Google has just publicized their previously private feature called “Google Profiles”, which allows you to put in volunteered personal information about yourself, so that relevant and accurate information comes up when someone searches your name. Well… it doesn’t really replace the organic search results for your name, but there will now be a new list of “profiles” that appear at the bottom of the search results, much like Google has incorporated things like blog postings, local listings, videos, and photos into its results page.
To find out more, just Google “me”. Not my name… the actual word “me”, and I’d encourage people to set up a profile of their own or at least see what it’s all about. An aggregated social profile + search engine is nothing new. Start ups like Wink have tried to do this in the past. But no one has been in a better place than Google to own this market.
Some might claim that Google profiles are creepy… but the information is voluntary. Google has even added the ability for you to control which bits of information are seen by allowing you to restrict contact information to Gmail contact groups (ie only my work people can see this phone number). Other might claim it will further social network narcissism, but honestly… the biggest problem I see is: Google Profiles are booooring
Four easy ways to make Google profiles more engaging:
1. Design customization, at least as much as Twitter offers
2. Digital lifestream, the current profile feels awfully static, if I connect my twitter account and my blog, why not those RSS feeds as well?
3. Social graph, Google has Friend Connect, why not use it?
4. Endorsed links, the ability for you to say that a link already under the search for your name is something you want connected to you personally, could be very useful for those with more common names
What do you think? Are the new profiles an added benefit? What could be done to make the better?
Marta Strickland