Personal SEO is becoming increasingly important for people who want to advance and protect their careers. A strong personal brand that dominates Google can open up many opportunities for you, so it's worth investing the time and energy to ensure that you're optimizing your personal search engine results. Here is a 14-point checklist to help you take control of your personal SEO and ensure that you are getting the most benefit from it.
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Set Up Profiles on Major Social Networks – Sign up for the major social networks and set up professional-looking profiles. Include your name, photo, job title and a brief description of your work. Link to your website and other important pages related to your career. Also be sure to take advantage of any other optimization options the websites may offer such as vanity URLs and keywords.
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Optimize Your Linkedin Profile – Make sure your Linkedin profile is properly optimized and contains all accurate, up-to-date career information. Also include relevant keywords, a compelling “about me” summary, and a professional photo.
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Create Content – Content is king when it comes to SEO, so it’s important to create pieces that are unique and relevant to your career field. Try to post regularly and mix up the type of content you’re publishing.
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Analyze & Track Your Rankings – Use an analytics tool to track your rankings and see how your content is performing. Pay close attention to changes in your rankings and adjust your strategy accordingly.
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Establish a Blog – Establishing a blog is one of the best things you can do for your personal SEO. It’s a great way to showcase your expertise, build relationships and create content that is valuable to your readers.
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Reach Out to Influencers –Reaching out to influencers is essential for taking your personal SEO to the next level. Connect with key influencers in your industry and collaborate on content or other projects that can help you both excel.
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Ask for Links – Ask for links from other websites and blogs in your field. If you’ve provided something valuable or written compelling content, other websites may be interested in linking to you.
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Use Google Authorship – Set up Google Authorship to ensure that your content appears with your name, picture and credentials alongside it. This can help you stand out from the crowd and make the most of your hard work.
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Create Videos – Video content can be a great way to reach a large audience and get more attention for your SEO efforts. Create short, informative videos and post them to YouTube and other video-sharing platforms.
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Guest Post – Reach out to other sites in your field and inquire about guest blogging opportunities. Not only will this help you get more exposure, but it will also help build your content portfolio and strengthen your relationships with other influencers.
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Network – Make sure to attend conferences, industry events and other networking opportunities where you can meet key people in your field. These relationships can go a long way in helping you advance your personal SEO.
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Get Reviews – Ask satisfied clients and colleagues to review your services or products. Positive reviews can go a long way in improving your rankings and helping establish you as an expert in your field.
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Utilize Social Media – Take advantage of social media to share content, answer queries and engage with followers. This is one of the best ways to build relationships and extend your reach.
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Monitor & Respond to Mentions – Monitor all mentions of your name or company and make sure to respond to requests and inquiries. This will help you maintain relationships and ensure that all inquiries are responded to promptly.
By following these 14 steps, you can be sure to get the most out of your personal SEO and dominate your personal brand on Google. Investing in personal SEO is an excellent way to protect and advance your career, so be sure to put some effort into boosting your search engine rankings.