I'm Just Sharing

Posted by Mitch on Oct 8, 2009

How many of you ever check your name on Google to see what might be out there for you? If you have a common name, the numbers might be kind of skewed, which stinks. If I go looking up Mitch Mitchell I’m out there, but I have to deal with a heck of a lot of stuff that talks about Jimi Hendrix former drummer.

However, when I go looking under my official business name, which is “T. T. Mitchell (and don’t ask, because I’m not telling what any of it stands for), I’ll find myself all over the place. As a matter of fact, out of the first 50 references on Google, 38 of the references are to me. Out of the next 50 references, 17 are about me. I mean, 55 out of the first 100; that’s not bad if you ask me.

It can be pretty heady stuff when you keep finding websites that you’re listed on, or things you’ve written. I’ve found all sorts of things about myself that I never expected to find. I found a reference to a speaking engagement I’m giving next April on social media; never knew that was online. I found that many songs I have copyrights on are listed online in a certain place; freaky. I’ve found my articles on sites I never knew existed. I’ve found myself listed for things I’d have never expected to be found for. I even found someone who recommended both my newsletters and my services (read the article by Catherine Ryan on the right), someone I hate to admit I don’t remember, or can’t verify that I’ve met, but you know, we take recommendations as we find them, right?

Overall, how many references are there that pertain to me? According to Yahoo, more than 8,600; yeow! There’s also one thing I found that kind of freaked me out. The last year of my dad’s life, he was going to try to learn HTML so he could put up a family genealogy site. He got some of the references in, but not all that many. However, one of those references is me, and seeing that, something my dad put online back in 2001,… chills!

I guess the best thing is that I didn’t find anything negative about me, which is always a good thing. Of course, I’d probably find more if I could weed myself through all those other Mitch Mitchell’s. I’m listed at least 3 times in the top 100, and I guess that will have to do. Of course, if I add the “T T” to it, in quotation marks of course, I kill! As a matter of fact, 46 of the top 50 references are me; yeah baby! How long have I been talked about by some folks online? Check this article out from January 2004. I’d forgotten about it, to tell you the truth.

I’ve talked often about marketing and advertising on this blog. I haven’t talked as much about PR, or public relations, or press releases and the like. I have talked about being all over the internet and wondering what else I need to do to break through and become at least a well known name so that I can start making money, or at least getting more business, off my own name. No one can say that I haven’t established a presence on the internet, that’s for sure.

So, how are you doing with spreading your message, and getting your notoriety online? Are you ready for more? I am.

24 Comments »

John Dilbeck:

Good morning, Mitch.

This is a good reminder. I used to search for myself on Google on a regular basis, but not so much, these days.

I have a relatively rare name, so I show up all over the place for John Dilbeck or johndilbeck.

I even tried searching for a couple of generic terms that I’m targeting and was surprised to find that a search for “affiliate marketing” (without the quotes) showed my blog at position 39 on Google.

Now, I’m not sure whether you would see the same thing, because I was logged into Google at the time and I’ve noticed that the search results are skewed when I’m logged in. My sites show up higher than when I’m not logged in.

I also did a search for “Murphy NC” (without the quotes) and I’m starting to rank better there, two.

If I had more time, I’d go through and see what I could find out about myself and who’s talking about me, but today is a busy day and I have lots of things to do and a newsletter to publish before the end of the day. So, back to work!

Act on your dream!

JD
John Dilbeck´s last blog ..How do the new FTC guidelines affect affiliate marketing?

October 8th, 2009 | 10:26 AM

Ajith Edassery:

I do search my name almost every day. In my opinion, searching your full name might always get your pages on top of the SERPs. That’s the case with me…and fortunately I have web presence since 1998 or so.

However, the challenge is to get your first name or last name alone ranked. Unfortunately I have the same first name (Ajith) as a popular actor from India and his fan pages scores high on Google. And my last name (Edassery) is a popular Hotel & resort group from my state and hence they score their as well. However, if not my blog, my social media/network profiles score very high

October 8th, 2009 | 10:46 AM

Bob@Free Online Speed Reading:

When I google myself, I get a pile of nonsense about all of the four other (much more famous folks) who share my name.
Bob@Free Online Speed Reading´s last blog ..Speed Reading Certification?

Mitch Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:38 PM

Bob, please just tell me your last name isn’t Smith! lol

October 8th, 2009 | 12:54 PM

Tim Manni:

Hey Mitch,

I’ve tried this a couple times and have been quite happy with my results. Happy in the sense that, as you said, in the first few pages of digging I didn’t find anything negative or offensive. Most of the affiliation of any of the web content I’m associated with has to do with articles I have written or comments I’ve left on blogs.

*It may interest you to know that the comment I left on this blog regarding your “top 10 fav. TV shows” ranks rather high, usually on the first or second page.

I was surprised by just how much the search result shrunk as soon as I put my name in quotes.

Interesting stuff as always, thanks,
Tim

Mitch Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:39 PM

Glad you checked things out, Tim, and I’m surprised that your comment ranks that high. Who knew comments could do that; wow.

