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Do you use Google Alerts? You should!!

By Cynthia Larsen

Real Estate Broker/Owner CalBRE# 01433049

January 21, 2011 01:06 PM

I wasn't aware of Google Alerts until I joined Active Rain. I immediately set up an alert for my name. The whole idea of Google Alerts is for you to know when your name (or other SEO keywords of your choice) show up on the Internet. You WOULD want to know what folks are saying about you, wouldn't you?

Several times a week I'll get notified of Attorney Cynthia Larsen, Chamber of Commerce Director Cynthia Larsen, Publicity Spokesperson Cynthia Larsen, an obituary for Cynthia Larsen ... and so on. Google thinks it's so smart, they even send me posts with Cindy Larsen and Cyndi Larsen as well.

Today's alert was at first a bit unnerving, then confusing. The post was regarding Cynthia Larsen's mugshot in Portland Oregon, she was recently arrested and booked into jail. I grew up 80 miles from Portland so of course I had to take a look.

PDX is the airport code for Portland, but what in the world are PDXmugshots? Is this a play site for folks to load their photo and pretend they have been arrested? I really have no idea. All I can tell you is ... that is not me ... I hate turtlenecks! :)

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TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.

Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN

Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

You will be surprised at what Google Alerts digs up. BTW, I liked your BHAG. Just posted mine tonight...

Jan 21, 2011 01:13 PM

Ross Therrien

Prudential Verani Realty, Londonderry,New Hampshire - Londonderry, NH

Realtor, Broker Associate

I'm quite the soccer player in the UK and a wealthy philanthropist. Like the mugshot.

Google alerts are also instumential in town events. Just set the towns or neighborhoods your following and you'll get email alerts when anything happens.

Jan 21, 2011 01:13 PM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Tni - I didn't think of the competition aspect! And with your name, I'm sure you only get alerts that pertain to you! LOL, thanks for the photo comment!

Michael - you wrote a meme? I'm running over to read it!

Ross - LOL, I'm quite the attorney in Sacramento and an author in Idaho or Utah or somewhere out there ... Cynthia Larsen Bennett. Why couldn't she stick with Cynthia Bennett?

Jan 21, 2011 01:20 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

The other Tammy Lankfords work for Heinz and write children's books and sell insurance.... but so far none of them have been arriested.

Jan 21, 2011 01:24 PM

Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.

pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA

SF NYC LA

Your much prettier than the mug shot!

Jan 21, 2011 01:32 PM

Johanna Bassols

Oceanica Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL

Miami Luxury Properties

Its funny my college projects pop up when i google my name, my lamp made with kitchen bowls. At least its creative.

Jan 21, 2011 01:38 PM

Craig Daniels

Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY

Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

that's funny - it reminds me of when I search google images for my name - daniel craig comes up first (don't mind that) but #3 is some guy in prison garb mug shot (not me!!!)

Jan 21, 2011 02:04 PM

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS

Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA

South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Nice, 80 miles from Portland north or south Cynthia? PDX does take some of the best photos =]

Jan 21, 2011 02:57 PM

Nevin Williams

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation - Cary, NC

Senior Mortgage Advisor

Cynthia - I use Google alerts for about 12 different cities (I'm ADD you know!) and love it!

Jan 21, 2011 04:31 PM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Darn, if it was the real YOU booked, heck, I would have come and visited you . . . maybe even baked a cake with a file in it ;-)

Jan 21, 2011 05:20 PM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

LOL. There is a Debbie Gartner in Omaha that I used to get a lot of alerts for. And, I think there's one in Cincy (where I lived for 5 yrs) who does women's self defense. Glad the obituary was not yours.

Jan 21, 2011 10:50 PM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Tammy - oh this is fun to know the professions of folks with your name!

Peggy - LOL, I know you all will have my back. If I do get arrested, please send them a better photo than the one they have!

Johanna - how funny, with a unique name such as yours that doesn't surprise. P.S. I'm going to take a look at that college project!

Craig - oh no, I haven't checked google images for awhile ... not sure I want to look!

Paul - SouthWest of Portland, Corvallis Oregon. The quality of PDX photos is surprisingly good!

Nevin - you must get a mailbox full of alerts every day?

Carla - I would have counted on it ... Chocolate please!

Debbie - I'm surprised how many obituaries I get ... and I read every one to make sure it wasn't me!

Jan 21, 2011 11:49 PM

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA

Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD

301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

I imagine you were surprised when you saw that mug.. .funny

I use Google alerts all the time. . .I purchased $500 worth of ink supplies for my printer for $120 because of Google alerts . .an office was closing. .

Jan 22, 2011 12:02 AM

Renee Marrs Caperton

Marrs & Associates - Corsicana, TX

Realtor - Corsicana Texas Real Estate

You can also add alerts for the competition in your area to see what their doing for google juice!

Jan 22, 2011 12:52 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Fernando - OMG, what did you use as a google alert? Was it the name of the company or the product?

Renee - Tni (#1) mentioned this as well and I had never thought of it! I'm going to be setting up some more alerts today! I'm sure glad I wrote this post!

Jan 22, 2011 01:03 AM

Jay Lloyd

Cape Coral Florida - Cape Coral, FL

Allpro Home Inspection

Hi Cynthia, I've used Google Alerts for years, but never on my name. I just did a quick image search and I think there was only 1 mug shot in the bunch! I did find this oldie of myself back in my chippendale days :) jay

Jan 22, 2011 10:03 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Jay - oh no, have you started photo-shopping too? LOL, too funny!

Jan 22, 2011 11:08 AM

Brian Rugg

Rugg Realty LLC Sun City Texas 512-818-6700 - Georgetown, TX

Sun City TX Real Estate - Georgetown, TX Real Est

Hello Cynthia:

Have you done something with your hair? You look so different.

Jan 24, 2011 03:03 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

LOL, the hair and the nose are very different. The eyes and forehead are disturbingly similar. Can't tell about the mouth, she doesn't have anything to smile about at the moment.

Jan 24, 2011 03:42 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I don't write to customer service anymore, Cynthia. When I get my knickers in a twist about something, I just write a blog about the company. It gets picked up in Google Alerts, and then they call me to fix the problem. :)

Jan 24, 2011 03:45 AM