Get the Attention You Want by Setting Up Google Authorship

“Hey, Google! Over here! Look at me!!!” Isn’t this what we’re all trying to do? To get Google’s attention, to look at our blogs? Have you made sure to set up Google Authorship so that Google has some clue who you are?

Google Authorship? Yes. I realize you might not have ever heard of it, but doing this will help you be found online! Plus, as an added bonus? Whenever someone searches for something, it will add your photo and credit to you right next to their search results!

When you’re looking through a long page of search results, the ones with the photos definitely stand out! (This is also why I always recommend using a consistent avatar online – brand YOU!)

Setting Up Google Authorship – A Two Step Process

Setting up Google Authorship is a two-part process. Before you can begin, you will need to make sure you have a profile set up at Google+ if you do not already. You’ll need this URL in a few minutes.

Setting Up Google Authorship on Your WordPress Blog

I’ve found that for setting up the blog portion, using a WordPress Plugin that includes this feature seems to work best. I am currently using both WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin (which also generates sitemaps, another thing that Google loves when it is trying to get to know you) and the Starbox plugin, which is what makes the fancy author box at the end of each of our posts. The management software  is perfect for managing all GMB properties, monitoring GMB performance.

Once you have the plugins installed, you need to go to the Users section in your WordPress settings and fill in your Google+ URL. Use the full URL for this – for example, I used https://plus.google.com/+ChristineTremoulet

Now that we have the WordPress Blog portion out of the way, now it is on to step 2! See, that wasn’t hard, was it?

Setting Up Google Authorship on Your Google+ Profile

Time to head back to that Google+ Profile that we were talking about earlier. Just a few quick, easy steps and you’ll have everything ready to go there.

1. Click Edit profile.
2. Click the “Contributor To” section on the right, and then click Add custom link.
3. Type in the URL of your blog.
4. If you want, change the visibility of your link, and then click Save.

Testing to Make Sure Google Authorship is Working

Now we are on to my favorite part! Once you’re all done, you can head over to Google’s Webmasters Tools Structured Data Testing Tool. That is a long fancy name for a rather simple page. In the test box, insert the URL for just a single blog post, and choose Preview. The results should look like this if everything is set up correctly.

One More Tip: Be Active on Google+

I know, I know. Most of us aren’t very active on Google+. Take a little time each week to post over there – share articles you are interested in along with sharing your own posts. Add people to your Google+ Circles. All of this will help your sphere of influence on Google+ grow!

Join Us for Social Media Infusion!

Want to learn more about things like this, and how Social Media + your Blog work together hand in hand to help your ideal clients find you? Join us for our Social Media Infusion Workshop where we will get hands on and spend time together and help you shake the dust off your social media accounts and make a working plan to maximize your personal content driven marketing. Yes, a plan by the time you leave the workshop. Come & join us! Promo code SOCIAL50 will get you and your friends $50 off the registration fee!

Sources

For more information, you can read the following:

• Google Support – Link to your Google+ profile using rel=”author”
• Aristotle Buzz – Setting Up Google Authorship
• Google Authorship Markup: How to get your picture in search results
• How To Setup Google’s Verified Authorship in WordPress with Yoast’s WordPress SEO Plugin

• About
• Latest Posts

Christine Tremoulet

Online Social Marketing Strategist at Christine Tremoulet

Christine Tremoulet is an author, a social marketing strategist, and a speaker. She uses her 15 years of blogging experience (she actually named WordPress!) to help others with Blogging Brilliantly so they can use their blog and social media to share their story with the world and build their own successful business. She is the original Avenger of Sexiness. She truly believes that You Are Enough. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband & her college-age son, when not out on an adventure. (You can follow those at Have Gear, Will Travel.) Mini Cooper is her spirit animal.

Latest posts by Christine Tremoulet (see all)

• To the Thin Women of the World – I’m Sorry - October 26, 2015
• Black Teeth, White Smile! Smart Ash Review - August 9, 2015
• The Joys of Being Over 40 - April 19, 2015