The Buzz at Ziggs

Ziggs.com is Moving to California!

2010-06-11T12:08:00.004-05:00

Goodbye winters... hello sunshine! We are excited to share the news that Ziggs.com has been acquired by ReputationDefender.com of Redwood City, in sunny CA. The mission of ReputationDefender is very synergistic with Ziggs’ mission to help professionals take charge of their online image. As both companies understand the importance of managing your online brand and identity, we feel ReputationDefender’s acquisition of Ziggs.com will continue to deliver ongoing value to Ziggs' customers.

What does this mean for you?

Your Ziggs Profile and the benefits you’ve enjoyed on the Ziggs platform will remain intact. You can continue to update your Ziggs Profile in the future at Ziggs.com. In addition, ReputationDefender will give you access to additional products and services to help you enhance the management and protection of your online identity. Learn more about how ReputationDefender can help protect your online image here. For those interested, here's the TechCrunch coverage of this news.

Thank you for your loyal support of Ziggs.com.

Best to all!

Put Your Profile to Work. Then Go on Vacation.

2009-08-03T10:42:00.011-05:00

Whether you’re at work or on the beach, the virtual you can always be “on the job” online.

That’s the power of having a professional online presence on the web. Whether you’re on vacation in Capri or Cape Cod, hiking in the Himalayas or strolling in Havana, eating pizza in Naples or New York City, your digital presence is ready for action whether you’re in the office or not.

So as you enjoy your summer getaways, remember you can rest easier knowing that when someone searches for you on the web, they can find you online 24/7 with a professional presentation. This gives you an “at work” image, even when on the beach.

So, before you grab the sunscreen and beach towels, be sure to update your “at work” online image via your Ziggs Profile.

Happy Summer!

Picture Power

2009-06-01T13:33:00.004-05:00

When you think of the Louvre, what image comes to mind? A vision of priceless art work, the Mona Lisa, a King’s palace…?

The picture above demonstrates the power of affecting a brand through imagery. This diaphanous building is the future home of an extension to the Louvre, to be located in Abu Dhabi. It’s such a dramatic contrast from the rock solid weightiness of the Louvre in Paris, it’s hard to juxtapose the two for the same brand idea. Thanks to BrandBlog for bringing a photo and this story to my attention.

You can achieve the same dramatic stop-them-in-their-tracks effect with your Ziggs Profile by using arresting photographs of yourself. Arrange for a professional photo to be taken of you in an unusual location, against a striking color background, or with black and white film.

Here are a few examples of members at Ziggs who have impacted their own professional brand with powerful personal portraits:

David Johnson. Wendy Harris. Walter Marr. Ember Hagemann.

Cinco de Mayo. American Passion.

2009-05-05T13:06:00.003-05:00

After having lived in southern California for a number of years, Cinco de Mayo became known to me as an official holiday of sorts. Although this date is not celebrated in Mexico outside of the state of Puebla, it has become a US day of celebration and pride for Mexican heritage… almost the Mexican version of a St. Patrick’s Day (another US-originating holiday that is not really celebrated in the country it commemorates).

Whether or not you celebrate Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day, these quasi-holidays are a fun reminder of the power of celebrating what inspires you. If you’re inspired to celebrate your family, your friends, your heritage, your co-workers, your neighbors, your school, you should do so. In a similar vein, remember to celebrate the aspects of yourself that inspire you the most – your career, your parenting, your interests, your political views – whatever you feel passionately about and want to share with others.

Of course, be sure to celebrate yourself and your passions in your Ziggs Profile. A Profile written with enthusiasm and authenticity will carry you farthest.

Dos tacos de pescados, por favor. Gracias amigo.

"Don't Deny Your DNA"

2009-03-26T14:51:00.011-05:00

I give full credit for this thoughtful phrase to the company and person, Spike, that recently blogged about it at Brains on Fire, a highly creative identity agency.

Denying your "DNA" suggests that you’re ignoring your instincts or rejecting your personal gifts. But, in today’s world of economic quicksand, sticking to your “DNA” can be your key to staying afloat and grounded at the same time.

In fact, understanding your "DNA" - your personal brand - helps you know where you’re going and why. Once you're clear on your brand "DNA," you become more effective and focused in everything you do. For example, people who know their brand "DNA" tend to present the most compelling professional Profiles at Ziggs.com. These profiles are confident, clear and direct.

So, be sure to express your own brand “DNA” succinctly in your own Ziggs Profile now.

For more thoughts on this, read the recent Brains on Fire blog entry on this topic here.

What's Your Curb Appeal?

2009-02-25T15:41:00.014-05:00

You know the house. It’s that one house on the block with the most inviting look from the street. It draws you in because it's so well-maintained. This kind of house certainly attracts buyers more easily than an overgrown house with a cluttered yard. Creating curb appeal for your home is key to your sales strategy. What about your career sales strategy? Have you checked your online curb appeal lately?

As the economic crisis continues to deepen, it’s even more critical that your online brand is professional and inviting. It’s important to ensure that prospective clients or employers enjoy almost effortless access to you through the internet, for new business, or a new job. Your Ziggs Profile is the first place to start updating your online curb appeal. Here are three quick steps to update your online brand.

1. Update the landscape. A good professional photo can be likened to a well-landscaped home. Make sure your online photos present you as current, fresh and focused.

2. Paint the house. Just as the proper paint choice and trim color make a house shine, presenting the right content and tone in your profile will make a difference in your ability to make an impact with the reader.

3. Be found on the map. If a buyer can’t find your house, it’s hard to sell it. Making sure your online profile is easily found in search results is equally important. Upgrading your online visibility in search results gives your online brand a competitive boost. Learn how Ziggs can do that for you.

Taking time to enhance your online curb appeal might make all the difference for you in the year ahead… So join Ziggs and create your free Ziggs Profile today. Or, if you already have one, update your Ziggs Profile now.

Sold!

Pink Slip Job Tips

2008-12-12T14:08:00.002-05:00

According to CNN, unemployment is at its highest rate in fifteen years. If you’re among those who have recently received a pink slip, you’re not alone. The good news is that with professional networking websites and online brand management services that are easy to use, a job seeker has more free tools in his job-seeking tool kit than ever before.

Gerri Willis from CNN recently reminded job seekers that in today’s market, it’s not always "what you know, but who you know." She says that 80% of jobs today are found through networking with someone you know. Gerri also suggests that professionals get visibility online for themselves using a free professional profile. This helps you be found when recruiters search for you online. To hear more of Gerri’s tips, tune into her recent news story at CNN, where she also recommends Ziggs:

Whether you are a long-time user or a brand new member at Ziggs, here are three simple Job-To-Do’s every professional should check off today, employed or not.

1. Manage your free professional Ziggs Profile. Update it, add photos, add links to your work. Keep it fresh. If you don't have a Ziggs Profile, start yours for free here.

2. List yourself in several of Ziggs Professional Directories for added visibility in your field.

3. Use Ziggs' free people search to find others at Ziggs within your profession to build your network and your business.

For those looking for new employment, feel free to browse Ziggs’ free Jobs Board once a week.

Wishing you all good employment this holiday season.

Got Dirt?

2008-11-20T14:26:00.006-05:00

Google your name. If you find links to information you would not want your boss or a prospect to see, then you have digital dirt that could use some cleaning. As people continue to post personal information freely on the web, the incidents of digital dirt negatively affecting careers are on the rise. Career experts and even TV news journalists have raised the red flag on digital dirt and are writing about how you can clean yours up.

According to Rita Ashley, job search coach, veteran technology recruiter, author and blogger at Job Search Debugged, “personal digital dirt has no shelf life; it can last forever.” She asks, “How can you overcome these self made obstacles to create a professional brand? How can you manage your professional brand on-line and keep dirt away from your digital door?” Rita answers these questions in detail with six action steps anyone can take to shine up their online brand and keep it squeaky clean. I can’t help but agree with Rita’s ultimate suggestion – use the “uber solution” that helps push your bad search results lower by positioning your best search result content on top – a solution also known as Ziggs.

Ned Hibberd, newscaster at FOX in Houston, recently reported on digital dirt and how to respond to it. Ned recommends that you “accentuate the positive, even if you can't eliminate the negative.” He goes on to suggest using Ziggs to accomplish just that. Take a look at Ned’s views on this topic in his recent news story "What's Google revealing about you?" on FOX.

Got dirt? Rise above it... Check out Ziggs WebPro to learn how you can put your best foot forward on page one is search results using your Ziggs Profile. Don't have a Ziggs Profile yet? There's no better time than the present. Give yourself the gift of having a positive online brand by joining Ziggs now and starting your free Ziggs Profile.

