On the internet, it's easy to find a few people with the same name as you, especially if you have a more common last name. But just like optimizing your business brand, it's important to be aware of how your name might show up when others are looking for more information.
Try Googling yourself, just to see what comes up. You might be a little surprised, but mostly you'll see links to your Facebook or LinkedIn profile, any blogs that you publish, and maybe some quotes you've provided in the past. It's important to see this for yourself to gauge the kind of impression you might leave on others who are looking for you... especially potential clients or interviewers.
If you don't have much of a presence online, try putting your name out there a bit. Creating a LinkedIn profile is the best way to present yourself professionally and securely. If you want to add some more personality, use Facebook. Dig deeper into sites like Pandora or YouTube and provide enough information for people to get a sense of who you are. Of course, it would be much easier if they'd just give you a call, but you can't control how others are finding out about you.
If you're worried about your name popping up in places you don't want it to, sign up for Google Alerts. This free tool will send an email whenever another website or blog uses your name. It's always helpful to know when other people are talking about you...
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