It’s a limited launch. But it shows promise. Right now in India, Google search results include so-called ‘People Cards’. They’re digital business cards.
That’s right. Soon you too might be able to rank in Google search even if you’re not a celebrity.
Here’s what we know about the new feature.
Win Friends and Influence People
Google introduced People Cards for folks who would like to increase their visibility online.
So whether you’re a business professional, aspiring influencer, entrepreneur, freelancer, job seeker, or artist, you stand to benefit from the virtual cards.
That’s helpful because it’s often difficult to gain notoriety online if you’re not a public figure. Even if your name does carry some prestige but you share that same name with a celebrity, you could also disappear in search results.
Google hopes to solve those kinds of issues with People Cards.
“Today, we are solving these challenges with a new feature called People Cards,” the company said in a statement. “It’s like a virtual visiting card, where you can highlight your existing website or social profiles you want people to visit, plus other information about yourself that you want others to know.”
Image Courtesy: Google
What Do People Cards Include?
As the statement above indicates, people cards can include links to your website and your social media profiles. That gives you a better chance to grow your following online.
But the cards include much more info.
In the “abbreviated” version of the card, people will see your name and location. If they click/tap on it, they’ll see a summary about yourself, info about your education, and where you work.
Ah, yes. They’ll also see your pretty face in the form of a circle image. Make sure you’ve got a nice photo associated with your Gmail account.
How to Create a Google People Card
It’s easy to create a card. If you live in India, that is
Just head over to Google and type “add me to search” in the search bar. Really, that’s all you need to do to get the ball rolling.
Before you complete the process, though, make sure you’re logged in with the Google account you’d like to use for your card. If not, log out and log in again with the correct account by visiting gmail.com.
After you begin the “add me to search” process, Google will ask you for several bits of info, including:
- A description about yourself
- A website link
- Social profile links
- Phone number
- Email address
You don’t have to provide all that info. In fact, you probably don’t want to provide your phone number.
However, Google says that “the more information you provide, the easier it is for people to find you.”
Also: Google may require your phone number for authentication purposes. It’s a two-factor world, after all.
The Big G also warns users that it’s got “protections and controls” in place to prevent people from entering false or misleading info. So if you want to pose as Batman you’ll have to use a different platform.
If You Want to Cheat
If you don’t live in India and you’d still like to set up a people card, you can cheat.
There’s talk online that it’s possible to set up the card with the aid of a VPN located somewhere in India.
But you’re probably better off waiting for the feature to roll out in your home country if you’re not located in India. I don’t think the wait will last much longer.
Wrapping It Up
Google is making it easier for people to find you online. If you’d like to increase the visibility of your personal brand, do yourself a favor and use a people card.
And, as always, measure your results and optimize your content.
