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Joe Petrowsky, Your Mortgage Consultant for Life (Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709)

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Rainmaker
1,728,156
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Yes; it is fun to see how famous we aren't!

Jun 08, 2015 12:28 AM
Rainmaker
7,863,162
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

We really need to Google our name from a computer that is not our own to get accurate results.

There are many others with the my name on the internet. LinkedIn is at the top of the search for me.

There are better results if you Google Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs.

Jun 07, 2015 11:29 PM
Rainmaker
5,112,471
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've googled my name many times and it shows up a lot; clients have told me the same. Don't really know that I use that as a tool very frequently. Maybe I should, as I just googled my name and it said 934,000 results in .40 seconds.

Jun 07, 2015 10:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,553,094
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Thomas J. Nelson: 160,000 results. 

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor: 290,000 results. 

 

 

Yes, I brag on this as my Google-relevance translates to visibility for sellers' homes!!!

Jun 07, 2015 10:36 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

For the truly uninformed, the 'search my name'could pay off.

Unfortunately, googling an agents name is irrelevant. What is releveant to a home buyer or seller is a search string relevant to buying or selling a house such as 'Market In A Minute Palm Harbor FL,' or "buying a home, Manchester CT."

Before choosing to do the 'search my name' thing make sure you are not insulting the intelligence of the citizen. 

I simply tell the citzen others will find their home exactly the same way THEY found me along with a dozen other channels of which they are unaware.

Jun 07, 2015 10:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,664,136
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

I'm in competition with a famous Opera singer ...... 

Jun 08, 2015 12:45 AM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

I've done it and it's pages and pages of our blogs.  No useful information at all.

Jun 07, 2015 10:39 PM
Rainmaker
970,983
Frank Rubi
Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA
FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Yes I use Google as a tool. Not sure how many times is comes up but it is a lot. 

Jun 07, 2015 10:28 PM
Rainmaker
459,182
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Yes. Google results and reviews are in my presentation toolbox. 

Jun 07, 2015 10:15 PM
Rainmaker
90,543
Debra Peters
Referral Realty - Manorville, NY
NY Real Estate Salesperson

Yes, I use this information as a tool, although my name is also the same as a musicians. If you Google my social networking user name. Love2SellHomes, that appears often. Do you have any suggestions to overcome having the same name as someone else?

 

Jun 07, 2015 08:44 PM
Rainmaker
1,432,649
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Do not really bother that much.  I show up a lot.  Oddly I just did it and there was an obituary for someone I shared a name with.  With people (the smart one understands) it is not a matter of getting me or my company name to show up.  It is getting their home to show up.

Jun 08, 2015 03:19 AM
Rainer
473,864
John Dotson
Preferred Properties of Highlands, Inc. - Highlands, NC - Highlands, NC
The experience to get you to the other side!

Remember, Google isn't the only search engine.

I personally do not use Google for ANYTHING.  They do about as much harm as good - and no, I'm not a conspiracy theorist.

Jun 08, 2015 02:07 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I think I have 8 or 9 pages, if one Google's my name.... they even have my name included with family members!! 

Jun 08, 2015 12:26 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,581
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Joe,

I would not, even though there are lots of results.  They are not necessarily accurate!  A

Jun 08, 2015 12:17 AM
Rainmaker
2,817,727
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

9 out of 10 times + 3 out of 5 pictures (there's a Debbie at the Gartner group and she is in slot # 8.

No, I don't use as a tool for my biz as it's not really relevant.  Just an ego boost.  But, it does help people find me.  thankfully, my own website comes up 1st, followed by AR and then FB and LI. I wish LI was ahead of FB.

Jun 07, 2015 11:05 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,177
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I am glad my name shows up a lot on google .

Jun 07, 2015 08:48 PM
Rainmaker
3,627,072
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

There is a football player with my name so he comes up first.  I am still on the first page but I have no idea of how many times it shows up...

Jun 07, 2015 08:38 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Roy nailed this one!

Apr 01, 2018 06:43 AM
Rainer
27,808
Jim McCord
Keller Williams Pinnacle Group - Cincinnati, OH
#1 Best Selling Author & Real Estate Coach

A lot... For the past two years, I only list luxury homes, with very few exceptions... I know at least 10 homeowners of expired luxury listings have asked me on the first appt about things they've read about me on the net... Intelligent homeowners are googling us before they meet us... I search the names of every xprd seller I go after on google, fb and linkedin before I make the first contact.  It's HUGE!!! 

Jun 10, 2015 04:52 AM
Rainer
248,771
Dale Taylor
Re/Max 10 New Lenox Illinois http://dtaylor.remax.com - Frankfort, IL
Realtor = Chicago Illinois Homes Townhomes Condos

I certainly use it when researching a potential listing to make sure I leave no stone unturned.  I also like to google my own name to check on how I'm doing with my own SEO efforts.  Good guestion.  Thanks

Jun 09, 2015 08:16 AM
Rainmaker
409,203
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

Yes, I definintely use my Google ranking in my listing presentations.  I even make it easy for them using Let Me Google That For You (lmgtfy.com).  As you will see each little change, makes a big difference any of which are acceptable for me.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Jim+Paulson%2C+Realtor

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Jim+Paulson%2C+Idaho

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Jim+Paulson+Progressive+Realty

Jim Paulson, CRS

 

Jun 09, 2015 04:24 AM
Rainmaker
647,038
Larry Lawfer
YourStories Realty Group - Newton, MA
"I listen for a living." It's all about you.

