How Can You Find Out Who Is Googling You?

Have you ever Googled a coworker or yourself? Wouldn’t you love to know who is Googling you? Or be notified as it happens? Unfortunately, Google doesn’t reveal this type of information.

Using Google AdWords, you may find out the global monthly search volume for your name or relevant keywords that are being searched together with your name. However, it doesn’t tell you anything about the person Googling you.

And how do you know whether it’s really you they are looking for?

The truth is you can’t legally find out exactly who is using a search engine to look up information about you. However, you can find out when and where someone is searching for you. To obtain this information, you have to set up a trap. In other words, let yourself be found. Here, I’ll introduce 3 sites that will help you find out when someone is searching for you online.

All of these sites work by placing your profile high up in search engine results. So your respective profile will be one of the first hits people will see when searching for your name. And once someone clicks through, you will receive an eMail alert. Their IP address will reveal where the search originated from and the search term they used may tell you who they are or why they are looking for you.

Ziggs

At Ziggs, you can set up a full profile and market yourself. You can share your biography, write about your background, and upload your resume. After some time, your profile will be indexed by search engines and people will find you.

find out who is googling you

Once someone clicks the link to your profile, you will receive an eMail alert. The eMail will tell you when your profile was searched, where the search originated from (based on IP address), and which keywords were used to find you.

Another page quite similar to LinkedIn and Ziggs, which will alert you when your profile is being viewed, is Naymz.

WikiWorldBook

WikiWorldBook works very similar to Ziggs. The difference is that it’s really just an online address book. You can choose to hide all your contact details and let them contact you through WikiWorldBook only. People searching for you can still get in touch with you very easily, without signing up.

find out who is googling you

You can enter an array of contact information, social links, and a few details about yourself. You can also fetch a contact button from their site and place it onto your website or social profile. If someone sends you a message through WikiWorldBook, it will be forwarded to your eMail address.

Here is a short video demonstrating how it works:

Academia.edu

This site is targeted towards people who work in research and/or academia.

It not only allows you to find people with similar research interests and keep track of the latest developments in your research area, you can also set up your own profile and be notified once someone views it.

find out who is googling you

Besides writing about yourself and defining your research interests, you can upload your publications, review papers or books you have read, and update your status. A category called Keywords lists all the search queries that were used to find your profile.

who is googling me

So, did you Google your name and find weird results? Don’t feel safe just because you only found someone who carries your name. They could still ruin your reputation. Also, if a potential employer cannot find you on Google at all, it may not be to your advantage!

If you’re worried about your online reputation, do something about it. The following two articles will show you how:

John McClain showed How To Control Search Engine Top Rankings for Your Name and I explained How To Maintain a Professional Profile Online.

What are your biggest online sins that Google may reveal?

Image credit: cobrasoft

Tagged: advanced search • people search • privacy • reputation monitoring • resume • search tips • virtual identity

Tina Sieber

Tina is a freelance writer, editor, natural scientist, and cosmopolitan with a strong interest in sustainability. She has been writing for MakeUseOf since late 2007 and also is the Editor for MakeUseOf Answers.

http://mohanarun.com Mohan Arun L

Great post! For searches for my name, as expected, my Google Profiles page comes up at the top of the results. I wish there would be a way to measure analytics on that profile page also as a way of knowing who is googling you and where they are from.
http://wikiworldbook.com/profile-73-Ben-Leefield Ben

Hi Tina

Thanks very much for the review. Much appreciated.

As you say, apart from geographical location, our Search Alert can provide the actual name of businesses and organizations (most of the time), if that’s where the searcher has Googled you from. This makes it ideal for job hunters who want to know if their prospective employer has been carrying out internet due diligence on them (apparently the majority of Human Resources departments now do this). Alternatively, business people might want to know if potential clients or suppliers have been carrying out a name search on them prior to contract.

My own Search Alert has told me previously that I have been Googled by Google. Is that a Search Alert first?!

Thanks again.

Ben

Ben Leefield
CEO
WikiWorldBook
http://www.icttrends.com Suresh Khanal

I checked immediately after reading your post. And none of them are mine. The first appeared of LinkedIn and that ‘Suresh Khanal’ is not me, Second entry is from Facebook and that ‘Suresh Khanal’ is not me!
The third and fourth entry are from my own websites. I guess I need to make something more to come to the first in the list?
Chris

I often discover that people have searched my name when I review visitor activity to my business webste, via CPanel.
http://icttrends.com Suresh Khanal

After so many days, I Googled again for my name. Facebook and Linked In profiles are already taken by somebody else. Because I was using shkhanal, those who had Suresh.Khanal as their username got higher rank. Anyway for all other entries, I found my links.