Just Google Me
While doing a live Tech in Twenty show last night on Blog Talk Radio (our topic was women in social media in 2010 and you can listen or download it here) I noticed that my fellow panelists Colleen Pence and Holly Hoffman both had the same answer when our hosts asked us to tell the audience where they could find us online:
“Just Google me.”
When you’ve worked long and hard and consistently to establish your Web site, blogs, LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, Flickr photostream, Facebook profile, YouTube channel, etc….plus you’re talked about and linked to online….then it is easy to be confident that not only are you “at the top of Page One of Google,” you can FILL that page.
How broad and deep is your destination or attraction’s presence in search engine results, especially with all of the recent changes with Google and Bing?
Does your tourism organization’s material pop up at the top of Google search results, or is there some commercial site or savvy local blogger who trounces you with a better online presence?
How can I help you rise to the top?
Tags: Bing, CVB, destination marketing, DMO, Google, Internet, search, search engine optimization, SEO, tourism, Web



December 30th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sheila Scarborough, Tourism Currents. Tourism Currents said: What happens when your tourism organization says, "Just Google Me?" http://bit.ly/6LBWoe [...]
December 30th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I’d never tell someone to just Google me. Maybe that’s because I have a name often misspelled. Or, maybe it’s because I look at the question as an opportunity to not only promote myself, but my website, company, etc. When someone asks about you and/or your services/company/etc., give them the info — don’t make them go hunt for it. It’s a personal branding moment that I wouldn’t let slip by.
Mary Jo´s last blog ..2009: My Year of Travel
December 30th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Hi Mary Jo,
You’re right; even solo entrepreneurs with a bunch of different projects and interests should have one go-to URL where they can send people.
My overall point, though, was that an active, involved presence over time, on sites other than only their one Web site, can help tourism organizations do a better job of dominating search results (depending upon the search query terms used, of course.)
This discussion has me thinking that I really must overhaul my creaky http://www.sheilascarborough.com Web site at some point to be a more elegant “portal” to my activities, for all the reasons you mention.