In a limited launch, Google tests virtual business cards in search results that appear when a person’s name is searched.
Now rolls out in India let Google ‘new’ people maps’ individuals mark themselves in search results like never before.
Getting presence in search results as an individual can be challenging, especially for those who are not famous or share the same name with many other people.
For searchers, it can be challenging to find information about specific people if they do not have a strong online presence.
Google aims to address these challenges with human maps:
“Today, we are solving these challenges with a new feature called People Cards. It’s like a virtual business card, where you can mark your existing website or social profiles that you want people to visit, plus other information about yourself that you want others to know. “
People cards are designed for business professionals, artists, influencers, entrepreneurs, job hunters, freelancers, or anyone looking to grow their online presence.
Advertisement
Continue Reading below
A people card can include a website link, links to social profiles and any other information you want people to know about you.
If you search for someone’s name, and they have a people card, you will see a module with their name, occupation and location. The button can be tapped on the module to see the full map.
For people who share the same name, multiple modules will appear. Searches can use the information provided to differentiate between the different individuals.
How to create a people card
Those who can create their own people map can do so by either searching in the name, or by inserting the question “add me to search.”
Before doing so, make sure you are signed in to the Google Account that contains the information you want to add.
Advertisement
Continue Reading below
After entering “add me to Search”, click on the prompt that appears.
From there, you can add the following details to your human map:
- The image of your Google Account
- A description of yourself
- A website link
- Links to social profiles
- Telephone number
- Email address
You can decide how much of the above information you want to include in your people map.
Although, as Google notes, “The more information you provide, the easier it is for people to find you.”
People are not required to provide their phone number, but Google requires it for verification purposes.
Google strives to ensure that people include maps with reliable information by implementing strict quality control measures.
“Our goal with Search is to always ensure that people can find useful and reliable information, so that we have a variety of protections and controls to maintain the quality of information on human maps.”
These measures will prevent others from setting up a people card for you and filling it in with spam, for example.
People cards are being rolled out in English, starting today for people in India searching on mobile phones.
Not located in India?
People located outside India have managed to set up their own people card by using a VPN.
Aleyda Solis shared a screenshot on Twitter of her identity card successfully added to search results:
Got my People card on Google … unfortunately, while indicating my social presence on Twitter or Facebook, I got an error saying to try something more specific 😅 pic.twitter.com/1QGkyggdtb
– Aleyda Solis (@aleyda) 11 August 2020
Solis notes that she was able to do this by accessing the mobile version of Google via a VPN.
Go to the mobile version! 🙂
– Aleyda Solis (@aleyda) 11 August 2020
However, your mileage can be quite high. Replies to Solis’ original tweet indicate that many people are having trouble setting one up.
Advertisement
Continue Reading below
If you manage to create a setup, keep in mind that it is only visible to searchers in India.
There was no mention in Google’s announcement about when, if and when this feature will hit the roadside.