Thank You From Ziggs

2008-10-21T14:44:00.002-05:00

Ziggs has been quietly fielding media interview requests for some time now. As a result of this growing interest in Ziggs, we have recently received national news coverage from CBS, Yahoo.com, AOL.com, MSNBC TV and numerous blogs during early October. We're honored to have our story shared by these media giants with you. Thanks CBS and especially Molly Hughes for your recent news story about how people can learn a little more about how often they're being googled and found via their free Ziggs Profile's email alert and tracking service.

From CBS: Who is Googling You? Ziggs Knows.

To understand exactly how this free Ziggs service works, learn more here.

We’d like to thank our new and existing customers for their interest in Ziggs and their ongoing support of Ziggs. We hope you take advantage of all the free services Ziggs has to offer professionals.

Remember to keep your Ziggs Profile updated, shiny and new at all times. So far, CBS and Fox have interviewed fifteen Ziggs customers from across the US, with more in the works. Maybe you'll be next!

Recession Proof Yourself

2008-09-25T09:53:00.001-05:00

According to the US Department of Labor, US jobless claims were at a seven year high at the close of the week of September 20th, 2008. Although this is partially due to a lift in jobless claims as a result of hurricanes Gustav and Ike, it's times like these that call for every professional to take frequent steps to recession-proof their business reputation and their career.

Steps can include taking classes part-time to expand skills or improve leadership abilities. Increase the frequency of networking activities with both distant colleagues and local events for your profession.

Since your reputation and your experience are part of your professional brand, it's a good idea to highlight your recent accomplishments both offline and online. Polish up your resume with new accomplishments. Put a fresh shine to your online business profiles, especially your Ziggs Profile.

Your Ziggs Profile can be enhanced by adding your recent accomplishments, adding new links to your online results, and improving your professional photo if possible. First impressions make a lasting impression so make sure your online impression is a powerful one via your Ziggs Profile.

To ensure potential job managers can find you online, be sure to give your Ziggs Profile top visiblity in all search engines, and also buy your own domain name for added professional visibility. You can do this through Ziggs quickly and easily. Ziggs will link your profile directly to your new domain name at http://www.yourname.com/.

Once you've completed these touch-ups to both your offline and online brand identity, continue to grow your network now. You'll be glad you did if you reach a point where you need to network for a new job. But in the meantime, remember to smile. We'll all get through this if we work together.

5 Ways to Give Your Online Brand an Olympic Boost

2008-08-25T13:19:00.000-05:00

Brush off those last bits of sand from your summer vacation and get ready give your online brand an Olympic-sized boost. Why? The more effective your online professional brand is the more compelling people will consider you when they google and find you online. Why now? At least once per quarter it’s a good idea to take a look at the status of your online brand and then take a few moments to identify ways to improve it. As the remarkable Beijing Olympics have just come to a close and we reflect on the incredible focus every athlete exhibited, give your online profile the focus it needs to help your brand stay active, competitive and current. This kind of footwork may some day help you earn the gold medal of your career.

Here are a few quick tips for boosting your online brand today, Olympic-style:

1. Refresh your Profile. Update all of your online profiles on the web, especially your Ziggs Profile. Update your work experience, add new photos, and expand your links in Interests. If you don’t have a free Ziggs Profile, start one now or learn more.

2. Join a Ziggs Directory. List yourself today in all Directories at Ziggs that apply to your profession. This increases your online professional visibility for free.

3. Own your Name Online. Is your name available? Have you ever checked? Here’s a quick way for Ziggs members to find out. If you're not a Ziggs member, you can find out here. Owning your name online gives your brand more power.

4. Top-list in Search. Catapult your name and link to your profile to a premium position in every search engine. Research shows that searchers rarely go past the first page of results to find information, so be sure your profile is found on that first page. Here's how.

5. Enhance your Signature. Add your Ziggs Profile link into your email signature. This gives everyone you email a chance to learn more about your talents with a click. Try it now.

If your online brand is already fully boosted, consider boosting a friend’s. Share this blog with a friend today.

Congratulations and thank you to all Olympians for giving our world a boost of unity.

Launch Your Job Search at Ziggs

2008-07-15T08:45:00.001-05:00

Ziggs has just introduced a new Jobs Service.

The new Jobs Service lets you find newly listed jobs at Ziggs by keyword, title or location.

You can instantly apply to any job in Ziggs and your Ziggs Profile goes along too.

You can easily track the jobs you’ve applied for with your own private Jobs List.

Ziggs lets you search jobs listed at Ziggs or jobs from across the web.

As recruiters or hiring managers view your Ziggs Profile, you'll receive an email alert every time.

Or Relax. Be Passive. Let the Job find You.

Blue-chip recruiters visit Ziggs every day. By keeping your profile updated and interesting, you can dramatically increase your chances of being searched for and found for great job opportunities via Ziggs. So once you’ve updated your profile, relax, be passive, and let the recruiters come to you.

Real-Time Alerts Grow in Popularity: Google, Ziggs, Twitter...

2008-05-20T10:45:00.000-05:00

Receiving real-time alerts about important data on the web is a growing trend and a pleasure for many. Google has been in the alerts business for some time. You can set an alert at Google for a keyword of interest to you, such as news on a specific company. Each time news about that company appears on the Internet, Google will send you an email alert giving you access to the link.

Ziggs is a friend of this trend as well. Ziggs sends a free personal Search Alert to its customers each time a visitor googles their name and then clicks through to their Ziggs Profile. Getting notified when someone has visited your profile helps you keep your fingers on the pulse of search activity to your name.

For job seekers, Ziggs Alerts provide a quick glimpse into the traction your online resume is receiving on the web from recruiters or hiring managers. Ziggs even shows searcher information from a global level or down to the building level (global Ziggs Search Alert map shown above, with each red marker indicates a searcher who googled and found my Ziggs Profile). Everyone should be more aware of how often they’re searched and found online. Ziggs can provide this information for free.

Newcomer Twittervision gives you another taste of real-time alerts in the form of global tweet viewing. Although it feels a bit voyeuristic to follow tweets in real-time across the US or even in France or China…..that is part of the point of Twitter: instant insight into the micro-ideas of the masses. I see it as somewhat of both a local and a global communications experiment, where the outcome remains to be seen.

I use Google Alerts to follow company news stories. I use Ziggs Search Alerts to get notified when someone has searched me and viewed my Ziggs Profile. And I use Twitter to follow tweeters on a number of topics including social media (Ziggs, LinkedIn and Facebook). My tweet topics vary but will often include Ziggs, professional networking, social media, marketing and branding. Follow me on Twitter and I’d be delighted to follow you too.

If you're using alerts from Google, Ziggs or following Twitter in real-time, I'd love to hear about your experience. Or, if you're enjoying another kind of real-time alert, I'd love to know more about it.

Building Up Your Online Presence

2008-04-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

The online world of social media is one of the most dynamic outcomes of the invention of the world wide web. Having instant access to both viewing and participating in online communities of millions around the world, regardless of your career/position/age/location on earth, is one of the biggest boons of the much ballyhooed concept of a “global web community.”

Having said that, many of you are just now starting with the baby steps of creating one or two online professional profiles. Companies like Ziggs have been there to provide this type of free service from the beginning of the social web explosion.

For those of you who are now ready to spread your wings into the social media world, for either business or personal pursuits, here are a few ways to start expanding your visibility online.

1. Always keep your online profile at Ziggs and at other online communities updated and interesting with a current photo. Then, consider your Ziggs Profile as a home base for anchoring the other elements of your online image, such as your blog and more. Be sure to add a link to your Ziggs Profile right into your email signature so people can easily find your online presence from your emails with a click.

2. Next, you may want to consider starting free accounts at a number of the key social media magnets on the Web today. Twitter is one of those irrepressible social media whirlwinds. Visit Twitter for a taste of this phenom and follow a few of the posters that post on topics of interest to you. And once you get the hang of it, you can join twitter conversations yourself and submit your own "tweets." And of course you can include a link to your own tweets in your Ziggs Profile.

3. YouTube isn’t just for teens any more. If you haven’t been to YouTube lately, or had dismissed it as a forum for karaoke disasters, visit it again today. You’ll find everyone from presidential candidates presenting their platforms, to eco-friendly groups promoting solutions for reducing your carbon footprint, to the Steve Jobs address at a recent Stanford graduation ceremony. You can of course post any video content you may have, or to start small, you can comment on existing videos that focus on topics of meaning to you. And of course, any video you post on YouTube can link into your Ziggs Profile.

Since these baby steps are just a starting point for those new to social media, this info is just the start of an action plan for you to continue building out your online presence. More tips on broadening the virtual you coming soon.

A Fresh Look at Ziggs

2008-04-25T14:55:00.000-05:00

Ziggs’ website design has just been updated with a fresh new look!

