Okay ... open a new browser tab/window and go to your favorite search engine ... Type in your name and hit the search button. (don't forget to come back to the rest of this article silly :P )
Are you in the top 5 of searches listed? If not why?
Scenario:
You've recently been to a slue of holiday festivities and had the opportunity to network yourself to a large number of people outside your "inner circle". You've met the CEO of your dream job or found a client that you would love to do work for in the future, but all you can remember about them is their name. Like most of us, the first thing you do is get online and look them up.
Were you able to find the person you were looking for?
What information is there?
Did they have contact information that was easily accessible?
Now put yourself in their shoes ...
The CEO of your dream job remembers meeting you and discussing having a conversation about some work in the future but all he can remember about you is your name and that you are a Financial Analysts in the DFW area. He takes a stab at looking you up online.
What does he find?
Did he find you at all?
What information is there?
Did you have contact information that was easily accessible to him?
I suggest to all of my clients to purchase a domain name with their name in it. This does not have to be a full blown web site. It can easily be a one page site with some information about you and your contact information. If you already have an online presence with your company ... have the "yourname.com" site redirect straight to your business site, myspace, twitter, or facebook page.
Think of your web domain "yourname.com" as your online business card and use it like you would a business card. In each email that you send set up a digital signature with your name, email, and web site addresss, so people know how to get in touch with you or refer you to other clients/businesses.
Defining your web presence and controlling that information is an inexpensive yet effective marketing tool. I understand that many people have qualms about putting to much information on the web, especially considering identity theft. But one of the easiest and safest ways to assure your safety is to control the information that is put out on the web.
Don't know how to set all of this up?
Check out my online portfolio and send me an email and we'll get you up and running!
michael albee
freelance graphic designer
... a team of creatives in just one guy!
214.578.4017
http://michaelalbee.com
Sunday, January 3, 2010
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