October 8th, 2009 | 1:05 PM

Foreclosure Las Vegas:

Mitch, I almost check my name more than twice in a day. I know it sounds funny and strange but that is the fact and since being involved in a highly competitive market, tracking back my name to the business is something really apprehensive I believe.

Regards,
Mack McMillan
Foreclosure Las Vegas´s last blog ..Commercial Real Estate Bubble

Mitch Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:40 PM

That’s funny, Mack. Truthfully, years ago I used to check my name every day, but I grew out of that pretty fast. One can get themselves in a lather if they happen to notice something going in the wrong direction.

October 8th, 2009 | 1:27 PM

Klaus @ TechPatio:

Funny story – searching for my name, is actually the sole reason for me having 2 blogs now, in just 3 months of blogging. I started blogging, because of it.

I learned that I’ve lost my number #1 spot in Google on my name, because some companies put their employee names online and apparently they had some leaders with my name.

I decided, h**l no, I’ll use my super ninja SEO skills to get back on top. So I started blogging – again.

Less than a week later, I figured my blogging wasn’t going to get anywhere if I just posted personal stuff and whatever I had on my mind, online. I needed a goal, a niche.

So I started techpatio.com and now, 3 months later, also applepatio.com, for the more apple/mac/iphone related stuff that I seemed to post more and more of over at techpatio.com.

So the answer to your question – the last time I searched for my name, was about 3 months ago
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..One Hundred Bad Guys From A Phishing Gang Indicted

Mitch Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:41 PM

That’s pretty interesting, Klaus. I don’t think it would work for me, as the other Mitch Mitchell has way too large a lead on me, but I would like to get at least 10 references in the top 50, that’s for sure. Heck, maybe I’ll make that my goal!

October 8th, 2009 | 4:15 PM

Peter Davies:

Interesting post as always.

When I look for Peter Davies without any other key words, I’m a lawyer, mayor, artist, doctor, all sorts of things. My real name comes up on page 4 of Google which probably isn’t bad considering i’ve only been doing this for a few months and have not bothered worrying about SEO in my blog.

I was thinking of using my middle initial with everything but I think I am minded to just stick to what I have planned to do and let the rest do its thing organically. As long as no one writes anything bad about me.

I do believe that as long as you are an active participant online and concentrate on the business in front of you the rest will just happen.
Peter Davies´s last blog ..Hitting a Brick Wall and Getting Back To The Drawing Board………..

Mitch Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 5:32 PM

Good stuff, Peter. Actually, though I didn’t write this, one of the other reasons for checking your name is to make sure no one is pretending to be you, or that no one is saying bad stuff about you that’s not true. After all these years, and with all the references to myself, I’m glad to find nothing bad.

October 9th, 2009 | 5:49 AM

Jon-jon@Indie:

What an interesting post!!lol!..Last time I searched my name was many years ago and I found many result. on the second page some thing there was my name with my blog. I was so happy and excited that my name is there in search engine and that time I was new to blogging.lol!!

Mitch Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 5:33 PM

Hi Jon,

It’s always a little bit of a rush when you see your name, isn’t it?

October 9th, 2009 | 9:06 AM

Rummuser:

I am sure that you will be delighted with this http://rummuser.com/?p=2083

Mitch Reply:
October 11th, 2009 at 10:05 AM

Just read it, Rummuser; classic stuff!

October 11th, 2009 | 6:25 AM

googling your name can really turn up some really interesting things. Now 46 out of 50 that is absolutely amazing it shows you have made a statement on the internet. The fact that is all positive is a great thing as well.

I do it every 3-4 months just to see if anything new pops up other than the traditional stuff. It fun to google your family and friends as well and you can share your discoveries with them as well.

Mitch Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:45 AM

That’s a good point, T, as I will sometimes check out my friends, and my wife, as well.

October 21st, 2009 | 11:44 AM

I Googled my name and found many names associated with the name I have. And with the nature of work I have, my real name did fall on the first page of Google. Good thing.
Las Vegas Short sale Agent´s last blog ..Positve News – Realistic?

Mitch Reply:
October 30th, 2009 at 1:43 AM

Good deal, Jeff. How many listings of your name did you find?

October 29th, 2009 | 10:57 PM

Jeff@Las Vegas Short sale Agent:

About 30,600,000… I’m not sure if the others were of relevance to my name. The tags made it reach that much. oh well, my real name ended 3rd on the first page. Lol
Jeff@Las Vegas Short sale Agent´s last blog ..Hard times for Hi-Rise lender

Mitch Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 10:08 AM

Not bad, I’d say. That means if you ever commit a crime, you’ll be easy to find. lol

November 24th, 2009 | 7:28 AM

Jeff@Las Vegas Short sale Agent:

Lol. I wouldn’t be giving them a problem then. I liked the fact my name gained that number. Although compared to yours, it’s way too far. Sure has a lot of it.
Jeff@Las Vegas Short sale Agent´s last blog ..Hard times for Hi-Rise lender

Mitch Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 9:14 AM

All mine does is works on making sure I don’t break the law any time soon. And trust me, I have no plans to do so.

November 30th, 2009 | 4:58 AM

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When Is The Last Time You Searched Your Name?

Posted by Mitch on Oct 8, 2009

24 Comments »

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