I suggest to all prospects to google their potential agents.  I know mine shows pages of positive reports and whether they are fully accurate or not as Ron and Alexandra Seigel suggest, it makes no difference.  Roy Kelley good idea to use a different computer than the one you work daily to check, but a simpler way is to use a new browser that you don't use everyday, or clear out your cache and history and you can still use the same computer.  I am not sure how much all of this helps to land a listing because your prospect has made their decision long before you get to telling them to google you. Besides if they were that kind of person, they would have googled you before you arrived.  So with all this said, I guess is doesn't matter if you mention it or not.  I do, but always as an aside and not as any big powerful reason to use me. 

Jun 08, 2015 10:12 PM
Rainmaker
1,291,481
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

I do Google my name periodically, Joe Petrowsky ... I think it's educational to do it.  I've found the positive things ... but also have discovered out-of-date, no-longer-applies info on sites.  I go and update those things then.  I find it useful to do ...

Gene

Jun 08, 2015 12:22 PM
Rainmaker
1,578,243
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Without adding real estate to the search, just my name, there are 3 pages of Google before I start to see other Karen Fiddlers show up. 

Jun 08, 2015 09:22 AM
Rainer
76,238
Molly Heyen
RE/MAX Premier Properties - Chicago, IL
Chicago City Estates

I use BrandYourself to monitor and control the results that come up when someone Google's my name. I don't think many people find agents by searching for their name, but they certainly will search by name to research an agent they met or heard of.

Jun 08, 2015 07:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,769,536
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

12,600 - but some of those are for a ball player named something Marte.

What's more important to me is how many times my websites come up when someone Googles real estate copywriter, real estate letters, or real estate agent bios. 

Jun 08, 2015 07:24 AM
Rainer
557,375
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Interesting  post and comments, although I don't use it as a tool to market myself.

Jun 08, 2015 07:07 AM
Rainmaker
810,731
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Not enough.  I need to concentrate on my SEO and stop wasting time on people who never do anything.

Jun 08, 2015 06:38 AM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

I have googled it and was surprised . I have not used it as a tool.

Jun 08, 2015 06:10 AM
Ambassador
6,417,409
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Searching my name alone is likely to get you either myself or Colonel Hogan, but if you add forestry or Wisconsin to the search, I own this real estate.

Jun 08, 2015 05:03 AM
Rainer
19,676
Rose O'Reilly Sievers,CRS,SRES
Carlsbad, CA

If I google my name it shows 224 times.  I don't use it as a listing tool.  Good to know 

Jun 08, 2015 03:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,846,901
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes I do. I also did a cool feature 'LMGTFY' (Let me Google That for you) when it was popular a few years ago. Does a screen capture of your name & makes a mini video along with all the spots you are included in Google search. There is another lady with my name in AZ as a photographer so I'm mixed in (17,700 results for me) with her unless you include Schaumburg or real estate.

Someone was being silly when they said Google isn't the only search engine - really?

Jun 08, 2015 02:54 AM
Rainmaker
940,545
David Alan Baker | Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Phoenix - Laveen, AZ
Your local Expert

Turns out there is A LOT of David Bakers, from famous architects, musicians, comedians.......etc.  May have a name change in my future to get any high ranking results.

 

Jun 08, 2015 02:54 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,132
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

It shows up quite a lot, and yes, I've used this to promote myself.

Jun 08, 2015 02:33 AM
Rainmaker
5,877,335
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I think it is important to know what Google has under your name, just in case something pops up you need to get removed! 

Jun 08, 2015 02:33 AM
Ambassador
3,863,230
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

20,900,000 when I google just my name. There is a hotel and a another writer with my name.

322,000 when I google my name plus realtor.

Jun 08, 2015 02:30 AM
Rainmaker
412,351
Kona Home Team (LUVA LLC) Lance Owens (RB-24133)
Kona Home Team (luva llc) - Kailua-Kona, HI
2024 Real Estate Expert - Hawaii Island

185,000 times, and yes I do use it as a tool - I take that search the way I want it seached - maybe, "Lance Owens Luxury Realtor" , then when the search comes up, I copy the link, and created a hyperlink in my email signature - see below (Lance on the web) 

Lance Owens (RS)

C. 808.936.8383  |  Lance on the web 

LUVA Real Estate  75-240 Nani Kailua Drive, Ste 8, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740  | O.808.769.5111 

Real Estate Sales  |  Property Management  |  Luxury Vacation Rentals

 

 

Licensed in the State of Hawaii  

Jun 08, 2015 02:26 AM
Rainmaker
539,568
Jerry Lucas
ABC Legal Docs LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Notary Training, Consulting. Colorado Springs, CO

There is a hall of fame NBA basketball player with the same name as me.  To be more popular, I may change my name to Jerry Google.

Jun 08, 2015 02:17 AM
Rainer
293,277
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

To google your name is good if they know your name

otherwise your title and many other long tail words are 

equally important

Jun 08, 2015 02:15 AM
Rainmaker
1,257,045
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Interesting question.  I went icognito to view my stats and found 19.  Unfortunately because my entire name is 3 letters, there were 2 others in the mix.  One was a mentally ill granny locked up in solitary who eventually won a settlement for her stint; and another was an artist.  Interesting company.  Dollars to donuts their name is more than 3 letters.  Argh, the never ending saga of trying to separate myself from the herd!

 

Jun 08, 2015 02:12 AM
Rainmaker
4,582,184
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Do I need to repeat it again?   I am not the creator, writer and/or producer of television and movies.  Ahh, the joys of having a common name.   

Jun 08, 2015 01:36 AM