What Do You Do About that Maiden Name?

Thanks to Facebook, I’ve recently connected with three old friends from my past.  Each friend said that when they Googled my maiden name, nothing came up (mind you, my married name will give you over 10 solid pages of results thanks to press releases and articles I’ve written and people I’ve interviewed).  So it got me thinking about what I could do to get my maiden name out there in Googleland.

With the help of some of my Twitter friends, here’s what I came up with:

  • add your maiden name to all your online profiles – Facebook and LinkedIn in particular since that’s where many people search first.
  • create a blog just to keep you maiden name active – have accurate contact info available and be sure to have at least one post with your maiden name spelled out
  • create an additional twitter account using your first and last name (or at least your first initial and last name) – be sure to use a URL where you can be contacted and either a tweet (if you won’t be using the account) or a brief bio letting folks know that this isn’t your primary account and where they can find you.  You can also feed your blogs into this account to keep it busy

I had the first one done for a couple years now (and I notice that many social media profiles now – especially those that cater to women – have a place for your maiden name).  I’ll get on doing the blog one at some later date.  I figured right now, it was easiest create a second (um…fourth) Twitter acount and feed two of my three blogs there.  We’ll see how things go over the next couple of weeks.

So I ask you…do you care if people from your past can’t find you through Google? And if youdo care, what have you done to make it easier for old friends to find you online?

4 thoughts on “What Do You Do About that Maiden Name?

  1. LA Blogger Gal

    I don’t think it’s mean at all. For the most part, I feel the same way you do…there’s a reason I’m not in touch with people in my school-age past.

    But then I found three good friends (one of whom I’d been looking for for years, the other that I’d been thinking about for years, the last I’d kind of forgotten about but was thrilled to reconnect with). All three had said that they were trying to find me online for quite some time, but couldn’t. So I figured I’d make it a little easier. My (married) name is all over, so there’s no use hiding now 😉

  2. emma james

    I’m with curlywurlygurly. It’s a little disconcerting actually when someone from my past finds me. After an initial twinge of nostalgia and/or excitement, I have nothing to say, and then it’s just awkward.

    But I think it’s cool that you got back in touch with long lost FRIENDS.

    emma jamess last blog post..7 Secrets

  3. LA Blogger Gal

    I don't think it's mean at all. For the most part, I feel the same way you do…there's a reason I'm not in touch with people in my school-age past.

    But then I found three good friends (one of whom I'd been looking for for years, the other that I'd been thinking about for years, the last I'd kind of forgotten about but was thrilled to reconnect with). All three had said that they were trying to find me online for quite some time, but couldn't. So I figured I'd make it a little easier. My (married) name is all over, so there's no use hiding now 😉

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