FINDING YOURSELF, ONLINE

According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 56% of internet users have searched for themselves online. Often, when people think about others searching for themselves on Google they think that it is an exercise in vanity and that they just want to see their own names on their computer monitors.

Increasingly though, people are having to search for themselves in order to maintain control of their online presence. Searching for a person online is an easy way to quickly gain information about the person and if your search results are not positive, this can damage a potential employer’s view on you.

For small businesses, searching for your own company on Google can help you find your business information that may be helping or hurting your business. If you own snack machines from eVending in various locations but don’t have an online presence, searching for “vending machines at (location)” can help you find if anyone has commented about them. Searching for the building or location your vending machines are in as well can often lead to discoveries of helpful news or reviews.

If you don’t like what you see online about your business, or if you don’t see anything at all, you should be proactive and engage with customers and communities online to help create a positive image for your business.