Do you ever go to Google to search for your name?
A search for David results in 719,000,000 web pages. Zoiks!
A search for Brenda presents 31,500,000 results.
And search for Fred will get you 120,000,000 results, including a stock chart for Fred's, Inc, whoever that is.
Last year, I Googled my name to see where I came up in the results.
It wasn't pretty. There are 72,500,000 results for Joel.
So I decided to get busy with a little legitimate link magic.
I use PRWeb to distribute press releases.
I don't use it expecting to get media coverage. Ocassionally my releases will get attention, but I have other motives.
If you purchase the $200 upgrade level, you can embed several keyword links in your news release. Since releases are often reprinted on web sites with all links in tact, this is a great way to get incoming links from related news sites.
Over the past year or so, I've released several products and used PRWeb to announce these products.
But here's the trick.
By selecting the $200 option, I would always embed a link back to this blog using "Joel" as the anchor text.
So has it worked?
Click here to see where this blog ranks when you search for Joel.
As of this writing, I am #10 on the FIRST page of the results at Google! I've seen my listing go as high as #6, and it fluctuates between #7 and #10 most of the time.
So out of seventy-one MILLION results for "Joel", I am on the first page.
I think that's pretty spiffy and it proves that the $200 option on PRWeb is worth the investment.
Incidentally, if you do a search for Joel Comm there are over 200,000 results. I don't believe there are any other people with the same name as mine, so that means every page says something about me.
It's pretty interesting to read some of the page to see what people are saying. Most of the pages are favorable and complimentary, but there are some doozies as well!
I know. It's vanity. But it is fun to play with SEO and see the results before your own eyes.
So what page are you on when you Google your name?
Leave your comments below, please.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
March 4, 2008 12:26 AM
Hi Joel,
My full name is pretty unique as well.
I get only 818 results for my name.
So I am not high up there as your name yet. ;-)
But Inshallah (Arabic phrase meaning God Willing) I get there.
Here is a question for you?
Will there be another installment of the The Next Interner Millionaire?
Peace
Koorosh
March 4, 2008 02:57 AM
Hi Joel,
Just read your post here and decided to Google my name. Like yours, it's pretty rare.
At this moment I'm mentioned FIVE times on the first page.
Not bad EH?
All the best,
Pete.
March 4, 2008 04:23 AM
Ah, a fellow EGO-MANIAC! :-)
I consider it slipping up if more than 3 results on the
front page of Google have someone ELSE than me for a
search on 'Dr.Mani' :-)
Here's a good tip. Register different extensions of your
name and brand yourself further.
DrMani.name - About Dr.Mani
DrMani.biz - About Dr.Mani's business
DrMani.org - About Dr.Mani's non-profit
It's a long story how I lost DrMani.com - and an unpleasant
one - so don't ask!
For a while I've been thinking about whether there's room
for a course teaching how to boost your personal name brand
via ethical SEO. Waddya think, Mr.Comm?! (ok, Joel) :)
All success
Dr.Mani
March 4, 2008 10:05 AM
I've been #1 in all three search engines for 'netmeg' for years. I've been using it since 1985. No links to speak of, but I mouth off a lot.
March 4, 2008 11:31 PM
The best way for a person to search is to use the advanced search mechanism of both google and yahoo. They can really narrow your search down to the relevant pages that contain the specific David or the specific Brenda you're looking for. I never really took advantage of such a function before but I have recently realized how much of a time saver it really is.
March 5, 2008 06:57 AM
Someone linked to my blog with the term:
"affiliate marketing boy" even though I am not a boy :)
Now I rank #1 for "affiliate marketing boy" which is kinda odd.
I also rank #1 for my full name "phillip van coller" but nowhere close to the top for "phillip"
March 5, 2008 06:58 AM
Someone linked to my blog with the term:
"affiliate marketing boy" even though I am not a boy :)
Now I rank #1 for "affiliate marketing boy" which is kinda odd.
I also rank #1 for my full name "phillip van coller" but nowhere close to the top for "phillip"
March 5, 2008 03:31 PM
Needless to say that my "own unique" name doesn't exactly stand out in Google! Afterall it is not only a very common name (especially in the late 50s) but also there is an actor (Jeffrey Jones), there was a college basketball player (Jeff Jones) and I'm sure a few other famous persons with my name. I'm trying to make my mark on the Internet though, post by post! LOL.
March 5, 2008 03:46 PM
Interesting Google exercise ... point well taken! Blogging is an absolute cyber connection of amazing proportions. There is no doubt about it. I am a new reader; saw you on Craig's List and thought I'd take a look. Thanks.
March 6, 2008 04:59 PM
Serge gets 23,700,00
Serge with my last name get 2300, in quotes (first and last) I get 94.
March 7, 2008 12:53 PM
Hoho, guess what: 80% of Google's first page for "Michael Baas" has links to my sites / profiles :)
And there is a football-player in africa, a musician in US, and a journalist and a consultant in germany with the same name...
March 7, 2008 04:52 PM
Hi,
well when i google my name it returned 518,000 results.
still interesting when you see so many people around the world with your actual full name.
steve