Last updated on March 25th, 2024 at 10:17 pm
This summer, June 2011 to be exact, Google introduced a rel=author tag you could use on your content. It increased your exposure to people as a leader in niche content by showcasing the image from your Google profile (which had to have a good headshot picture) and giving you credit as the author, which is important in a day when sharing of content is prevalent.
Now, in addition to your G+ profile picture, the authorship data that will display in Google search results will also include:
· The amount of people who have circled you on Google Plus
· The opportunity by the searcher to add the author to their G+ circles
· The number of G+ comments on this article
· The link to where this appears on G+ so the searcher can join in on the conversation!
Google is stressing the important of using your social media profiles to brand yourself or your company online. Staking claim to your content is very important, and it’s going to be part of search results, like it or not. No more sticking to your safe website articles – your interaction with others online will show up for all to see!
It can also help you dominate the SERPs if you play your cards right. You could take control of a top SERP page with a variety of content pieces spread across the social media networks, all linking back to you and your brand.
To claim authorship it’s very easy. The best way is to go to this URL http://www.google.com/webmasters/profilebutton/ and enter your URL of your Google Plus profile, choose a button size, and paste it into your website or blog post using HTML code that it provides.
Do not alter the Google button. They’re very strict about making sure you leave their icon alone, and why risk getting booted from the system if and when they catch you changing colors, or messing with their icon?
Are you still too intimidated to participate in social networks because you like your privacy or feel you don’t have anything worthwhile to share? The best advice you can get is to get over it.
Social networking is the future of brand development – people want to know your opinions, see your reactions and interaction with others. They don’t want sterile content that looks like it was written to get an A on a college paper.
