Now this is just my opinion (although many have agreed with me). If someone tries to contact me I typically Google them, for a variety of reasons, but the biggest reason is trust. I don’t know you. You could be a nut job or a competitor digging for info or a great many other things. Therefore! I google you! I also use 123People.com and other resources at times.
My Point
I think it is important for people to understand that if I google your name and I cannot find ANYTHING about you, but your Facebook page I will tend to back off (and many others do also). If you have a credible business than your name should pop up on google or somewhere! If the only place you show up is on Facebook that doesn’t make me trust you in the slightest! In fact, it drops the trust factor to like a -40. What do you see when you google me? Do I appear trustable?
What Every Business and Employee Should Be Doing
People need to be findable for many reasons…
- People may know your name, but don’t have your number and don’t remember where you work…wouldn’t it be nice if they could google you, find you and bam you make a sale!
- TRUST – Are you are real person or a scum bucket with 900 personalities online? I don’t know. PROVE to me I can trust you enough to contact you.
- If you are not findable what does that say about how good you are at what you do? To someone like me you must not be (sorry).
- Visibility – you need to be visible…you need to be findable…you need an online reputation that is positive, so create one!
Recommendations
- Your company can create a well-coded and optimized page for you (and other employees), if you are comfortable with it.
- You can create a blog and tell me who you are, what you do and why you are the best at what you do. (pick a good blog option please)
- You can use sites such as Linkedin to create a bio that lets me know you are actually a human (or an alien that looks like one) and you are a part of a reputable company.
- Write articles for websites, blogs or your company site.
- Create an online reputation that allows me to trust you quickly.
- Use social media to market yourself and your company.
This post is in response to this morning’s tweet.
Also read –
Why Businesses Should Include Their Phone Number(s) in Their Optimization
I agree 100%. Not only for branding purposes but the trust issue as well. Most people don’t trust people right off, I do the same research online if I am approached by an individual or company. You better believe I do my due diligence. If you are trying to portray yourself as a professional and stand out among the hundreds if not thousands of competitors, you can’t pass up on creating that presence online.
Jeremy Martin
Facebook’s a good addition to an online portfolio, but no social media presence should be your be all and end all.
The current issue with social media is people almost overstate the importance of it. Use it, integrate it, promote it – just don’t rely on it as your sole online tactic.
Andy