Come see all the new ways we can help you build your online brand, plus connect with your existing friends and many more new people now at Ziggs.

Caller ID for the Internet

2008-02-28T08:58:00.000-05:00

Admit it. You've screened your calls at times thanks to caller ID. Caller ID is one of the most popular features on home and cell phones today. Wouldn't it be nice to know a bit more about who's "calling" for you on the Internet as well? In other words, who's Googling you?

ABC and Fox news have recently produced a news story that describes Ziggs' Search Alerts service as "caller ID for the Internet." If you're familiar with Ziggs Search Alerts, you may already know how valuable it is to get an email notification from Ziggs each time someone has searched for you and then viewed your Ziggs Profile through any search engine.

Elizabeth Yekhtikian, Account Director at Blanc and Otus, says she receives a search alert from Ziggs at least once per day. "I can check on the site and it shows me with little maps where the searches are coming from, and from exactly which town, within which state or part of the country or the world," said Yekhtikian.

You may be wondering how Ziggs knows where someone has searched for you from? Technology is the key, according to Tim DeMello, CEO Ziggs: "Every computer has a Web browser that has an IP address, which basically gives you a location," said DeMello. "It gives you the ability to time stamp it. So if someone goes to Google and they are in San Diego, we clearly know the time they went on and the time it came into us. We know what browser it came from." If you're a member at Ziggs, we share this information with you.
If you'd like to get notified and learn more about who's viewed your Ziggs Profile through any search engine, just register for free at Ziggs. This service and many others at Ziggs - services that help you develop an online profile and control your online image - are all free.

If you're already a member of the Ziggs community and would like to learn more about who's been searching for you, visit your Search Alerts Map now.

See how Fox news describes this free service: "Who's Googling You?"

A New Year. A New You.

2008-01-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

The newest PEW/Internet study reveals that more than 53% of US Internet users (up from 22% in 2002) have looked up information via search engines on people they know, including work colleagues, friends, neighbors, old flames and more. In light of this insight, it becomes ever more important to really shine online.

So, as the calendar flips forward to a fresh start in the new year, it’s a good time to take stock of one’s accomplishments over the past year. Take a moment to savor your victories, learn from your challenges and set a new course for 2008. As part of this effort, ask yourself how have you changed in the past year… how have you grown? Then, take what you’ve earned and learned and incorporate it into your Ziggs Profile to advance your online brand to reflect the newest you for 2008.

How to update the online you for '08

Expand your Smile ... Add some new photos to your Ziggs Profile, up to six, to give your visitors a better view of you.

Bond over Books ... Instantly add images of your favorite books to your Ziggs Profile….what you’re reading, what you’d recommend.

Lead with Groups ... Join an existing group or start a new free public group at Ziggs to connect with colleagues over topics of interest, from investments to sports to parenting. Then include a link for every group you participate on the Interests page of your Ziggs Profile

Now that you're off and running, best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T. S. Eliot

Brand U Topia

2007-11-29T15:18:00.000-05:00

Personal branding -- the art and science of developing your personal brand -- has become one of the most powerful motivational drivers behind the rise of personal blogs, social networking, amateur journalism and the ubiquitous self-expression found across the Web today. I am always inspired to see the breadth of participation from people, ranging from experts in their fields to newcomers or amateurs on a topic, who are leaving their own personal stamp on the web with their virtual voice, so to speak.

Case in point, the recent global telesummit, “A Brand You World”, covered the topic of personal branding from many different angles. If you’re interested in starting your personal brand online or continuing to build upon what you've already established, you may find the new content now available from this global telesummit quite helpful.

Here are a few of the sessions available for your listening pleasure:

Express Your Personal Brand Through the Power of Podcasting
With Neville Hobson

Jazz Up Your Personal Brand for Business Success
With Marc Gobe

Evangelizing Evangelists to Build a Business and Build Your Brand
With Guy Kawasaki, joined by Ziggs' Founder Tim DeMello

MicroBranding: Build a Powerful Personal or Local Brand…& Beat Your Competition
With T. Scott Gross

Promoting Brand You with Viral Marketing on the Web
With David Meerman Scott

How to Write a Great Business Blog
With Debbie Weil

For more information, visit: http://www.personalbrandingsummit.com/

A Brand You World's 2007 Global Telesummit

2007-10-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

This year is the 10th anniversary of Tom Peters' thought-provoking article on Personal Branding, published in Fast Company in 1997. To commemorate this event, leading personal branding strategists from around the world have organized a global telesummit on the topic of Personal Branding, to be held on Thursday, November 8th.

The buzz about this event, A Brand You World, is spreading around the world, as organizers, speakers, authors and participants will be joining together on this day from across the globe to discuss and learn more about the value and power of personal branding, plus how to apply it to your career and business for greater success. In light of the incredible value this event will be offering, Ziggs is very proud to be a sponsor.

To virtually attend A Brand You World's 2007 Global Telesummit:

Read the Press Release

See an Overview

This event is expecting over 100,000 participants and will consist of 24 separate seminars, loaded with value and expertise on personal branding from dozens of world class speakers.

We're very excited to share that Ziggs' very own Tim DeMello will be a speaker at this event at 10am EST on November 8th, on the topic of "Evangelizing Evangelists to Build a Business and Build Your Brand."

Mark your calendar today! I wouldn't miss it.

"Get a Better Paying Job"

2007-09-14T14:22:00.000-05:00

Gerri Willis, columnist for CNN Money, just published some great tips about which online tools to use in a search for a better paying job.

Gerri recommends that you 1) get connected, 2) be Google-able and 3) target your search.

She says “boosting your visibility online is more and more important, and there are companies out there that can help.”

“Check out Ziggs.com where you can post a free professional profile on the site. If a recruiter is looking for a job candidate online, your name may just pop up at the top of a Web search. [With Ziggs] you’ll even be sent an e-mail alert if someone clicks and views on your page [your profile].”

Gerri is referring to Ziggs Real-Time Search Alerts. Every time your Ziggs Profile is viewed, you will receive an email alert that tells you from where you were viewed, what time the visitor viewed your profile, as well as what search terms were used to find your profile. This free service helps you keep tabs on how often people are finding and viewing your Ziggs Profile.

New for Search Alerts, Ziggs now offers a global map with a red pin point for every location in the world from which you’ve been searched and viewed. To see the power of this hot new feature at Ziggs, click on your Search Alerts link in the Message Center of your Hub.

In addition to creating a free profile at Ziggs and being alerted each time your profile is viewed, job searchers can also search and network with the millions of other professionals listed in the Ziggs Index of Professionals. Find local people in your field of interest for free using Ziggs People Search. Try it out today.

Our thanks to Gerri for recommending Ziggs as a helpful tool in the world of job search.

The Personal Side of Branding

2007-09-06T09:59:00.000-05:00

I recently spoke with William Arruda, personal brand guru, founder of Reach and co-author of Career Distinction: Stand Out By Building Your Brand. William has circled the globe helping thousands of clients build their online personal brands for career growth. It was very gratifying to speak with a comrade-in-arms on the topic of the power of personal brand building and taking control of your online presence on the Web today. Questions he asks every professional:

“Do you stand out among your competitors or colleagues? Should you command higher compensation? Can you pick and choose the clients, projects or assignments you want? Are you achieving your professional goals?”

To help professionals achieve their goals and stand out in their field, he has developed the “Personal Branding 1-2-3 Success!” program. Available through the Reach website, you can learn more about how he helps his clients build success with building their personal brand.

William has created a Ziggs Profile to support his own online brand. You too should be proud of the fact that you’ve already taken one of the important steps in creating an online brand with your own Ziggs Profile. Now, be sure it’s up to date and expresses your best self today.

Riding the Digital Fast Lane

2007-08-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

In 1993, Marc Andreessen and NCSA and the University of Illinois developed a graphical user interface to the world wide web and called it Mosaic. The digital fast lane was then officially opened to early adopters with this first graphical browser. Fortunately for you and me, today it’s easy to ride the digital fast lane, without being a techie.

If you already have an online profile at Ziggs, congratulations! You are officially on the digital fast lane. You have successfully merged onto the high speed lane of Internet life. Maintaining your Ziggs Profile - refreshing it when needed, typically once a month – helps ensure that your online image drives well and always looks great on the digital highway.

But what about your friends and family. Are they on the digital highway with you? Have you brought them online to join you? Having an online professional profile listed at Ziggs is quite frankly the easiest and safest way to participate in the online world in the good company of millions of other professionals. Once in Ziggs, your people can create their own profile, then you can all create groups, discuss topics, even send polls online – the digital fast lane, all within the privacy of your own online world at Ziggs.

See you in the fast lane.

