Today, if people want to get to know a client, potential employee, consultant or even a date, we can Google them. From there you might be able to see college activities, their current employer, wedding pictures or blog posts. However, there’s so much that Google isn’t able to find… even with their mad search engine and crazy connections to social networks.
To see what Google sees, I put my name into the search box and this is what happened:
It took me 6 months to even get on the first page of the search results. Did you know that there is a Kristina Proctor in real estate out west and a professor in Colorado? Well, you wouldn’t know now… at least not from the first page.
When Google gathers all this information about me, it’s not grabbing the valuable content. Instead, I’m identified by titles and the collection of social networking sites. These activities are only pieces of the person I am and who I aspire to be. It doesn’t mention when my birthday is, or that my favorite color is green (although it might now), but it shows my name with links of sites that also contain my name.
My first thought? LAME.
I don’t believe that this can really paint an accurate picture that answers the question ‘who am I?’.
It’s not who I am as a whole person. We’re all more than site members and LinkedIn contacts. I believe that companies and organizations are more than their Google or Facebook rankings too for that matter.
So, can Google answer the question: Who am I?
Well, Google can if it means that I’m only two dimensional, meaning that I only live online. Which, despite popular belief, is not the case. If people or organizations want to get to know me, Googling is a great place to start, but it’s not the be all end all… oh, and I don’t think social media is either.
I do not think that Google can tell people the answer to ‘Who am I?’, but it sure can show you what I have been.
So am I able to answer the question: Who am I?
Sure, I like to think so.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Not to be all sales pitchy to a friend/MN blogger, but I do happen to work for a startup that’s built a search product for bloggers
It won’t change what Google deems is “you,” but it’ll give your readers a bit more clarity based on what YOU want them to know. Or just might be a good little comparison tool to see what we can show you that Google can’t 
Hit me up if you’re interested!
Also – I do love this post. I’m so, so Google-able, so my inclination was to make sure to own the username across all of the social sites that DO show up on Google and let my blog, FB account, and tweets help fill in that third dimension. I like your perspective!
Thanks for the response Doniree! Yup, it’s incredibly important to have similar handles and user names across platforms- totally agree.
My goal was to think about how much doesn’t/won’t show up on a Google search. My love for camping or the fact that my fiance is a great cook (although it might now)doesn’t appear. I’m thinking that there are things that I keep offline- but they also define the person I am at times.
I don’t always agree when people judge the popularity or accomplishments of a person based on their Google results.
It took a really long time to get my Twitter and LinkedIn to even show up on the first page! Unluckily, some woman with a real estate company in Texas already snatched up my name URL. A few results down, you see a newspaper article from a contest I won in high school… Google can be insanity.
Great blog, I was lucky to find it by accident.
Samantha-Getting on the first page really takes some time. I’m working on getting back up there since I have a new last name… oh marriage!
Hey! THX for magazine words. I never seen better blog.
There are some interesting points in time in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There are some good validity points.
Hi! I found your blog on AOL.It’s really well written and it helped me a lot.
Continue the good work!