You know what an ego search is, right? It’s when you google your name or your company name to see what comes up. When I started CultureSmith Consulting in September 2007, and started blogging last spring, I wanted to know what others were saying about me or my company. And I wanted to see how I was doing in search engine results.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. We can’t all be Becky McCray. Becky owns the entire first page of Google search results for her name. Few people have such a claim to fame. Literally.
   
2. Do a quick search using the letters “SEO” (Search Engine Optimization) and you’ll see 55 million results. People will take your money to help you with SEO. But before you lay down a ton of cash, consider this. Is it just me, or does anyone else wonder about the capabilities of a company to deliver great SEO results if their company doesn’t do so well in a search for their name or industry? I’m just sayin.
3. Google returned almost 8 million results for the entry “Cheryl Smith.” (Hey, at least it’s not Mary Smith.) I’m up against a realtor, dog trainer, reporter, motivational speaker and yes, a dead porn star. And yet my website, blog and image consistently show up on the first page of Google. (Even before the Facebook Ad post.) How?
4. Social media helps with search results. I don’t pretend to be an SEO expert nor understand the intricasies of spiders and metadata. (I sound tech savvy, don’t I?) I’m an average person who’s spent a fair amount of time in the last couple of years using social media and therefore, harnessing its power.

What does this mean for you and for your business?

• Take your pulse. How many items appear in a search for your name? Where do you show up? And where would you like to be?
• Own what you can. Besides your own URL, what other sites should you consider? LinkedIn? Twitter? Flickr? Facebook? A blog? I’m not suggesting you hop on every site. I am suggesting you think about what makes sense and go for it! Waiting until you have it all figured out will put you very far behind. Most of us are figuring it out as we go along.
• Pay attention when people want to take your money. If someone uses words you don’t understand, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re an expert. Ask for recommendations from Trust Agents.
• If I can do it, so can you. One thing I’ve learned from watching HGTV’s Over Your Head is this: Do it Yourself projects rarely go as planned, are hard work and sometimes you need a little extra help along the way. But man, the rewards are so cool. (And Eric, if you’re listening, have I got a back yard for you!)

So what about you? What does an ego search reveal about you or your company? And what are you doing to increase your ability to be found in search results? Share your info here in the comments. We all want to learn more!