good Google?

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Andy “Google Me” Greider is a marketing consultant and radio show host of business growth solutions show, Uniqueness is Power. Andy is also Brand Manager with qAlias, plus he is a Self Promotion maven, serial entrepreneur, author, blogger, and inventor of the Gorelephant, first eImpressions and networthing.  He’d love to help you grow your business or develop and deploy your online personal brand.

Make “Hope and Change” A Personal Crusade

The political season has brought with it a new chant, “hope and change”.  It is a rallying cry for those who long for a new era and aura of enlightened governance. While the masses wait over the next year or two for our new leaders to deliver the ‘sea change’ of  peace, prosperity and opportunity, it is time to ignite the well spring of hope and change in our own personal and professional life. I much prefer immediate actions to bring the personal change and success that you desire.  The environment for success has never been better.  

 

I had lunch the other day with Alisa Petit, a former corporate executive who is realizing the need to find expression in her professional life by teaching other professionals to build confidence and effectively ‘wave their own flag’ through personal branding. As an active net-worker I am constantly meeting those who are making the daunting transition from the corporate cocoon to an entrepreneurial sandbox.  They are pursuing this change through necessity, whether personally inspired or circumstantial. And, like Alisa, they just need a catalyst to enable and empower their inner motivations.  Perhaps you are among those considering or making such a move.   

 

The 19^th century philosopher, James Allen wrote in “As Man Thinketh,”

“As a being of Power, Intelligence and Love, and Lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.”

 

Ok, now inspired, what next? 

First step is to take inventory of your skills and strengths. The exercise of just writing a personal bio can be the right opportunity to realize the depth of your experience and talents. It can also be a watershed of inspiration for expanding your horizons. 

 

Second step is to establish your credibility in the web community. Learn the web tools that are available to own the first page of your name’s search engine results.  Write articles for blogs that are related to areas of your expertise. Become the owner of the corner store on the web for your areas of interest and a maven for those who are interested in the same topics.

 

Third step is to expand your network.  Discover the business and social networking meetings in your area and attend a few.  Learn to become a netweaver and also engage in networthing.  Remember it is not what you know or who you know….but who knows you that really counts.

 

Begin now to make hope and change a personal crusade.

 

“Don’t with it were easier;

Wish you were better.

Don’t wish for less problems;

Wish for more skills.

Don’t wish for less challenge;

Wish for more wisdom.”

 

Charles Fellingham is founder of QAlias, a personal branding tool that provides prominent personal placement optimization on the web. He is also a corporate trainer for the Forum Corporation and a Regional Sales Manager for a Fortune 200 company.

Can You Pass the Google Test?

Back in the sixties and seventies, people asked the question “Can You Pass the Acid Test?” and “Are You Experienced?”  They wanted to know how real you were – but they had to ask you face to face.  Now, with Google meaning “to search for knowledge online” as a verb, the game has changed.  You will be looked for.  Will you be found – or found wanting?  Can You Pass The Google Test?

 

How do you look online now?  If a meeting suddenly become “virtual” and the other person Googled you, what would they find?  If you don’t know – go do it now.  I’ll wait here….

 

So, what did you find?  Was it what you would have wanted them to find?  Or was it something else?  Someone else?  Someone else you wouldn’t want to be confused with?  If so, you’re not alone for sure.  People all across the board are finding others who share their name, sharing rankings with them – or worse yet, not being found at all.  So, what can you do about it?

 

Take top position.  Publish an article and link to it from your top position.  Begin to add links to the top position to the things you want associated to your name and status online.  Link to sites with lots of traffic, such as Wikipedia, YouTube and others where you see relevant content.  Join the Google Revolution – and take your position in the online chess match being waged for top page supremacy.  Protect and promote your personal brand!

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Andy “Google Me” Greider is a marketing consultant and radio show host of business growth solutions show, Uniqueness is Power. Andy is also Brand Manager with qAlias, plus he is a Self Promotion maven, serial entrepreneur, author, blogger, and inventor of the Gorelephant, first eImpressions and networthing.  He’d love to help you grow your business or develop and deploy your online personal brand.

How Do Gas Prices Affect Your Online Personal Brand?

The pumps keep going up – and the signs are that it won’t stop anytime soon.  Plus, now that we’re past $4 a gallon – the chances of things going back below the $4 mark seem slim.  Until we find and begin to use alternate energy sources, we’re going to see people cutting back more and more on travel, conventions, face to face meetings and more.  With that decrease in one on one interactions, more people will be turning to the internet to learn about you and what you offer to them.

 

It is an imperative, now more than ever before, that you are being found online the way you want to be found.  Being found on page one of the search engine(s) of choice is key, as is conveying the information you want them to find.  Making sure your personal brand is created, portrayed and projected as you’d intend can make the difference right now in this economy – where a “first impression” becomes a first e-Impression.

 

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to tell all your clients who need to be in contact with you – “Just Google Me!” – and make it so your presence is a professional, ad free and clean space you control?  Wouldn’t it be amazing if, over time, your name being input in the search engines brought up a whole page or two or three of results – the accolades and the information you want to share with the clients you have, or the ones seeking you out?  What if your clients could refer you by simply saying “Google her?”

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Andy “Google Me” Greider is a marketing consultant, personal branding expert and radio show host of business growth solutions show, Uniqueness is Power.  Andy is also Brand Manager with qAlias, plus he is a Self Promotion maven, serial entrepreneur, author, blogger, and inventor of the Gorelephant, first eImpressions and networthing.  He’d love to speak with you about how to grow your business and improve your brand.

Personal Branding Made Easy

After I was downsized for the second time in three years back in April, I decided that enough was enough. I was tired of working for someone else in an unstable economy and having the feeling that I couldn’t control my circumstances.

 I have been a writer and editor for 18 years, but I’ve always worked for someone else. After freelancing part-time for almost three years, I decided to go into business for myself. I applied for every freelance gig under the sun and tried to network with friends, family and total strangers who were interested or too slow to get away from me.

 I’ve always said that I’m not a salesman, but now I’m in the business of selling myself. I think my work speaks for itself, but unfortunately, I have to get that opportunity to let my work do the talking. I had heard from a friend that I needed to control and shape my online image through Qalias. I didn’t realize what he meant until I went to Google and typed in my name.

 What came up was a subway street performer in New York City, a starving actor in Minnesota (move out of Minnesota and you might not starve in your acting career?) and a salesman in Oregon. I thought about my online habits, and realized that anytime I want to find information for a story I’m doing that the first thing I do is go to Google and let my computer do the searching. Why should my freelance writing and editing business be any different?

Now that I am a part of QAlias, potential clients can find out everything they need to know about me and my business by just typing my name in the Google search box. I am the first link they see, not some juggler in the subway tunnels of New York. I have landed several clients as a result of this service, and I think that the sky is the limit for where QAlias can help me take my business. I am working on my juggling skills, just in case I want to add something unique to my skillset!