Why You Should Never Google Yourself
Many have heard it is wise to search yourself on Google every so often in order to gauge what information others can find about you online, whether that be potential love interests, employers or simply family members curious enough to do their own search. An accidental Google search might reveal personal details you might not want made public – information such as personal contact numbers.
However, there are a few reasons you should never google yourself.
1. It’s a waste of time
Most of us know that when looking to learn about someone new, the first place they turn is Google. From college applicants and job-seekers alike to established C-Level executives, what appears in search results can have an enormous effect on how others perceive you online.
As important as it is to know your online image and reputation are, making a habit of googling yourself can be more harmful than beneficial; when using search criteria that reflect only yourself as the searcher to gauge results makes it harder to see what people who search your name actually see when conducting a search for you.
When signed into your own Google account, Google uses factors like your location and previous searches to personalize search results specifically to you, skewing what other users see. Therefore it is extremely important to utilize a search engine management tool on a regular basis in order to assess the performance of your search engine without being biased by personal search criteria.
Google yourself at your own peril because doing so poses a security risk. There are various websites with bits of your personal information available online, including addresses, phone numbers, family relationships and other details which could be used against you in targeted advertisements or sold off to marketers for marketing purposes – which could have real world repercussions.
At the core, understanding your online reputation is of utmost importance, but doing a quick Google search once or twice every month won’t cut it – a professional search engine management tool is ideal as this takes all factors into consideration and accurately gauges how others see your rank when typing your name into Google.
2. It’s not helpful
No doubt that Googling yourself can provide a very accurate picture of your digital footprint; however, doing this on a regular basis could actually damage SEO rankings.
Search engine algorithms can be intricate, and many factors influence how you appear online. One key way you can increase your visibility online is by making sure all of your personal and professional details remain consistent across websites, social media accounts, business cards etc. To do so effectively you must always remain aware of how others perceive you.
However, if you find yourself constantly Googling yourself it could alter the results. Search engines use factors such as your prior searches, websites you visit and location when displaying pages; to ensure accurate results when searching for yourself it is wise to either sign out of Google Accounts or open new Incognito Windows when performing this type of research.
Googling yourself or competitors can have a detrimental effect on both local and organic rankings, particularly for business owners. By clicking regularly on competitor pages you are artificially inflating their click-through rates and potentially improving their rank over yours – something that should be avoided at all costs! Therefore it is wise to refrain from searching yourself or competitors on an ongoing basis.
As a marketing agency, Optic Marketing Group understands the temptation of people using Google to measure themselves may be overwhelming; but we want you to remember this is an ineffective method of doing so. There are plenty of better ways of understanding how your brand is doing; get in touch with Optic Marketing Group now and discover how we can make the most of your digital presence by helping to boost SEO and elevate digital marketing – we look forward to hearing from you!
3. It’s a waste of time
Many a marketing agency has had to help clients who become distressed with what appears when they Google themselves. Googling yourself too frequently may actually impede SEO efforts rather than enhance them; Google customizes search results when signed in; even with your browser history cleared and incognito window enabled, searches may still be affected by location information associated with your Google account, devices used for internet access, websites visited etc – hence why it is best practice to sign out from all accounts before searching yourself online.
Googling yourself regularly may seem like a useful practice, providing an opportunity to ensure the online image you project of yourself matches what you wish others would see – however, while you have some control over what information exists online about you, others often post content about themselves that may not be flattering.
One Australian man whose name appeared on a list of local mobsters found himself involved in an almost lethal gunshot incident due to Google auto complete and image searches which linked his name with local mob members, leading to shocking and inaccurate information that almost cost him his life.
While Googling yourself may help in several ways, it is important to keep in mind that any search done without signing in or using an incognito search will have an immediate impact on SEO strategy and online appearance. An incognito search can ensure the information about yourself that appears is accurate without impacting SEO efforts negatively.
4. It’s a waste of time
Googling yourself can give potential employers, dates or new acquaintances an accurate portrait of who you are – although some may consider it vanity, googling can actually help prevent identity theft, limit real-world crime and provide some added privacy in an age where such things are increasingly hard to come by.
However, many people search themselves incorrectly when Google-ing themselves. Signing out of accounts or using an incognito browser are both effective strategies to depersonalize searches; additionally you can use quotation marks or “site:” specifications to quickly filter specific pages and publications that interest you. Regular self-checks are essential; just make sure it’s done in an ethical way!
Example: If you click one of your competitors’ results repeatedly and immediately leave their page without visiting their page, this could negatively affect your SEO. This practice is known as click-through rate manipulation and some companies employ it extensively to boost their own SEO and weaken competitors.
Googling yourself is not inherently harmful, but doing it incorrectly could damage your online reputation. Instead, take steps to enhance your image online and ensure that the content displayed by others is accurate, professional, and positive. For help protecting your image and ranking well in search engines such as Optic Marketing Group’s Personal Branding Checklist: just click below!
