SmallBizResource Blog -- Marketing

What Does Google Have To Say About You?

Posted by Judy Mottl Monday, Dec 31, 2007, 10:09 AM ET

Consider this fact: 53% of people have gone online to search out information on both personal and business contacts. Do you know what the Web holds when it comes to your company information?

You should. Heck we all should know what comes back on ourselves, our business, our professional achievements when we Google. If you haven't done it already make it New Year's Resolution No. 2 (that security assessment still should stay at No. 1)

Why find out the hard way that customers are slamming recent customer service interactions, or that your products aren't performing as promised? Why not head off potential marketing and brand nightmares by making sure your company message and focus is clear?

The Pew Internet and American Life Project report states that 72 percent of Web searchers went online for contact information and 37 percent have used the Web to get data about a person's professional accomplishments or interests.

So put aside a half hour to an hour this week and Google yourself, your company, your partners, your product name, even your employees' names. It's a proactive step toward good business and hopefully even a better year in business.

The article at TechNewsWorld quotes Daniel J. Solove, an associate professor of law at the George Washington University Law:

"I think it is true that people are currently not aware of the consequences of their online reputations. This is all relatively new, so many people are putting information online without having experienced the dark side or realizing the damage it could do to themselves or others. That's definitely a big problem."

Marketing