A Tale of Two Profiles

2007-08-08T12:46:00.000-05:00

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

The opening line from Charles Dickens’ historical novel A Tale of Two Cities, written in 1859. For those who missed this in 8th grade English, it’s a story of two cities, London and Paris, and two characters. Charles Darnay is the high-standing, romantic French society man, who is respectable but not interesting. Sydney Carton is the English barrister who is charismatic and magnetic but seedy and secretly exciting. It would be interesting to ask Dickens for his reaction to today’s world where millions of people have created their own online “characters” or profiles to portray themselves as either respectable and honest or to present a more alluring living-in-the-fast-lane life of hipness and hotness.

Just as Elvis and the Rolling Stones were considered provocative and erotic in their day, so today’s adults sometimes see the explicit online imagery and communications expressed in some social networks as out of bounds for them and their own children. It will be fascinating to watch how the new generation growing up in social networking websites matures into professionals with careers and to mark how their online personas or profiles morph with them from social to professional. Which type of profile have you created?

From Profiles to Avatars

Beyond an online profile, virtual worlds, such as Second Life, give you the ability to create an avatar, a virtual online representation of yourself. Depending on your goal, your virtual self can be similar to you or complete fantasy. For example, one of the most famous avatars in Second Life is the one created by Ian Hughes, virtual world pioneer and evangelist. Known inside as epredator, it’s befitting that his avatar is fantastic (and looks nothing like him).

According to Irving Wladawsky-Berger, even IBM now has policy guidelines on creating an avatar: "Virtual worlds give you the ability to create the way in which you want to represent your digital persona visually. This can be anything from a reasonable likeness of the actual person to a fictional creature... In general, your digital persona’s appearance is up to you. When you are using your avatar or persona in association with IBM, however, your judgment in these matters should be shaped by the same general guidelines that apply to IBMers in physical environments – i.e., that your appearance be appropriate to the context of your activities. You need to be especially sensitive to the appropriateness of your avatar or persona’s appearance when you are meeting with IBM clients or conducting IBM business."

So, how many identities can one person have? Actual, virtual, physical, student, work, home? The list could go on. How about having just one?

Now Back to the Physical World

For the majority of us living in the physical and professional world, here are some tips on portraying your best professional self online while also projecting interest and depth - in other words, be the best of both Darnay and Carton:

For the career-minded, it’s a must-do today to post a profile in two professional networking websites. The first, of course, is Ziggs. For those unfamiliar with Ziggs, this website offers you the most comprehensive profile template for daily use in your current profession as well as for visibility to recruiters for both passive and active job searches. In addition to Ziggs Bio-Builder which helps you easily write up your own bio, your Ziggs Profile gives you several ways to build honest interest into your professional points. For example, by answering a few of the interview questions offered in your Ziggs Profile, you can present a more well-rounded view of yourself that gives a newcomer a better chance to bond with you. Here's a great example of a very professional yet expressive online profile at Ziggs: Meet V. Cheryl Womack.

Ziggs also offers daily utility by giving you the ability to import the people important to you into Ziggs from most popular email systems. Then easily create and use groups, discussions and polls to better stay in touch with your colleagues, your clubs, your charities, as well as family and friends.

In addition to Ziggs, LinkedIn is the other important professional networking website that lets you create an online profile. It’s a good tool for the job seeker needing to network outside the immediate circle of contacts.

And for the edgy at heart, MySpace and Facebook will continue to be home to the online profiles of date seekers, band promoters, music followers and collegiates.

How to Get a Better Job While on Vacation

2007-08-02T15:12:00.001-05:00

Just the simple act of creating an online profile at Ziggs immediately puts you in front of thousands of recruiters, including Fortune 500 blue-chips like Microsoft, Sony and Pfizer, who come to Ziggs daily looking for new candidates for great jobs...new candidates such as yourself. So even when you're off on your summer vacation, your professional profile at Ziggs remains on the job in the eyes of recruiters.

CNN's Money Magazine recommends Ziggs for this purpose:

"If you recoil from networking events, never get around to putting out feelers and have no clue how to 'work a room,' congratulations! You're the ideal candidate for a terrific new job."

"More than a fifth of the Fortune 500, including blue-chip names like Pfizer, Sony and Microsoft, use these outfits [i.e. Ziggs] as part of their recruiting process."

"The bottom line: Even if you're not looking for a new job, you want potential employers to see you in the most flattering light. Fortunately, it's easy to take control of your [online] profiles."

If you don't have a free professional profile at Ziggs, create one today. If you already have one, be sure it is complete and compelling. Maximize your profile by answering the Interview questions offered in the Interview section of your Ziggs Profile. Your answers to these questions give you the opportunity to share more of the real you in a positive light with your audience, far more than a resume could ever provide

Super Brands

2007-07-31T09:02:00.000-05:00

Each year BusinessWeek ranks the top 100 Global Brands and reports them in July. This year’s results yielded a repeat in the top positions and an upset just below.

BusinessWeek uses Interbrand to determine the global brand rankings: “Interbrand takes many ingredients into account when ranking the value of the Best Global Brands. Even to qualify for the list, each brand must derive at least a third of its earnings outside its home country, be recognizable outside of its base of customers, and have publicly available marketing and financial data.”

According to BusinessWeek, the top three global brands for 2007 are repeat winners from 2006: Coca-cola is #1, Microsoft and IBM are #2 and #3.

Other movers and shakers: the golden arches stepped over Mickey when McDonalds jumped one position to #8 and Disney fell one to #9. Tech kings increased their global repute: Google vaulted four positions to #20. Apple leapfrogged six other brands to #33. Starbucks jumped three to #88.

Why is brand power important to companies and individuals? A growing global brand equates to increased future earnings and growth in stockholder value.

Super Brand Builders at Ziggs

In the same vein, the power of your personal brand can raise or lower your current and future value in relation to your competition. As you build your own professional brand during the course of your career, the value you bring to your daily team and your yearly initiatives can grow.

Some of the best brand builders at Ziggs are the individuals who have created the most comprehensive profile for themselves and then in some cases, even positioned their profile on top of every search engine (a Ziggs service called WebPro). Congratulations to these super brand builders at Ziggs: Krishna De, Doug McCready, Yvonne LaRose and Kevin Abt.

Designing for Web 2.0

2007-07-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

Designing for a web 2.0 company takes patience and an understanding of user behavior - how the user will interact with the site. In this web 2.0 world, designers and developers now have access to technologies that can improve a site’s look and function more dramatically than ever before. For example, AJAX, a development technique, makes a webpage more responsive to the user. It can give the user better navigation or the ability to drag and drop information across a webpage with ease. However, the problem with new technologies, like AJAX, is that many designers and developers overuse them, inserting them where they’re not needed. Crowding a new web 2.0 site with these components leads to a lousy user experience that will only drive visitors away. So, to all fellow designers and developers, choose your 2.0 design components wisely, because mediocre or overwhelming UI's just won’t cut it in a web 2.0 world today.

Feedback on the Ziggs website is always welcome at rkelleher@ziggs.com.

Ryan Kelleher

Graphic Designer, Ziggs

Interning at Ziggs

2007-07-17T10:02:00.000-05:00

On today's Web, amateur bloggers command publishing space alongside our most seasoned writers; citizen shoppers join the ranks of Consumer Reports; and classmates create friend groups with the scope and influence of master networkers. Interning at Ziggs has allowed me to experience a striking offline parallel to the culture of the new Web in which amateurs are immediately granted an all access pass to participate on a meaningful level with top professionals. I joined Ziggs while the company was in the midst of launching the Ziggs Hub. The culture of transparency and across-the-board participation that rules the Web was immediately palpable when I was offered a seat at the table at company planning meetings and encouraged to digest and contribute to new business and marketing developments.

I have been using social media for many years, but soon into my internship at Ziggs I realized how much I still had to learn. The biggest challenge was learning the language - the tech code: spider, bug, beta, tag, devweb, CPM, CTR, VOIP, Vlog, build, track, RSS, FTP. It is a language of acronyms and applications and, as a self-proclaimed non-techie, I was not prepared. At my first morning meeting with the team, I could understand about half of what everyone was saying. Ziggs has offered me a crash course in what is happening on the Web where techies have taken over the social spheres of average users and are gradually infiltrating IT jargon into daily communications between friends.

I have never been an intensely out-of-the box thrill seeker, but the Web today still feels like the wild west of the business world. It remains a relatively new, unexplored territory where room for innovation driven by instinct is as much written into business plans as traditional strategy and Six Sigma metrics. While my classmates are on a morning Starbucks run for colleagues at a traditional, vertically structured company, at Ziggs I always need to be totally plugged into the site, exploring new functionality, ready to adapt at the drop of new code for our point releases. As a young professional, this open-source, nimble-enough-to-innovate-everyday pace at Ziggs is refreshing and keeps me on my toes.

