Did you know? 75% of people do not even look beyond the first page of Google results!
In today’s world, what shows up online when someone types your name matters a lot. This is called personal branding. It lets others understand who you are and what you do.
Ranking your name high on Google means more people can find you easily. It shows you are real, trustworthy, and in control of your story.
With innovative Search Engine Optimisation, you can boost your name to the top. That gives you visibility (people see you), credibility (they trust you), and control (you decide what they read).
Scroll down and explore how you can rank your name on Google. In the end, you will also know how Google ranks your name.
Let’s dive in!
Why Personal SEO Matters More Than Ever
Every day, more and more people are typing names into Google. Employers, clients, and even news reporters are searching to learn about others. This is called a personal search. They want to see who you are, what you do, so that they can trust you more.
But here’s the tricky part—if you don’t own your search results, someone else might own them. Old pictures, wrong info, or even bad stories could show up first. That’s not good! If you don’t guide Google, it could show the wrong information about you.
That’s why Personal SEO is super important now. It helps you to show the best and true details of yourself online. You can fill the internet with your blogs, profiles, and achievements so the right stuff shows up first.
People like authors, artists, coaches, and even job-seekers have used SEO to shine. Their names now pop up with great things, because they planned it.
Being seen the right way online isn’t magic. It’s just an innovative way to achieve it. And this can be done by anyone, even you can do so!
Understand How Google Ranks Personal Names
Google uses innovative tools to decide what to show when someone searches a person’s name. It starts by identifying the person as an entity. That means Google knows it’s looking at a real person, not just random words. Once it does, it collects useful facts and shows things like Knowledge Panels and People Also Search For results.
To rank names better, Google checks for E-E-A-T:
Experience
Experience means real-life actions and achievements. It shows what a person has actually done in their field.
Expertise
Expertise is deep knowledge about a topic. It tells how skilled or smart someone is in a specific area.
Authoritativeness
Authoritativeness means being known and respected by others. When trusted websites or people mention you, it boosts your authority.
Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is about being honest and safe. Google looks for accurate, clear, and reliable information to trust a person.
The clearer and helpful the content someone has online, like interviews, articles, or professional profiles, the more signals Google gets about their expertise and trust.
Google also pays attention to where that information comes from. If it’s from strong, respected websites, it adds more value. All of this helps Google figure out whether the person is relevant and trustworthy for certain topics or searches.
By understanding these parts, entities, E-E-A-T, and where info appears, anyone can learn how their name is being ranked. It’s about clear facts, trusted sources, and steady proof of knowledge.
Build Your Personal SEO Foundation
You can secure a domain with your full name, like FirstNameLastName.com. This becomes your place on the internet. Build a clean and professional website that clearly shows who you are and what you do. Implement simple words and categorised sections that help visitors and search engines understand your content.
Make your website even stronger by adding schema markup. Apply the Person schema to display key details such as your name, job title, and photo. If you write blogs or articles, the Author schema helps highlight your work. These tools help search engines read your site better, so your name and information can appear higher in search results. This builds your online presence and helps people find and trust you more easily.
Own Page One: Create & Optimise These Key Properties
The first page of Google is the most visible space user see when they search your name, it’s often their first impression of who you are. That’s why it’s important to own a page that is useful, clear, and delivers true info about you.
Begin with your social media profiles like LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Instagram, and YouTube. These pages help users to show who you are and what you do. Make sure your name, photo, and bio are the same on each platform. That helps Google know it’s all you.
Then, use sites like Medium and Substack to write or post your thoughts and ideas. Sharing what you know builds your voice and allows people to trust you more.
If you’re notable, you might also be able to have a Wikipedia or Wikidata page. These are very effective because Google trusts them a lot.
Now here comes the smart part—linking everything together. Your LinkedIn can link to your blog. Your blog can link to your Twitter. This creates a strong web of pages that all point back to you. Use the same username or handle across platforms, like @yourname, so it’s easy to find you everywhere.
Also, keep your bios clean and clear. Use the same short line about who you are and what you do. This helps people and search engines understand you fast.
Doing all this gives you a strong, clear online image. And it ensures the valuable information about you is shown first on Google.
Create Content That Ranks for Your Name
Creating content on your own is the best way to get your name ranked on Google. Writing a blog post, being a guest on podcasts, or sharing articles on other websites shows your knowledge and builds your online presence.
When you create content, always use your full name in between the content, like the title, headings, and description. This helps Google to link the content with you. For example, if the blog title says “Tips by Priya Sharma,” it tells Google that Priya Sharma is important in the post.
Also, plan your content with a calendar. Write about what you know about your work, your hobbies, or your advice. A steady flow of valuable posts shows that you are engaged and an expert in your field.
When you talk on podcasts, write a guest post related to it, and add those links to your blog as well as on social media profiles. The more places your name appears with good info, there will be better the chance of ranking higher on Google.
