Brooke Wolford

By Brooke Wolford

I recently blogged about this and I think it was very necessary to share with YPN. Yes, it’s kind of lame to Google yourself. Yes some people look at it as being egotistical. But there are several reasons to do it.

If you are anything like me, you occasionally Google yourself.  I really have no reason to do it but for some reason it makes me feel cool.  I like reading all the info on the Internet and also I like to make sure it’s accurate.

When I first got my license, I was so excited to see my name listed as “Brooke Wolford”, REALTOR(R). So I decided to Google myself. Low and behold, there is another Brooke Wolford. She’s an actress… I guess if that’s what you call a porn star. I was horrified. I also found out that there is a “Wolford” lingerie line. Besides that, there were pages upon pages about the porn star and this lingerie line and not too much info about me.

Since then I have done a lot of research and managed to get my name planted on to every possible real estate Web site, every social networking site, and I try to update my blogs every day.  I have also had the opportunity to make sure that the information listed on Web sites is accurate. One Web site had me listed as a commercial agent working out of the Duluth, Minn. area… it was a little off considering I mainly deal with residential and the city of Duluth is four hours away from me.

Googling yourself is no longer about vanity, it’s about protecting your identity.  It’s up to us as real estate agents to protect our image. Consider how often consumers use the Internet to research products and services. It’s up to you to make sure they are reading the correct information about you.   It’s also a way to found out what information about you on social networking sites is private or public.

I Googled myself today and went through 12 pages and could only find information on myself. Brooke Wolford the “porn star” was gone. I do still see the advertisements for “Wolford Lingerie” on a couple of pages, but for what I could find, it’s all about me.

Brooke Wolford is a real estate practitioner with Edina Realty, Hastings, Minn.  Follow her blog at adventuresinrookierealestate.blogspot.com.