Perhaps you are a consultant, a writer, a singer, or own a small business. In each of these endeavors, and certainly in others, you want to make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way to market yourself and get your name out front. Now-a-days, there are thousands of on-line social networking sites that you can take advantage of. For instance, a lot of colleagues of mine have Facebook and My Space pages. In addition to those, they take advantage of business networking sites like LinkedIn.So there are many opportunities to put your name out there. But the big question is can you pass the Google test? 

1)  Go to Google and put your name in quotes in the search box. Make sure it is the name that you do business by (but not the name of your business, that comes later) or everyone knows you buy.  Then press enter.  Take a look at the results.  Where do you come up?  Is that first, second or third result you? 

2)  Now, Google your business name.  Does you business come up in the the search results on the first page? 

3)  Finally, type in what you do in the search box.  For instance, say you are a Business Transformation consultant living in Dallas, Texas. Type in "Business Transformation consulting, Dallas, Texas".  Does your name our business name come up when that term is searched?

If this is the first time that you have done this, don't be alarmed if you don't come up on the first page.  In fact, don't be alarmed if you don't come up at all.  The first page of results is where you want to be but you'll just have some work to get there. 

Why is this important?  Our society is fast becoming an on-line society.  In the next 10 years, most of our everyday commerce is going to be conducted over the Internet. In fact, most consumers look to the Internet today to get information on goods and services they need or intend to buy - nearly 90%.  With that being said, if you are not made this community an essential part of your business model, then you are going to want to change this and change this quickly.  There will be a gold mine in cyberspace.  If you are not out there, you have no chance of being a part of that gold rush. 

If your name is John Smith, then when you Google, you want to be the first John Smith to come up.  The same is true with your business name. While this is important, what's more important is that when consumers want to find a business or service, they are not going to use your name or your business name because they don't know it.  They are going to Google what they are looking for.  That's why you want to make sure your name is associated with what you do.  When they search, it is essential your name is returned on that first or second page of results.  Studies show that 75% of all search engine users won't go past the first two pages of search results. You really want to be there. 

So, how do you correct this?  First, you need to get a web site or two.  You absolutely need a web site for your company or business. And it has to be a professional, well written site with lots of content.  Billboard sites - those sites that are two or three pages long that only announce your business are a tremendous waste of money because they don't work.  Get a good web site that takes advantage of the way folk use the Internet today (you know, that Web 2.0 Stuff!).  Secondly, make sure you have a blog. The old saying in academic circles, "Publish or perish" is true for business people as well.  Write articles in your blog about how your clients can save money, etc.  If you blog is opinion based, don't associate it with your business. You will lose credibility.  Contribute articles and information throughout the Internet.  Visit forums that relate to your business vertical.  Upload articles that you have writtento ezine sites (sites that take unsolicited articles that others can post on their site).  Finally, take advantage of all the networking sites that make sense - LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, etc.  Hang out where you audience and peer group hangs out. 

The written word is powerful.  The Internet gives you and your business an opportunity to make a tremendous impact and attract a lot of clients to your company.  But be sure to use this opportunity responsibly.  Post factual, well documented information.  Don't falsify information or try to trick your clients to get business. 

When you put the necessary time into building your on-line image, eventually you will be able to profit from your hard work.  It make take a few months, maybe even a year or two, but eventually you find yourself extremely well positioned in cyberspace. 

If you need a web site, visit our friends over at In-Vision Marketing Design.  They can walk you through all  that you need to know about getting up and going on the Internet.