A few weeks ago I needed to find a real estate agent but I didn't know what company she was with and she wasn't listed in the MLS. Even though she had a somewhat common name, I decided to type her name into the Google search engine and see what came up. Well, there was lots of stuff that came up, and every link was preceded by http://www.activerain.com/...

In thinking about what I had done there, it occurred to me how times have changed. When I was young, my mom told me to “Go get the Yellow Pages.” Many years later, we switched to “Call information.” Then they started charging 25¢ per call to call information, and some phone companies even had the gall to charge up to $1.50 per call to information, depending on the time of day. Fortunately, the Internet came along at about the same time, and the most common phrase today seems to be “Google it.” Too bad Google didn't trademark “Google it.” Maybe they did.

Anyway, I remembered that I had joined ActiveRain a year earlier so I decided that perhaps I needed to check it out again. Times change, and perhaps so should I. Today I Googled my name to see just where I stood. Wow!

If you haven’t done a search on your name recently, try it. Go ahead. “Google it” and see what comes up. Are you well hidden from your customers, still playing hide and seek? It might be time for a change.

 

♪♫♫♫♪

 

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follow Russel Ray's Real Estate Solutions web site on WordPress.

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If you're looking for a great real estate agent in San Diego, well,
let me Google one for you.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Living

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Post is included in group: Realtors®

18 Comments on If you needed to hide from someone, could you do it in today’s world?

SEP
05
2008

Great blog. I think I'm going to Google myself now
2:27pm • #1

Jim,  I bet you are glad you came back.  I love Active Rain.  It is great to be a part of the AR community.
2:27pm • #2
1,177,076 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

There's another "me", almost. 1 letter different...and boy, does she blog on some very diverse topics in risque language. I've known about her for awhile. Google Alert does too. I generally see what she posted on MY alert!
2:28pm • #3
177,033 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Jim,

Good idea!  For those of us that may not be paying too much attention!
2:29pm • #4
474,379 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim - this is one of the best sites to get your name known!  I think the only other person with my name that comes up higher than I do is an agent in Florida, with a non-AR site.  Wonder how she did it!
2:30pm • #5
565,608 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hey Jim,  Point well taken.  If they can't find you...you're not going to get any new business.  Thanks for the reminder to all  of us!  Great post!
2:33pm • #6
178,295 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router

Jim - I constantly monitor google for my key searches.  I want to know not only where I rank, but also who is ahead of me and who is moving up behind me.  Knowing your competition is important.
2:34pm • #7
163,110 Points Called Shot Master

Thanks,

I have been trying to get on the irst page of google search for 6 months with no luck after 1 month on Active Rain I made it., 
2:37pm • #8

It is pretty amazing isn't it. At a Realtor meetup this week we were discussing this exact topic in relation to our upcoming Do Not Call implementation (Sept 30).

A story was told about a gentleman who was less than faithful and was shocked when a 'girlfriend' showed up at his house and exposed the affair to his wife. He used a mailbox for all mail, had his phone numbers unlisted etc. Point being, information about you is available on the internet, why not be the one managing what turns up. Bloging, a qaulity (Google friendly) website, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc all are opportunities for you to make sure the first 15 to 20 Google results are your doing and of a positive nature.
2:37pm • #9
272,065 Points 3 Featured Posts Hit Router

Another good idea is to GOOGLE your kids names to see what is going on out in CYBERSPACE....at times, it can be rather eye opening!

 
2:53pm • #10
207,162 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

When I first started I wasnt listed for my name until like the 2nd page.

Now I am 8 of 10 on the first page! It wont take long to be 10 of 10.
3:05pm • #11

Great post Jim - I have been monitoring my ranking in google for several months and I notice that after I post a blog, soon I'm near the top. I have a very common name so I need to be more deligent in my postings.
3:20pm • #12
SEP
06
2008
1,056,534 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hey, Folks. Thanks for stopping by.
9:36am • #13
SEP
24
2008

It's quite amazing what you can find on Google. I have many different profiles posted on several different sites. I like typing in different search criteria just to see what my stats are. Its interesting to say the least.

The scary thing is, when you are in the public eye like we are you dont really have a way to hide. Changing phone numbers is not really an option for us. We would have to take legal action and sometimes that may not even be enough.

Guess we all need to just remember our ethics?? hummmmm??
9:45am • #14
SEP
27
2008
567,950 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I feel like an idiot that I never thought to google my kids!  I think I better go do that right now. 
2:05am • #15
DEC
06
2008
179,950 Points 2 Featured Posts

Jim,

 I guess I'll always be hiding in plain sight, I have tooo common of a name!  A country/Western star uses my name, a retired general, an Author, a medal of honoree etc.  The only time I even make the first page is if I type in my city as well
10:15pm • #16
DEC
25
2008

Great Point Jim! I can tell you how many times I've said to my kids.  "Just Google It!"  Seems we can't hide for the the folks we'd like to hide from like the "IRS" and can't seem to be found by the folks we want to be found " Tons of ultra wealthy cash customers".  I guess we'll just have to keep plugin' along.  Thanks for post the links on your Santa Sighting post.   I might never have found if not!   Happiest of New Years to you and Russell
11:05am • #17
JAN
25
2009
2 Featured Posts Hit Router

Hi Jim, Thanks for the tip. I checked it out. It's pretty neat.
10:00pm • #18


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