Making content takes time, but it’s a strong way to tell Google, “This is me!”
Get High-Quality Backlinks to Your Name
Backlinks are links from other websites that point out your name or your website. Google sees these as “votes” that say, “This person is important.” More good backlinks can help your name rank higher in search results.
You can get strong backlinks by writing guest posts for trusted websites. This is called guest blogging. When those sites link to you, it adds value to your online name.
Another way to rank up your name is through digital PR. It also helps you get your name mentioned in news stories or blogs. Tools such as Help A Reporter Out can even help you answer questions from journalists, which can lead to mentions and links in articles.
You can also join industry interviews or get links from websites of groups or organisations you belong to. Ask them to include your name and link on their “Meet the Team” or “Members” page. These innovative links make your name stronger and more trusted on the internet.
Google Yourself: Track, Measure & Improve
It’s essential to watch what Google shows up when a user searches your name. This helps you to stay in control of your online image.
You can even set up Google Alerts for your name. This sends you an email whenever your name occurs on the internet.
You can even use Google Search Console when you have your website. It enables you to notice how many visitors find your site and what they search for to get there.
Inspect the Search Engine Results Page often to see what has changed. You can also use tools that help you manage your reputation and keep track of what others see about you.
Look at branded search volume data to see how many users are searching your name. If the number of search volume goes up, it means more visitors are seeing you! Tracking your name helps you grow and stay trusted online.
Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid
Making mistakes in personal SEO can even hurt how well your name ranks on Google. Here are key errors to avoid:
- Ignoring NAP Consistency: Your name, address, and phone number should be exactly the same on all websites and platforms. If one has “John D. Smith” and another says “John Smith,” Google may think they are different people. This can lower trust and reduce your ranking.
- Keyword Stuffing or Over-Optimising: Adding your name too many times in your content can backfire. Google might see it as spam, not useful information. Use your name naturally and only where it makes sense, like in titles and headings.
- Neglecting Mobile Design and Page Speed: Most people use phones to search, so your site must work well on mobile devices. If it loads slowly or is hard to use on a phone, visitors will leave quickly. As a result, Google will lower your ranking because of it.
Long-Term Strategy: Maintaining Your Search Dominance
Securing top rankings is just the beginning. To maintain visibility:
- Update Quarterly: Refresh your core content pieces annually. A 2024 study shows updated articles get 2.3x more traffic than static ones.
- Diversify Platforms: Expand to emerging platforms like TikTok or niche forums where your audience engages. Cross-promote content using platform-specific formats (e.g., LinkedIn carousels for professional tips, Instagram Reels for behind-the-scenes).
- E-A-T Reinforcement: Showcase new credentials prominently. Add certifications to your website header, feature recent speaking engagements on your “About” page, and display client logos with permission.
- Backlink Maintenance: Conduct quarterly backlink audits using free tools like Google Search Console. Disavow toxic links (spammy directories, irrelevant guest posts) that could trigger penalties.
- Algorithm-Proofing: When Google releases core updates (typically 3-4/year), immediately:
- Check your rankings for branded keywords
- Analyse traffic drops in Google Analytics
- Audit top competitors’ strategy changes
- Adjust content to meet new E-E-A-T standards
- Offline Integration:
- Add QR codes linking to your website on business cards
- Mention key content during speaking engagements (“Scan my QR to download today’s slides”)
- Collect testimonials at events for website social proof
Real Example: Consultant Michael Kim maintains #1 ranking for his name by:
- Publishing quarterly industry reports
- Securing 2-3 podcast features monthly
- Running annual website UX audits
Conclusion
Getting your name to the top of Google isn’t hard—it just takes smart steps and a little time. You’ve now learned how to build your website, use social media, create helpful content, get strong backlinks, and track your name online.
Personal SEO helps people see the best version of you. When your name shows up with clear, true, and trusted info, it makes you look professional and confident.
Remember:
- ⏱️ Results compound: Early efforts (like schema markup) keep working for years.
- 🔄 SEO is iterative: Google rewards consistent updates (refresh content every 6 months).
- 🎯 Own your niche: Ranking for “Your Name + Industry” (e.g., “Dr. Lee Cardiologist”) attracts high-value opportunities.
“In the digital age, your search results are your reputation’s headquarters.”
– Dorie Clark, Harvard Business Review author
Start small but start now:
- This week: Secure social profiles + Google Alerts
- Month 1: Launch basic website with Person schema
- Month 3: Publish 2 guest articles
For Singapore-based professionals, partnering with a specialised SEO company in Singapore can accelerate your visibility with locally optimised strategies.
Keep everything simple, steady, and strong. With the right focus, your name will shine on Google!
Chris Mcdonald has been the lead news writer at complete connection. His passion for helping people in all aspects of online marketing flows through in the expert industry coverage he provides. Chris is also an author of tech blog Area19delegate. He likes spending his time with family, studying martial arts and plucking fat bass guitar strings.