Posts tagged as:

google profile

Google Profiles now shown in search results

by Todd Lucier on April 21, 2009

Early in the new year I wrote a few posts about Google Profile being game changers and discussed Google Profiles importance as your virtual business card.

You can also learn more about interesting people who read this blog by seeing part of their Google profiles when you click on the Google Friend Connect avatars in the sidebar of this blog.

These days you even have the option of having your Google profile be visible in search results.

To ensure your profile shows up in search results, just check the box next to the photo in your profile that says, Display my full name so I can be found in search box, as shown below.
make your profile with google show in search results
Then do a simple google search on your name.  You’ll see your profile shown on the bottom of the first page of search results as shown below.

search results show up on the bottom of first google search results page

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Google Profile & Google Connect are Social Networking Game Changers

by Todd Lucier on December 5, 2008

Google Profile and Google Friend Connect Take Social Networking beyond the Walled Garden

Google has slowly added more and more services to google accounts. In essence, the creation of Google’s Friend Connect alongside Google Profile is a social networking game changer. Your social profile goes with you wherever you go! This is in stark contrast to Facebook’s “Walled Garden” approach which has kept all user activity inside the Facebook domain, until now.

Facebook’s rushed release yesterday of Facebook Connect tools for developers (one hour after Google Friend Connect was released) is evidence that Facebook needs to act quickly. Unfortunately for Facebook, Google’s widget is dead simple to install and with it, Google account users can share their profiles with one click. On the other hand, Facebook Connect is developer friendly, which means in short it’s doomed.

Facebook has a lot of work to do, and they aren’t taking Google’s foray into Social Networking lightly. Neither should you.

Use your Google Profile as your business card

A Google Account is now an important social networking tool. Your Google Profile is your online business card; your travelling Social Profile beyond the Walled Garden.

You might have an “about” page on your blog, but your Google Profile ties together your complete Web presence and travels with you anywhere you go.

First: Clean up your profile. Describe what you do and link to your social profile including blogs, photo libraries, web sites, any online tools you use. Chris Brogan’s recent post alerted me to the existence of my Google Profile and it’s a great place for more information on what your Google profile is.

You can access your Google Profile here.

Enhance your profile by taking the time to:

  • craft a short description about yourself including links to your most relevant content.
  • add your favourite photos to a Picasaweb.com account.
  • create a map or two (Mymaps tab) and update your business listing on Google Maps.
  • link to your most impressive online resources including youtube channel, podcasts you produce and your Web sites.
  • comment on relevant businesses listings on Google.com/local.

If you are already using gmail, you have a profile – it’s probably not very complete. If you have commented on google.com/local aka, Google Maps, your comments are shown with a link to your profile. If you have created a Google MyMap, your profile includes these maps when linked from Google.com/local.

Your Google Profile is bigger than you think!

Your Profile, when accessed via Google Maps link shows your Reviews and MyMaps:

This is part of the brilliance of Google and it’s implementation of Google Profile:

“Google shows your relevant profile information depending on where you are active”

Connect with Friends

Your Google Profile is also linked to Google’s new Friend Connect widget. When you become a member of a blog community your profile shows your descriptive paragraph, relevant links, and “Sites you have Joined” along with a link to your more complete profile.

(see the Tourism Keys Friend Connect widget at right and with one click join the community here!)

It doesn’t take a giant leap to understand the value of joining relevant blog communities with a strong personal profile. Other members of the blog and visitors will learn all about you by reading your profile after clicking on your avatar or better, your photo.

This also raises the value of taking the time to leave great comments on relevant blogs!

Link to your Shiny New Google Profile url

When you are happy with your new business card, be social with it and link to your profile on:

  • blogs,
  • profile pages on facebook and other social networks
  • twitter profile
  • blog comments
  • business proposals
  • email signature lines, etc.

Just copy and paste the url for your profile. It will have a unique address like mine: http://www.google.com/s2/profiles/117194823555757103508?hl=en

Create Multiple Profiles (if you really feel a need to)

On a previous post, I made a strong case for using your real name as your username on Web 2.0 Services. I stand by this recommendation! However, for information purposes, you need to know that users can create multiple identities with multiple Gmail Addresses. For instance you might create a business card for your business enterprise along with one for your name.

Google’s Profile coupled with Friend Connect is a serious game changer.

How ready are you to use your shiny new Google Profile?

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