Sometimes, you find a piece of advice you want to shout from the rooftop. Such was the case when a Career Girl Network readers submitted Forbes writer Kashmir Hill’s article “Please, I beg you, put a Google alert on your name.” Ms. Hill is on to something here, something that personal branding experts have said before, but never so strongly. Usually, branding experts bury this tip somewhere in their online media schtick but gloss over how important tracking yourself online truly is.
If you’re not familiar with Google Alerts, it’s a Google service that allows you to receive email alerts whenever Google’s search engine picks up on certain search terms. I use Google Alerts to track my company, some nonprofits I’m passionate about, and to follow certain issues as they grow or change online. But no matter what, you should right now (literally right at this moment), go Google Alert your own name. Wouldn’t you want to know if someone or some business were using your name on a website?
Kashmir gave, in her article, directions on how to Google Alert your own name. Here they are:
1. Go here.
2. Enter your name in quotation marks (e.g., “Kashmir Hill”) as the search term.
3. Decide how often you want alerts. Mine are daily, but you can also get them weekly or as soon as your name appears somewhere.
4. Click “Create an Alert”.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
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