Filling out a Google Profile is another way to climb up the Google search list. I have owned nlucero.com for eight years and due to that amount of time I reached the top of the Google search list when I enter “nathan lucero.” Recently I was surprised when a blue Google promotion box appeared over the search results list asking “Are you Nathan Lucero?” I am one of the Nathan Luceros out there so I followed the link (hind-sight I should have grabbed a screen capture).

I was taken to one of Google’s free services called Google Profiles. I already have a Gmail account so I didn’t need so sign up for anything new. I was taken to a page with forms asking me for information about myself. Most of the information asked is what one would expect to see on Facebook or LinkedIn. There are options for how you want your name shown and the option to: “Allow people to contact me (without showing my email address).”

I filled out some basic information. At the bottom of the account page there is a field where you can enter a url. This was the most important part for me. I entered my website, nlucero.com, and saved all my information. When was done my profile looked like this:

Instead of Googling myself at that moment I thought I should wait. The next day at work I Google my name again. The profile did not rocket to the top of the page, but it did show up on the first page.

It turns out this is far from a new product. See this article at googlesystem.blogspot.com that dates back to 2007. From my point of view this would be as valuable as having your own personal add words for your personal brand. I am surprised that I did not hear about this in school or from my colleagues. In my opinion the ability for someone to find your safely through the web is just as important, or more important, than your business card. So if you are trying to climb up the Google search list, I hope you find Google Profiles helpful.