I ran across a cute little tool the other day that helps you calculate your “online identity.”  It turned out to be on the Career Distinction web site, which William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson used to launch their great book on personal branding last year.

The Google Quotient calculation involves going ego-surfing on Google and then counting both the total number of hits you get on the first three pages of results that are about you (rather than someone else) and the number of hits related to the “brand identity” you want to create for yourself.

My Google Quotient was a somewhat acceptable 7.8, with my score reduced by the stretch goals I have in place for developing my own brand identity and by my family history.  I am named for my grandfather and great-grandfather, both of whom were men of distinction who still merit standings in Google searches.

It struck me afterwards that the idea of a Google Quotient is only one minor part of a much larger equation.  Searching on your name and finding you is a great thing, if someone already knows to be looking for you by name!

What about the times when someone is looking for someone just like you, except they don’t know you or your name?  Is your value proposition distinct enough, are your online activities focused enough, are you visible enough to be found by someone who knows nothing about you except that they need someone just like you?

That’s what this blog is all about.

Now, I just need to come up with some whiz-bang online calculator to help you do it.