Search Engine Optimization
Looking back at my well-spent time at the Rochester Institute of Technology I learned a variety of skills that have proven useful and important as I move on into the "real world". In particular tonight, my Internet Marketing class.
I had the the pleasure of being taught by Dr. Neil Hair - a self proclaimed techie who has recently been conducting some cutting edge research studies related to online social networks. i.e.) Facebook, MySpace and Second Life. In this class he espoused the benefits of getting one's name out on the web, to create an online identity to represent who you really are. Potential employers eat this up and employers may soon expect it- despite the risks for invasions on personal privacy. In short, beware of how you represent yourself to others online.
Yet personal, sometimes incriminating information is floating freely across the web. Few still recognize the importance of controlling what is posted. As Dr. Hair pointed out in his class presentations with random drinking photos of classmates lifted from Facebook dispersed throughout, beware of who is looking at your public information. There have been students at some universities suspended for underage drinking in photos posted on Facebook and MySpace. Now there is some food for thought.
When I first started this class I Googled my name to see what results popped up. Unsurprisingly there was a smorgasboard of random links related to my name, including another local Chris Tytler and one in Canada. So I attempted to clear up confusion for those looking specifically for me using search engine optimization. This involved tactics such as cross-listing my blogger site on popular sites such as LinkedIn and Amazon. In regards to Google I have been successful. My user created sites now appear in the top 5 positions- golden from a marketing standpoint.
I still have a little ways to come with Yahoo. My goal is to have this site at least rank in the top five in the next few months. However, Yahoo does have listings related to my accomplishments that do not appear on Google. (Just goes to show you that no one search algorithm is accurate)
For example, I was pleasantly surprised when I found my name mentioned in the University of Rochester Simon Business School Newsletter for being a finalist in the Second Annual Online Business Competition and Scholarship. This newsletter had posted a picture of me that I had not realized was circulating around. I had forgotten that this picture was even taken.
(This Online Business Simulation is an intense competition involving countless hours of planning and strategizing to develop a company and survive the onslaught of other hopefuls competing for the final round. A more in depth review will follow in a subsequent post. I have entered again this year and intend to come back victorious!)
So in conclusion, users must be vigilant to monitor the content that is floating around the web about them. Be careful of what you post because others may be looking! (i.e. potential clients searching the background of employees of companies they do business with, etc) But at the same time, take the time to really shine and show who you really are. It is a balancing act that is becoming more and more important as Web 2.0 matures and Web 3.0 begins to take a foothold.
I had the the pleasure of being taught by Dr. Neil Hair - a self proclaimed techie who has recently been conducting some cutting edge research studies related to online social networks. i.e.) Facebook, MySpace and Second Life. In this class he espoused the benefits of getting one's name out on the web, to create an online identity to represent who you really are. Potential employers eat this up and employers may soon expect it- despite the risks for invasions on personal privacy. In short, beware of how you represent yourself to others online.
Yet personal, sometimes incriminating information is floating freely across the web. Few still recognize the importance of controlling what is posted. As Dr. Hair pointed out in his class presentations with random drinking photos of classmates lifted from Facebook dispersed throughout, beware of who is looking at your public information. There have been students at some universities suspended for underage drinking in photos posted on Facebook and MySpace. Now there is some food for thought.
When I first started this class I Googled my name to see what results popped up. Unsurprisingly there was a smorgasboard of random links related to my name, including another local Chris Tytler and one in Canada. So I attempted to clear up confusion for those looking specifically for me using search engine optimization. This involved tactics such as cross-listing my blogger site on popular sites such as LinkedIn and Amazon. In regards to Google I have been successful. My user created sites now appear in the top 5 positions- golden from a marketing standpoint.
I still have a little ways to come with Yahoo. My goal is to have this site at least rank in the top five in the next few months. However, Yahoo does have listings related to my accomplishments that do not appear on Google. (Just goes to show you that no one search algorithm is accurate)
For example, I was pleasantly surprised when I found my name mentioned in the University of Rochester Simon Business School Newsletter for being a finalist in the Second Annual Online Business Competition and Scholarship. This newsletter had posted a picture of me that I had not realized was circulating around. I had forgotten that this picture was even taken.
(This Online Business Simulation is an intense competition involving countless hours of planning and strategizing to develop a company and survive the onslaught of other hopefuls competing for the final round. A more in depth review will follow in a subsequent post. I have entered again this year and intend to come back victorious!)
So in conclusion, users must be vigilant to monitor the content that is floating around the web about them. Be careful of what you post because others may be looking! (i.e. potential clients searching the background of employees of companies they do business with, etc) But at the same time, take the time to really shine and show who you really are. It is a balancing act that is becoming more and more important as Web 2.0 matures and Web 3.0 begins to take a foothold.
Labels: chris tytler, christopher tytler, Google, Rochester Institute of Technology, SEO, Simon Business School, University of Rochester, Yahoo
posted by Chris Tytler @ 11:46 PM
0 Comments
