What's Your Online Identity Score and What Does it Say About You?

Here's a little experiment for you to run:

• Type your name (with quotes) into Google.

• Look at the first three pages of results--how many of these references are about you?

• How many of those results would convey the right message to a future employer or client?

In an age where Google is the first place we go to get information on just about anything or anyone, our online identities are becoming increasingly important.

The other day I used a handy tool from Career Distinction to calculate my "online identity score." What I found was that I have a strong web presence--I show up as the top "Michele Martin" and about 16 of the entries on the first three pages are both about me and convey the messages I want to convey about myself.

Even more interesting, though, was the discovery that what has boosted my online identity has been mostly content that I've created myself, including:

• My Bamboo Project blog where I've been writing for over a year on various issues related to technology, organizational/professional development, learning and nonprofits.
• My LinkedIn profile
• A Slideshare presentation on Online Portfolios that I developed (a post for another day)
• My profile page from the Building a Better Blog social network I created about a month ago.

I also have several references from other bloggers who have linked to me.

All of this means that I'm having a huge amount of control over the quality of information that's available about me online. I can build buzz for myself through my interactions and the information I post, which in turn can mean that when I'm "googled" I create greater credibility with potential employers or clients.

Seeing this has made me more aware of the issue of personal branding and online identities. What would it say, for example, if someone typed in my name and there were no references to me at all online? What about having a "mixed bag" of references, with some that conveyed the "right" message, but then other information that didn't?

What I realize is that the more information about myself that I keep online, the better off I am when it comes to developing my personal brand. It's also critical that I use my real identity--not a pseudonym or just my first name. At one point I'd considered blogging using only my first name in my blog, etc. Now I'm incredibly glad that I took the plunge and have begun using my full name just about everywhere on the web. At no point has it hurt me--no identity theft or stalkers--and it's allowing me to claim my personal online identity.

So what's your online identity score?  What can you do to boost it?

Comments

[Talia]

I got an 8 out of 10- apparently that's not so good? I don't know. The screen after I'd finished said I was disastrous!! I really don't know how to increase myself online... it's one of those crazy things.

[Michele Martin]

An 8 out of 10 shouldn't be disastrous, Talia, so I'm not sure why you would have received that result from them. I'm actually planning to do some posts on how to increase your visibility online, so hopefully that will give you some additional ideas.