Google as a Credibility Test for Your Brand

John  Follis writes an interesting article on the importance of your Google credibility over at The Brand Promotion Blog. I particularly like the first sentence: “In our hype-happy, what-to-believe Information Nation, more and more it comes down to one very basic, very essential thing -- credibility.” Aint that the truth?!? And John is right, where you rank in Google is now a point of credibility for your product, your company and you as an expert and should be part of any marketing program. If you are not paying attention and nurturing your Google relationship it is time to go to an expert and take care of it. I recommend the Google Tutor to get started, he seems to have some great insights and tactical suggestions. Any SEO specialist can also help you. How do you find a good SEO… Google them!

Here is Johns article you can also go directly to I at The Brand Promotion Blog here

Hows Your G-Cred? (Google Credibility)

By John Follis The Brand Promotion Blog

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

In our hype-happy, what-to-believe Information Nation, more and more it comes down to one very basic, very essential thing -- credibility. The Good House Keeping seal of the past is not the credibility barometer of the present and future. So, then, what are the new barometers of cred?

For many, it's blogs and other social networking sites that foster and disseminate open discussion and untainted perspectives on everything. That open source context has given way to the term "Street Cred" as a barometer of credibility. With the proliferation of this Internet/truth formula, I'd like to suggest another barometer: G-Cred.

If you haven't guessed, the "G" is for Google which has attained such universal acceptance that, "to Google" is part of our cultural lexicon. Checking out a new vacation spot? Google it. Looking for Cuban cigars? Google it. Need nude photos of Paris Hilton? Google it. From a business perspective, Google is a Godsend. If you're checking out a product, company, or person, Google is both informational resource and worldwide publicist. And, with that, Google has become a strong barometer of credibility.

As the Online Evolution zooms forward at the speed of bandwidth, online visibility will equate to professional credibility. It does now. If you're doing due diligence on someone and nothing comes up when you Google them, that doesn't score credibility points. The relevance of this is not limited to those creating scholarly works or running Fortune 500 companies. Many marketing gurus, such as Tom Peters and Seth Godin, have long preached the value of creating and building one's personal brand regardless of who you are. Godin's Purple Cow discusses the importance of standing out and "being remarkable." And, ten years ago Peters' The Brand You, told how survival is not about blending in, but rather, standing out.

"Regardless of age, position, or the business we happen to be in, we need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You. (And) for most branding campaigns, the first step is visibility."

So, if The Web is the way, and credibility is king, then the new genesis is G-Cred. How's yours?

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