Search Impression Authority™ Audit
Did you see what
Google said about you?
When was the last time you Googled yourself?
If you haven't done it recently, today's the day. Anyone looking to work with you in any capacity is Googling you — and you need to see what they are seeing.
I've spent years helping experts, founders and consultants close the gap between how credible they really are and how they look online. I've achieved page 1 Google rankings with no blog, launched no.1 podcasts, and secured coverage with BBC, Channel 4, Warner and Fremantle. This audit is based on exactly what I look at when a new client comes to me.
Step 1 of 6
Open Google and search your name.
Not your business name — your name. Exactly as someone would type it if they were checking you out before a meeting. Look at the full first page before you answer.
In your incognito tab, go to Google.com and search your full name. If you're known professionally under a specific name, search that. Take a proper look at everything on page one.
Step 2 of 6
Look at your first result. What does it say about you?
The very first thing someone sees shapes everything else. It could be your website, a LinkedIn profile, a news article, a directory listing — or something you didn't put there. Read it as if you're a stranger seeing it for the first time.
Click your first result. Read the page with fresh eyes. Ask yourself: "If I knew nothing about this person, what would this tell me?"
Step 3 of 6
Now look for third-party mentions. Does anyone else talk about you?
Third-party validation — articles, features, interviews, mentions — is the single strongest credibility signal online. It's the difference between you saying you're good, and someone else confirming it.
Scroll through your search results and look specifically for anything that isn't your own website or social profiles. Press mentions, podcast appearances, guest articles, directory features, quotes in articles. Count roughly how many you can see on the first page.
Step 4 of 6
Search your name + your field. What pattern appears?
Someone who's done a little research won't just search your name — they'll search you in context. This reveals whether you're associated with authority in your specific space, or whether you just… exist online.
In your incognito tab, search: [your name] + [your field or expertise]. For example: "Jane Smith leadership coach" or "James Brown brand strategy". Look at what comes up. Does it reinforce your authority?
Step 5 of 6
Check if you appear on any podcasts or in the press.
Podcast appearances and press features are two of the most powerful authority signals online. They show up in search, they carry SEO weight, and they signal that credible people have endorsed your expertise publicly.
Search: [your name] podcast — then: [your name] interview or [your name] featured in. Take note of what comes up and how recently.
Step 6 of 6
One final question — be honest.
Put everything you've just seen together. You know your real credibility — your results, your experience, your reputation. Now think about what someone would conclude about you purely from what they found online.
If a potential client, journalist, or event organiser Googled you right now — before they'd ever met you — would your search presence make you an obvious choice?