Amanda Mooney, Ziggs Intern-at-Large

Ziggs Release 2.2

2007-07-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

We have just released some great new features and enhancements to Ziggs that we’re really excited about. Here’s a brief overview of what's new:

My Hub
The Ziggs Hub is where you can get a snapshot of information around your messages, groups, and activities. This section will continue to expand as we integrate more features. Here are some key features in this release of your new Hub:

View your private messages
View the most recent messages across all of your groups
See who’s online within your groups
See who’s birthday or anniversary is coming up (don’t forget to update your birthday or anniversary in your Profile)
Know the completion status of your Ziggs Profile with the new Profile status meter

Private Messaging / Inbox
You now have your own private message inbox at Ziggs. You can send someone a private message by clicking on the mail icon next to their listing. When you receive a message from someone, you will be notified by email that there is a message for you. This is a great way for you to consolidate all of your communication with other Ziggs members.

Group Message Board & Polls
When you share a group, you and your members can create topics and have ongoing discussions within the context of your groups. Another group feature is Polls - this allows you to poll everyone in your group and keep track of the votes. You can even have a discussion around your Poll. Features of Group Message Board & Polls:

Create as many topics & discussions as you want.
Attach images and files to discussions, which other group members can download or view.
The group owner can moderate topics within a discussion or poll. Set other members as moderators or make them read-only.
Get notified when someone posts something new to a discussion or poll.

Invite Multiple People from your Email Distribution Lists
You can now easily invite people to all of your groups at Ziggs by clicking the “Invite People” link in your group header. This will allow you to send out an invite from your email using your email’s contact or distribution lists. This is a great way for you to quickly get a group together on Ziggs with minimal effort.

Apply a Starbucks Gift to your own Starbucks Card
This is a very cool feature we’ve just added. When someone sends you a Starbuck gift, you now have the ability to instantly apply it to your existing Starbucks card, rather than wait to have a new card mailed out to you. I love this new program because by applying a few new gifts to my current Starbucks card on file at Ziggs, I’ve already chalked up $40 in coffee gifts this week! Talk about instant gratification.

We love your feedback. Please keep it coming. You can reach me at skelleher@ziggs.com.

-- Sean

"You're a nobody unless your name Googles well"

2007-06-27T11:05:00.000-05:00

That's according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. In fact, More than 80% of executive recruiters say they routinely use search engines to learn more about candidates, according to a recent survey by executive networking firm ExecuNet. Kevin Delaney quotes Ziggs Founder, Tim DeMello, in his Journal article: ‘If you're not found in search results, people start to wonder why."

Thinking back to Google's early days, I wonder if they could have foreseen the power their search engine would some day have... to either make or possibly even break a person's reputation online. To take control of your own online reputation, remember to keep your free Ziggs Profile fresh and polished with your latest professional news and a crisp professional photo.

What are you reading?

2006-06-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

Designed to share the depth of knowledge across the Ziggs professional community, the new "People at Ziggs are reading" program lets members present themselves, their profile, and three books they'd recommend on Ziggs' home page. Because a recommendation has more value if you know who makes it, each book recommendation is directly tied to a Ziggs member's profile.

Visitors to Ziggs are now invited to share their book favorites with the Ziggs community. If selected, you'll soon see your smiling face and recommended books on Ziggs home page. So, what are you reading? Submit your personal favorites to books@ziggs.com today.

Browse 95,000 Companies at Ziggs

2006-05-26T11:31:00.000-05:00

Ziggs’ new browse feature lets visitors easily explore the 95,000 companies in Ziggs. Browse for your company using our alphabet index and explore the online profiles of your colleagues or your company alumni already in Ziggs. Then instantly list yourself with your company.

If you’ve browsed Ziggs and don’t see your company, be first to list it. Listing yourself and your company in the Ziggs professional community is free. The benefits include taking control of your professional reputation online, gaining top visibility in every major search engine for yourself and your business, as well as connecting with other professionals in the Ziggs community.

Is your company in Ziggs yet? Browse now to find out.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward Online

2006-05-02T12:35:00.000-05:00

Take the Right Steps to Build Your Professional Reputation on the Web

Every day of your career you are taking steps to build the “Brand of You.” But in today’s online, virtual fast-blogging business world, it’s important to know how you (and your brand) appear online. How strong is your online footprint and is it professional?

A recent Harris Interactive Poll states that nearly 1 in 4 people search for people online to learn more about them prior to meeting them. Your “online footprint” – how you appear online in search engine results and in blogs – is a valuable piece of your personal brand, something worth managing. To create the most effective online presence, start by leaving a positive “footprint” with an online profile.

Everyone can quickly and easily create a professional online profile, without any tech savvy, using Ziggs' free Profile Creator. With an Index of well over 3 million profiles of professionals at Ziggs, you’ll be leaving a positive mark for yourself on the Internet among good company.

“An online professional profile is today’s business calling card. If you’re not found in search results with a positive online presence, you’re just not a player,” according to Tim DeMello, founder and ceo, Ziggs, and an expert on building a professional online reputation.

An Ohio-based technology expert uses Ziggs to present his professional image online for use in his job search. “Ziggs showcases me and my online profile in a crisp and professional way and is a key online resource in my job search strategy,” said Doug McCready.

Tips for creating your online footprint for use in daily business or a job search:

1. First, search on your name at major search engines to understand what results display for your name
2. To start your positive online footprint, list your free professional profile at Ziggs for instant visibility in the Ziggs Index of Professionals
3. Your new profile at Ziggs then allows your online presence to bubble up in natural search results at Google, Yahoo!, AOL, MSN and Ask so you can leave your professional footprint across all search engines for free
4. Ensure that any profiles you maintain at social sites, such as MySpace or Friendster, are clean and professional
5. Always include a link to your professional online profile in your email signature and any blog entries

Web 2.0 and Ziggs

2006-04-13T13:17:00.000-05:00

Although some decry “Web 2.0” as a meaningless marketing buzzword, the depth of definition offered by Tim O’Reilly in his must-read article “What is Web 2.0” will convert any cynic.

At the first Web 2.0 conference led by Tim O’Reilly and John Battelle in October 2004, three defining principles of Web 2.0 were formed. To loosely paraphrase, 1) The Web can be used as a platform, 2) where one can give the user control over their own data on that platform, in order to 3) harness the “collective intelligence” of the users thus making the outcome more valuable as a whole. By this definition, online companies such as Flickr, Wikipedia and Ziggs fit snugly into the Web 2.0 world.

It’s gratifying to see a term coined to support the leap of thought that these companies and their business models have taken to push the Internet envelope further for the benefit every Internet user.

Coincidence or Fate? In that same month that "Web 2.0" was coined, Ziggs was launched.

Content Matters

2006-04-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

Barry Graubart writes about the “50 Content Companies that Matter” in his blog by the same name. He mentions Ziggs as one of the key content companies that has made its mark by reinventing the old school method of using printed directories for finding professionals - with the new online method of “people search for professionals.”

Barry writes, “rather than positioning it around prestige a la ‘who’s who’, Ziggs has shifted the focus to managing your image on the Internet.” Barry predicts that “changing dynamics in the workplace mean that personal branding and positioning will become more critical for professionals in the future, strengthening Ziggs’ core message.”

Barry concludes, “the people search market will continue to grow, with uses as varied as sales prospecting and recruitment to performing due diligence for dating. Ziggs is well-positioned to field a significant portion of that traffic.”

I love Barry's insight on this. Thank you for communicating these ideas with such clarity.

Ziggs in BusinessWeek

2006-03-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

The March 27th edition of BusinessWeek (BW) includes a compelling article titled “You Are What You Post” by Michelle Conlin, page 52. Michelle writes that “bosses are using Google to peer into places job interviews can’t take them.” Hiring managers and bosses don’t hesitate to visit social networking sites such as Friendster and MySpace in order to collect a more complete picture of an employee. So it’s good to ask yourself, “do I give good Google?” says Michelle.

BW suggest a few ideas for managing your “Digital Doppelganger.” To put your best online face forward, or to clean up your digital dirt (if you’ve got some), Michelle recommends you register with an online profile manager service such as Ziggs. At Ziggs you can create a free professional online profile, without any tech know-how, so the next time someone searches for you, you can be proud of what they find.

For the full story on the dangers of your digital dirt, plus suggestions for taking charge of your online presence, take a look at this week’s edition of Business Week. I highly recommend it, as it's a very informative article, and includes a fantastic illustration of this problem. For the full story on the free solution to this problem - how to create an elegant online professional profile and get it listed at the top of all search engines - as always, visit Ziggs.

