Using Google Alerts to track yourself

While at a community event not long ago, someone mentioned doing a Google search on their name to see where they fell in the results. The premise was to see if they are doing enough in the community to get noticed by Google. I have actually run a Google search on my name in the past and was surprised that I came in third behind a professional photographer. Now, the fact that I came in third does not necessarily mean I am important, but it is kind of nice. I don't know that my end goal would ever be to get my name higher in the Google search results, but it started me thinking.
How much importance should be placed on where you fall in a search engine result? The answer: it depends on what content is listed. There are employers out there who will Google your name before hiring you to see what kind of results come back. Think about it, if you show us in Google as being accused of stealing from your employer, a bank would probably pass on hiring you. I had never considered that end I have performed a Google search when a speaker or User Group leader has contacted me. I use it to see where they have presented, what books they may have authored and the like. I find it helps me feel more comfortable if I know a little more about their background.
So Google is definitely a resource that people might use to gather information on you. With as much information available on-line, who is to say someone may not try to smear your good name without your knowledge. Face it, there are people in the world with no moral compass who will defame you just for kicks. There are actually businesses founded around eliminating this type of behavior by burying negative content with positive content. It is a tactic employed by many who are in the public eye. I am not in a rock band, a movie star or a model (well, maybe); but I certainly would not appreciate someone making me out to be something I am not.
Your position in the results is less important than what content exists about you. How do you know when you have someone generating content about you? Well, technically you could dig through search results daily, but you would not get much work done. A nice option is Google Alerts (http://www.google.com/alerts) which offer a great way to keep tabs on what is being said about you. You can setup a Google Alert with search terms around your name, company, whatever and it will send you an e-mail daily, weekly or even as it happens. Better yet, it will allow you to limit the results to News, Blogs, Videos and more. Just remember to setup an alert for your name spelled incorrectly as well, because that can yield different results that may still pertain to you. This will keep you informed about what people are putting out there and if you need to clear it up. Then you can start working on raising your position in the search results. See how simple it is below, once these steps are complete you will simply need to verify from the e-mail address that you created the alert: