Google’s opinion of you might be the most important one around.

Whatever happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet. And don’t let a Las Vegas marketing campaign confuse you. Whatever happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet as well.

What is Google saying about you?

The answer might make or break your job search. Hurt or help all your networking efforts. Land you that spot in college or grad school.

And it might even assist you in snagging that big date, or leave you on the couch scrolling through pictures of your frenemies’ big night out.

Google is your digital wingman. Is it attracting more people to you? Or is Google like your friend after a few too many drinks, shouting an incoherent message at an annoyingly loud octave?

In today’s tech-dependent, search and social world where your information is at everyone’s fingertips, if you’re not actively, intentionally, and wisely crafting your online brand, Google and your social media accounts are creating one for you. And you might not like what image they’re portraying when you really look.

How do you intentionally create an online brand that helps create opportunities and connections, instead of driving them away? How do you get Google working for you?

3 Keys to Creating an Effective Online Brand and Presence

First, Your Online Brand Needs to Be Strategically and Authentically YOU.

What do you care about, where do you excel, and what do you want more opportunities in?

Basically, who are you and is that being represented accurately online?

To answer this question, you need to start asking yourself strategic questions and start describing who you are succinctly and accurately.

If you don’t define who you are, the Internet will do that for you. (click to tweet that)

You can’t craft an image of yourself if you don’t know what picture you’re trying to paint.

Your soul values, strengths, talents, dreams, and problems you see in the world that you want to help, are unique to you. Have you ever gone through a process to actually uncover and define what they are, and then build a brand and a plan to show that to the world?

If that feels overwhelming or makes you want to watch an entire season of anything on Netflix, that’s part of what my new community and online course is about — helping you define, refine, hone, and own your unique Signature Sauce so that you can create a brand that is authentically and strategically you.

One of my favorite professors in college, Dr. Greg Spencer describes authenticity as an “inward and outward consistency.”

Is the best of who and what you are being accurately displayed on page one of a Google search or is it being hidden in the dark, unreachable depths of page five?

Are your tweets, status updates and photos crafting an image of someone who is excited about the world they live in and their role in it, or is it an acid shower of negativity, know-it-all-ness, or clubbing photos.

Figure out who you are and then start displaying that online in a way you can feel proud of.

Second, Social and Search are All Inter-Connected

If you think you can act one way on Twitter and then another on LinkedIn, Google will make sure people see the whole picture.

Don’t think you can act all kinds of professional on LinkedIn, spouting about the top-notch value you bring to a company, and then be complaining about your current employer on Twitter.

First, your recent tweets from Twitter are now being embedded into your Google search results.

As well, most of your top Google search results for your name will be your different social media profiles.

Your social media profiles don’t exist isolated from one another. The Internet is the grand revealer of all. Especially when you’re applying for a new job.

I’ve seen some stats that say job recruiters are using Google 80% of the time when reviewing new job applicants.

Hiring, and possibly firing, employees is a risky, expensive business. If a future employer can jump online to see if your resume and skills listed matches up with what you’re actually saying and doing online, don’t you think they’re going to take that opportunity?

Third, Launch Your Own Website

Nothing can help you take control of your online brand and presence more than creating and crafting your own website.

Especially if you start actively posting and updating your website with new content, then Google will put your website #1 on it’s search results as your website obviously becomes the leading authority on who you are.

Take control of what Google is saying about you by taking control of your own website. Now you can begin to showcase the best of who and what you are to the world in an intentional, strategic way with wordsets, images, metaphors, portfolio’s, design, etc.

All of the success I’ve experienced that has allowed me to see two books published and helps me travel as a national speaker, has all come from creating my website here at AllGroanUp.com.

There’s so much I could write here on strategies and tips for how to easily and effectively create your own website that I might need to create a separate series or free ebook.

Heck, that’s a good idea. If you’d be interested in a free ebook outlining the best practices, tools, and strategies for creating your own website in less than a day and for under $75, let me know in the comments on this article. If there’s enough people interested, I’ll get cranking on it.

Also I walk through creative ways to understand, define and articulate your offline and online brand in my new Signature Sauce course.

You Need to BYOB

As I wrote in the 23 new mottos twentysomething should live by, you need to BYOB — Build Your Own Brand.

Are you dictating and describing your online brand in an effective, authentic and persuasive way? Or is Google creating an online brand for you?

Google is saying something about you. Make sure you know what it is.