People Search Anywhere

2006-02-20T14:47:00.000-05:00

You’ve probably heard of Google’s new Toolbar 4.0 by now? One of my favorite new features is the ability to upload buttons to the toolbar which link you to websites of your choice, including (drum roll) a Ziggs people search button. The beauty of uploading a Ziggs button to your toolbar is it lets you people search at Ziggs from anywhere on the Web. At long last, you can skip the extra step of recalling a Ziggs bookmark or opening a new browser to access the Ziggs website, saving you time every time you search for people online.

How does it work? Simply enter a person’s name or keyword in the Google toolbar search box, click on the “Z” button, and it takes you directly to search results for that name or word at Ziggs.com.

Tip: If you’re reading an online article, highlight a person’s name, copy and paste it into the toolbar search box in your browser, then click “Z”. You jump directly to the professional profile on that person if they’re listed in the Ziggs Index of Professionals.

Ziggs also supports people search links for Firefox 1.5 and Internet Explorer 7.0. Adding a Ziggs people search link to these browsers lets you instantly search at Ziggs directly from your browser anywhere on the Web.

Get your Z here
You can instantly download your free People Search Button from Ziggs or from the Google Button Gallery. Don’t have Google’s new toolbar yet? Download the toolbar and your Z button here. Ziggs Browser Search for Firefox 1.5 and IE 7.0 is also available for free at Ziggs People Search. To access the browser search download, click the “Learn More” link next to the Z Button option at Ziggs People Search.

Standing Out in the Online Crowd

2006-01-30T11:48:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered how to give yourself a better image online? How to stand out in the online crowd? If yes, you're not alone.

“When he set out to find a new job, Memphis resident Robert Miller wanted to get a cyberspace edge. So he went to Ziggs.com, a company that specializes in helping job seekers beef up their online presence. Ziggs arranged for Miller's name to be displayed prominently on search engines. That ensured he would get plenty of hits when prospective employers sought him out on the Internet.” In fact, Robert gets notified via email each time someone clicks to view his online profile, thanks to Ziggs.

“‘It has made me incredibly easy to find online,’ said Miller, a former global marketing executive for a digital map company. Standing out is particularly important to Miller, since he has such a common name - in Memphis alone, there are about 100 Robert Millers. But all prospective job seekers should be aware of their online image, experts say. The first thing many would-be bosses do is use Google to research a potential employee.”

For more on how Robert Miller was able to differentiate himself online, see the full story in Investor’s Business Daily.

A Global Village at Ziggs

2005-12-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

Ziggs customers now hail from 44 countries around the world – the beginnings of a global village of professionals. We recently asked for feedback from our international customers. Here are just a few of the comments we received, one from India and one from Ireland.

“I love the design of my Ziggs Profile – very simple, elegant and professional,” said Naina Redhu, founder, owner and designer, aside. Based in Mumbai, India, Naina’s design studio focuses on logo design, corporate identity and photography for global clients. “My Ziggs Profile gives me an elegant place to present my professional identity online – my professional brand – and use it for networking and business development. I love that Ziggs even tracks how frequently visitors view my profile for me.” Naina’s professional Profile at Ziggs includes valuable information on her background, her biography, a self-written interview, and her interests including links to the four blogs she authors.

“Ziggs offers an outstanding professional online profile service applicable to corporate clients and individuals alike. It’s particularly helpful for individuals who want to profile their personal or corporate brand but are not ready or able to invest in the development of their own website,” said Krishna De, co-founder and managing director of Oneocean Ltd. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Krishna’s company is an international business development consultancy. As a leader in helping entrepreneurs grow their business, Krishna understands the value of giving her online brand global visibility. “Managing global clients requires that my professional brand can be found online through any search engine. Ziggs makes sure my name, with a link to my professional profile, is always visible in a top-listed spot in every single search engine.”

Be sure you’re listed in Ziggs’ global village of professionals. Listing is easy and takes less than one minute. We look forward to meeting you at Ziggs.

"Find a Better Job Without Really Trying?"

2005-11-25T13:21:00.000-05:00

According to CNN Money, “more than a fifth of the Fortune 500, including blue-chip names like Pfizer, Sony and Microsoft” use people search services, including Ziggs, to find and recruit candidates. You might be interested in reading Money’s article on passive recruiting to learn more about this process and how you can quickly and easily take advantage of it to "find a better job without really trying."

Giving Job Seekers an Online Edge

2005-11-10T10:19:00.000-05:00

Who wouldn't benefit from an online edge in today's competitive job market? If you're conducting a job search or if you know someone who is, here are some strategies for securing a competitive online edge.

Highlight Your Unique Value
Create a free professional online profile at Ziggs. Your profile can be used to present experience and contributions, a self-written interview, links to online work, and your photo. Then network using your profile by emailing it to target contacts within your target organizations.

Give Yourself Top Credibility
Position your profile in a top-listed, above-the-fold position across every major search engine. When recruiters or hiring managers search and find your highly professional profile - your credibility is only strengthened.

Know When Employers Review You Online
Each time a recruiter or hiring manager clicks to review your profile, be instantly notified via email. Real-time email alerts measure how often employers review your profile - giving you insight into the success of your job search.

Creating your professional online profile at Ziggs is FREE. Once created, give yourself top credibility by top-listing your name and profile across all search engines and receive email alerts every time someone reviews your profile, all with Ziggs WebPro Service™. After your first free month, continue to enjoy these benefits for a low monthly cost of $4.95. Try Ziggs WebPro Service for FREE.

What's Behind Your Brand?

2005-11-07T09:56:00.000-05:00

Johnnie Moore, brand guru, recently wrote about the importance of “putting humanity back into branding”. He raises a key point for professionals in every industry to consider. Successful corporations typically value employees as their most important corporate asset. This is because the vision, creativity and passion that employees invest in their work drives the success of the brand and the company. Disney, Nike, Google, FedEx and Microsoft are a few obvious examples.

The same holds true for you. How passionate are you about managing your own brand? Have you put your own “humanity” into your brand - or is it a dry list of achievements on a resume? It’s wise to consider how you can best create and manage your brand with your own personal style. Building a professional yet passionate online profile, with a professional photo, and maybe even a self-written interview, is one step you can take toward presenting your own most powerful brand online. Start your own professional online profile for free at Ziggs.

The Total Package

2005-10-17T09:01:00.000-05:00

Today, Ziggs introduced Ziggs WebPro Service™, designed to provide a simple but complete solution for creating, managing, marketing and monitoring one’s online brand. Our new online service gives you the ability to 1) quickly and easily create a professional online presence with an online profile that Ziggs hosts for free, 2) instantly gain top visibility in global search results for that profile and 3) receive valuable insight into search activity for that profile through continuous monitoring with Real-Time Search Alert emails.

Peace of Mind Online
“We’ve got you covered in search results,” said Tim DeMello, chief executive officer and founder, Ziggs, Inc. “Our new service gives professionals peace of mind online because we offer a complete package for creating, managing, marketing and monitoring an online presence for your professional brand. Every professional should consider online brand development and management a necessity in light of the fast-growing search trend for conducting people searches for business associates, customers, prospects, hiring managers, interview candidates and more.”

What Customers Say
Kevin Abt, founder and president of FranBuy.com, uses Ziggs WebPro Service to manage his online professional brand and business presence. “The Ziggs service is extremely valuable to my business because it gives me an easy-to-use yet professional vehicle for creating, managing and marketing an online brand presence for myself and my business, with top visibility across all search engines,” said Kevin. “In addition, Ziggs WebPro Service helps me monitor the frequency of search activity to my online presence, giving me real-time insight into search traffic to my online profile throughout the world.”

Ziggs WebPro Service is free for the first month, and $4.95 each month thereafter. Learn more.

Bookmark Ziggs - the fastest-growing people search engine for finding and connecting with professionals.

The Internet Elite

2005-09-29T11:46:00.000-05:00

According to a recent Harris poll, almost 40 percent of us have conducted a name search for our own name, to see if we exist on the Internet. John Battelle, author of the newly released book The Search, expects that the number of people who conduct a personal name search will continue to grow, "reaching 90 percent in the coming years, as search becomes as individually definitional as finding oneself in the white pages was during the rise of the telephone."

If you’ve already conducted a name search to see how you’re presented online, you’ve taken a step in the right direction toward managing your professional online brand. But to truly make a difference for yourself and for your brand, you need to take it one step further. The simple act of writing and managing your own online profile through Ziggs, or listing your corporate bio at Ziggs, officially attaches your professional online identity to your name in search results at Ziggs and other search engines. This act puts a virtual stake in the Internet ether for your professional online brand.

