How To Split An Atom

Let me start out by saying that if you have a name like John Smith, you are going to have a harder time getting yourself to Google’s front page than if you had something like Internet Website Spalding ™ . That notwithstanding, here are a few tips improve the Google search placement for your name.

Make a portfolio site.

Make a portfolio, make it a blog, add your name to it (preferably to the domain) and then produce content around it. We still live in a world that everyone, except those with the most common names, can write a blog around themselves and have a serious impact on their search engine rank.

Most of the duplicate versions of you are only on the engines for a few, specific mentions, if you swamp the internet with your name, in your context you are bound to push yourself up the ladder.

Participate in the web

If you are really concerned about your online presence, you have to participate in the Web 2.0 revolution. Create profiles on sites like MySpace and Facebook, use your real name (or your website’s name) in comments on blogs that are relevant to you. Try not to simply hover around forums, but actively participate in them.

The more you participate, the better the chance that someone will link to your site. The more links you have from quality websites, the better your placement.

Find your niche

Everyone is good at something. It’s a lot easier to SEO yourself if you are only aiming for a few, specific keywords. Find the niche that really speaks to you and generate content around it. Like me, for instance, I have a love for Commemorative Stamps of 1950s Elvis Impersonators. Surprisingly, there aren’t that many people fighting me for the spot.

Write, Write, Write

I can’t emphasize this more. You can do everything else in the world, but if you don’t saturate the web with content, people will forget about you. The world moves on pretty quickly online, and if you are going to get a foothold you have to try to keep up.

I hope this helps. There are new business models coming out around online reputation and maybe they will offer better solutions. At the end of the day, like everything else in the world, it all comes down to hard work and a little bit of luck. Keep writing folks, and I hope to see you at the top of my next Google search.

The other parts of this series

How To Make Your Name Web 2.0 Ready

How To Make Your Name Web 2.0 Ready Part 2