Google Profile: Control How Others See You Via Google

Google has introduced a new feature called 'Google Profile', which lets users control how their information appears when someone else searches for that person's name via Google's products (such as the Google Search Engine).

Using Google Profile, it is possible to create a personal page that links to your blog or other profiles and keep family and friends up to date with your contact information and pictures. (Source: google.com)

Control Over What Others See

According to Google, a profile is simply how you present yourself on Google products to other Google users. You control how you appear on Google and tell others more about who you are.

You can share your web content in one central location while including links to your blog, online photos, and other profiles such as social networking sites. Since you control what others see, your profile won't display any private information unless you've added it to your profile.

Google Profile Used with Other Google Products

By setting your Google profile to show your full name, you can allow people to find you more easily by enabling your profile to be searched by name.

You might already have a Google profile if you've written reviews on Google Maps, created articles on Google Knol, shared Google Reader items, or added books to your Google Book Search library. (Source: google.com)

Setting Up a Google Profile

Setting up your Google profile is simple, especially if you already have a Google account such as Google mail (or Gmail). Instructions can be found from Google profiles or you can watch a video and follow step-by-step instructions from WikiHow.com.

Google Profile Features

Google Profile is still a work in progress, but there are already several handy features:

• Enable the 'Send a message' feature to allow anyone with a Google account to email you without revealing your email address.
   
• Add embedded photos from Flickr or Picasa to your profile.
   
• Write a short bio about yourself by creating your own page about yourself.
   
• Share contact information with friends and family while controlling who sees it.
   
• Make it easier for friends to see your content on the web by adding links to your blog, web albums and social networking sites in your Google profile.

Given the runaway popularity of Facebook and Twitter, it was only a matter of time before Google also dipped its toes into social networking.

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