Those of you who have already taken this step toward managing your online brand should consider yourselves on the cutting edge, ahead of the curve...among the Internet elite. Congratulations and well done.

If you haven’t done so yet, but you’d like to try creating a professional online presence, you can do so at Ziggs for free. Dive right in…the water’s always friendly at Ziggs.

"The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture," John Battelle, page 29.

Get Notified When Searched For

2005-09-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

Wouldn’t it be helpful to know exactly when someone is searching for you online?

Ziggs now offers the ability to get an instant email alert every time someone searches and reviews your online profile hosted at Ziggs.

If you already have a profile at Ziggs, activating free Search Alerts is easy. Log in to Profile Manager and click “Alerts” under ZTrac Reporting. Then click the ‘on’ button.

If you don’t have an online presence at Ziggs, getting one is easy. Go to Ziggs and click the big red “Create Your Profile” button. In a matter of minutes you can create your free profile and activate Search Alerts today.

Bookmark Ziggs - the fastest-growing people search engine for finding and connecting with professionals.

Be a 'Player' Online

2005-08-08T10:08:00.000-05:00

To be a ‘player’ online, you don’t need to steal Lloyd Braun’s job as head of the Yahoo! Media Group. He wields the online player-power of overseeing all creative and business aspects of Yahoo!’s content properties, including music, games, movies, tv, entertainment, finance, sports and more. Nor do you need to push online ‘player’ Ludacris off this week’s top ten list for Hot Rap Tracks, where he holds the #2 position for his latest “Pimpin’ All Over the World.” And nevermind taking up basketball to drive Michael Jordan off his top position as America’s favorite sports ‘player,’ advertiser and self-promoter. Instead, you can become an online 'player' in your own profession in less than 15 minutes. Simply give yourself an online presence by creating a free online professional profile at Ziggs.com.

Your free professional profile at Ziggs gives you the opportunity to present yourself in a compelling online vehicle, offer your biography, background, a self-written interview, links of interest to your favorite websites or your professional work, as well as a photo and contact info. Some of the best online ‘players’ listed at Ziggs are highlighted on our website and honored with a ZBest Profile Award. To see some recent award-winning ‘players,’ visit Patricia Higgins, V. Cheryl Womack, Andy Fulrath and Ed Cooper.

To be a highly visible online ‘player’ think about where your online profile is ranked in major search engines. If you don’t want to spend endless time and money driving your online profile up in listing rankings across the engines, Ziggs can do it for you for $50 per year. Let Ziggs list your professional profile at or near the top of every major search engine – ensuring that professionals find you at the top of the search heap – a surefire way to be a true professional ‘player’ online. Can you afford not to be an online ‘player’ in your profession? At Ziggs, we think not.

Bookmark Ziggs - the fastest-growing people search engine for finding and connecting with professionals.

3 Million Opportunities to Network

2005-07-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

As of July 1st, Ziggs now indexes more than 3 million profiles of professionals from across the US and around the world, representing more than 90,000 companies. As our Index continues to grow by five to ten thousand new profiles every day, your opportunity for networking with professionals in your industry expands every day as well. Each of the 3 million professional profiles listed in the Ziggs Index is a potential person you might want to network with, for business development, job searching or more.

And to help take the hassle out of networking, Ziggs now offers two free networking services. First, you can now quickly and easily share your online profile via email with others for networking or job hunting with Ziggs Announcement Service. This free service allows you to spark new business with professional contacts, refresh contact with old colleagues, and update friends and family about what’s new about you with ease by automatically sending an email with a link to your online profile.

Second, we now make it easy to network with professionals in Ziggs that share a common interest with you. ZAlerts is a new email notification tool that allows you to automatically receive an email on professionals listed in Ziggs who share your alma mater, former employers, hobbies, favorite sports or your hometown. You can create and monitor up to ten ZAlerts, using ten different keywords, and receive your ZAlerts daily, weekly or monthly. It’s easier to network with someone you already know you have something in common with, so try free ZAlerts today.

Sign in to Ziggs Profile Manager to set up your first ZAlert and then try emailing your profile to colleagues and friends with Ziggs Announcement Service.

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Peace of Mind in Search

2005-06-10T13:10:00.000-05:00

Every month Ziggs conducts an electronic survey that reaches out to newly registered users with insightful questions. Since the Ziggs Customer Survey was initiated six months ago, it’s interesting to note that the results of the survey are consistent from month to month. For example, of the people who responded to the survey, 36% of them consider the ability to have a free online profile that they create and manage at Ziggs to be the most valuable benefit of Ziggs for them.

In addition, it’s interesting to note that a whopping 84% of these customers monitor search results associated with their name in search engines on a frequent basis, from daily to monthly. This practice suggests that creating the conscious habit of monitoring search results associated with your name is essential for the business professional. Research shows that 1 in 4 Americans google the name of a business associate or contact prior to meeting them. Knowing what people find out about you online is necessary knowledge in today’s virtual business world. Comfort in this knowledge gives good peace of mind. Are you one of the 84% that monitors search results against your name? If not, why not?

If you’d like peace of mind in search, Ziggs can help. We take the hassle out of search marketing management for your name and profile. Ziggs can give your name, with a link to your online profile, top visibility in search results in every major search engine, including Google, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Ask Jeeves and many more. For less than the cost of a fish dinner for two at Boston’s famous Legal Seafoods - a mere $50 per year - you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having your name found atop search results around the world.

A plate of fish? …or worldwide visibility in search?…now that's an easy choice. With Ziggs Search Engine Placement Service, you can rest assured that colleagues, business associates, friends and more will always find you the way you want to be found the next time they search for you! Join the search-conscious 84% today and enjoy your own peace of mind in search.

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The Do's and Don'ts of Your Online Presence

2005-05-19T12:04:00.000-05:00

Building the Brand of You online is a must in today’s virtual world – especially since it’s now easier then ever and completely free. But what should be included in your professional online presence? How can you ensure you put your best foot forward? Here are a few of the do’s and don’ts of creating and using your presence on the Internet through a free online profile.

The Don’ts

1. Don’t assume you’re listed or easy to find in a search engine without checking first. Google your name to see your search results. If you have a common name, such as Mark Smith, you might be surprised to find over 28 million search results are presented against your name in Google. Which one is the real you?

2. If your name is uncommon, also don’t assume you’re listed in search engines without checking first. An uncommon name may deliver fewer search results, but that won’t guarantee any of the results are you.

3. When building an online profile, don’t include casual photos. Keep it professional. A professional online profile can be used for both professional and personal reasons. But a personal online profile cannot be used for business.

The Do’s

1. Do include a professional photo, background information, contact information and recognitions that lend credibility, such as professional awards, associations you are a member of, or the fact that you completed a marathon. You can do this quickly and easily at Ziggs, where creating a profile is free.

2. Do give your profile top visibility across all major search engines, so prospects and colleagues can find you in search results. Ziggs can manage this for you for the low cost of $4.95 per month. Imagine, just forego one Starbucks Caramel Macchiato per month - and you’re on top of the search universe for that month. Hard to believe? Try a search on my name (Julia Bradley) at Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL and more. You’ll see my name listed at or near the top of search results at every major engine, with a link to my profile and contact information. It's a no-brainer boost for your credibility.

3. Do email your online profile in advance of a meeting or sales call, building trust early. Do email your online profile during phone conversations with prospects or clients, building rapport during the call. And do email your online profile after meeting someone, as a more personal thank you that increases your credibility as well.

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Fast, Free & More Interesting

2005-05-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

As of May 1st, the Ziggs search engine is now significantly faster. We’re still in beta, but we’ve made significant enhancements to the speed of our engine. Now you can quickly conduct even the most complex keyword searches at Ziggs, such as ”international law tax attorney in Buffalo” or "residential mortgage broker in Bethesda.”

In addition to fast, listing or creating a professional profile at Ziggs is now free. As a thank you to our rapidly growing world of happy customers, we now offer all current and future customers the ability to list themselves in Ziggs for free. We think free is good. We hope you agree.

For customers who create a profile using Ziggs’ free profile creation tool, we’ve added a new sleek look and a new level of interest to your online profile. The new “Interests Tab” in your profile allows you to quickly and easily add links from your profile to your favorite websites, blogs, or professional work online. Be as interesting as you can be – add your favorite links to your Ziggs profile today.

Bookmark Ziggs - the fastest-growing people search engine for finding and connecting with professionals.

The Me Brand

2005-04-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

You know the saying – it’s a Me Me world. Or, it’s all about Me. Those statements ring oddly true today more than ever. Every day of your career you are building the Brand of Me. Your professional Personal Brand is a very important asset in today’s online, virtual, fast-blogging business world.

Advertisers define branding as the idea, concept or image created in the minds of people when they see a company logo or product. Companies invest millions to create and communicate their brand through print, radio and TV advertising. Business professionals can now leverage this concept and its power to create their own Personal Brand using the Internet. Marian Banker, President of Primestrategies.com and creator of BrandingU says a personal brand “is similar in concept and can be used as the foundation upon which to build the brand for your business or career."

The idea of a Personal Brand is not new, but today there are new tools available for helping you create, maintain and market your Personal Brand. Fast Company discusses a number of powerful ways you can build “The Brand Called You”.

Why is this important to you? People want to do business with people they know or people they feel they can trust. So how can you communicate your value through the vastly impersonal mediums of e-mail or the Internet? Answer: When people search to find out more about you, if you can offer a friendly and informative online presence or online brand, people will have the sense that they know you and be more receptive to doing business with you.

One of the free and easy methods available for creating or supporting your own professional Personal Brand is through an online profile. You can create a summary of your career in an online profile – an online virtual home for your brand. You can then use it to communicate your brand to others by linking it to the signature of your e-mail footer, posting it on your website, and listing yourself by name atop every major search engine. Ziggs makes this free and easy. Check out Ziggs today and create your free online profile – your professional brand. To see an example, you're welcome to visit my online brand-in-progress: Meet me at Ziggs

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Walt Mossberg Reviews Ziggs

2005-04-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

Walt Mossberg reviewed Ziggs in one of his recent Personal Technology columns in the Wall Street Journal, together with Indeed, a comprehensive jobs search engine. What’s exciting about Walt’s column on Ziggs and Indeed is that with this article Walt officially puts the concept of “vertical search” on the journalistic map.

The idea that the big horizontal search engines - obviously Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL and more - don’t always meet a searcher’s needs is an important concept for the search industry and the consumer marketplace. As people become aware that there a multiple search engine options for tailoring their searches, they become empowered and more informed. Ziggs is glad to see Walt introduce this viewpoint to his loyal readership, using Ziggs and Indeed as good examples of vertical search engines.

Walt begins by saying, “The big search engines like Google and Yahoo dominate the business of navigating the Internet. Millions of people start every Web session by typing a search term into these sites. But coming up with search results tailored to your needs isn't so easy. Because these major search engines index a huge swath of the Web, and are designed to find almost anything, they are necessarily general in nature. In most cases, you'll get lots of irrelevant results. So more and more companies see a market for what is called vertical search. These are search engines designed to help pluck only specific types of information from the Internet. They index only those sites likely to have that specific kind of information, and they use search queries tailored to their specialties. I've been testing two of the newest vertical search sites, both designed around people and work.”

Walt goes on to review Ziggs, stating that Ziggs “helps you find people with particular skills or other characteristics for hiring or networking purposes. For instance, it might help you find a lawyer in Washington specializing in international trade, or an alumnus of Brandeis University who lives in Delaware.” He goes on to say, “If you aren't listed somewhere on the Web, Ziggs allows you to create a detailed profile that will pop up whenever anyone searches for your name, or for other characteristics that match your profile. You can even include a photo, a favorite quotation and a canned ‘interview’ based on questions Ziggs supplies.”

“Ziggs is free for searchers. There will be a $25 annual fee to be listed in Ziggs, though it's free for the first year.” A point of clarification is needed here. As of March 20th, 2005, Ziggs is absolutely free for both searchers and professionals who want to list a profile in Ziggs. There is no charge for existing or new listings in Ziggs.

Walt offers criticisms of Ziggs as well. He indicates that our services seem to focus on helping people promote themselves, rather than providing comprehensive information. And that in fact is one of the primary goals of Ziggs. There are already numerous search engines that provide comprehensive information. In fact a search at Google for the name Mark Smith yields 29 million+ results by that name. Now that’s comprehensive – but it doesn’t deliver the searcher the Mark Smith they’re searching for. That’s where Ziggs steps in. As a dedicated people search engine, Ziggs enables the searcher to conduct a search that yields a list of Mark Smiths that can be instantly sorted by state, city or company, enabling the searcher to quickly pinpoint the right Mark Smith.

Walt goes on to note that Ziggs’ search results provide “neutral or flattering bios,” rather than info that “might warn you way from a person.” This is also an important distinguishing point about Ziggs. We believe that the most current, up-to-date information about an individual (for example, a corporate bio) satisfies 95% of people search needs. This should include contact information, background information and maybe even a photo. By delivering an up-to-date bio of current information in search results, Ziggs believes we best serve both the needs of the searcher and the person being searched for. This also ensures that the privacy of the people being searched for is also protected at all times.
Walt concludes his article with the finding that “both Ziggs and Indeed provide interesting, focused information that would be hard to find as quickly or precisely on Google or Yahoo.” Try Ziggs for yourself. We hope you agree!

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Graduating Students – 3 Tips To Land Your New Job

2005-03-30T13:37:00.000-05:00

As graduation season approaches, many grads are looking to the same places to find jobs: online job banks, newspapers, job fairs. These methods are rarely helpful, as HR managers receive hundreds of e-mailed resumes, and seldom have the opportunity to sift through them all. How can you differentiate yourself enough to win an interview?

To differentiate yourself from the competition there are a number of options, many of which are not easy, and one that is. For example, in addition to a resume, some experts suggest creating a website to showcase yourself and your background. This involves paying a hosting site, as well as knowledge of website design. Although this is a fine idea for the more technically-oriented person seeking differentiation, there is a simpler approach – that’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Get an Online Profile

An online profile is a powerful tool that differentiates you from the mass of resumes flooding the market, and gives you an advantage in networking. A professional online profile is easy to create, easy to maintain and update yourself. No technical or website development skills required. No hosting service fees necessary. It enables you to present a digital photo, work experience, and contact information in a compelling and visual professional format that is more appealing than the traditional resume. To see an example of a graduating student’s online profile, check out Dario Paone’s and Ra Un’s profiles, both created and listed at Ziggs for free:

2. Search for Networking Contacts

Use a search engine for finding people in the field you seek or for finding people with a common background point such as your college. For example, using a search engine dedicated to professionals, you can conduct a keyword search for contacts in your field and city of interest and yield a networking list that results in the right introductions needed for the desired job. For example, you can do a keyword search at Ziggs for “marketing” and “Boston” and find an instant list of networking possibilities if your field of interest is marketing-related.

3. Connect with Networking Contacts

Once you have a list of potential networking contacts, e-mail your online profile with a quick introduction, followed up by a phone call. E-mailing an online profile to offer a warm introduction can establish trust and goodwill with the recipient, and can lead to a request for your resume and an offer to help.

Go to Ziggs today to jumpstart your job search. Ziggs can help you 1) create a free professional online profile, 2) build networking contact lists by conducting keyword searches against the more than 2.25 million professionals in the Index, and 3) begin networking immediately by e-mailing your online profile to your new network list. With Ziggs it can be as easy as 1-2-3 to land your first job out of college or grad school. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

People Search - A Guilty Pleasure?

2005-02-25T14:32:00.000-05:00

Have you recently searched for someone on the Web prior to meeting with them or speaking with them by phone? Have you recently "googled" your X's on the Web? More and more people are exhibiting this somewhat "guilty pleasure" by searching to learn more about someone they're about to meet, or searching to find information on someone they once knew. It somehow seems like a guilty pleasure, because we know we may find information on someone - without them knowing we've found it.

Even if you've never searched on a name before, many of your fellow Americans have. According to Knight Ridder, one in three Americans online say they have plugged in the name of someone they know in a search engine. Wordtraker Report indicates that the search term "people search" ranks within the top 100 - 200 search terms across the Web each day. So someone may be searching online for you.

If that sounds unsettling, there is one solution that can give you a bit of control over the results that people find online about you. Try building an online profile. It's easy and it's free at Ziggs. Ziggs offers an easy-to-use profile creation template that lets you answer a few questions to build a professional profile. When you're done, it's hosted for free at Ziggs and searchable by your name or keyword. And if you'd like to see your name at or near the top of every search engine, Ziggs can make that happen for you as well for no more than $4/month. Learn more at Ziggs.

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Welcome to the Ziggs Blog

2005-02-07T13:51:00.000-05:00

The purpose of this blog is to provide helpful tips and techniques for professionals to enable them to better find and connect with one another through the Internet.

Understanding that people do business with people, Ziggs mission is to assist professionals in meeting their business objectives by optimizing the experience of presenting to and connecting with professionals online. Ziggs' purpose is to help make doing business more personal by enabling integrity, quality and trust in the initiation phase of business relationships. To leare more about how we offer aid in this effort, visit us at Ziggs!.

We open this forum to professionals to review, add to and hopefully profit from. Our first value-add post will be coming shortly. We look forward to your participation.

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