When we were still seriously battling with the pandemic, Google Introduce a new feature that allows just anybody — from content creators to entrepreneurs to create a virtual Google Card; although it’s called People Card, all the same, it still makes sense.
The People Card feature from Google allows users to show up in search results when other people search for their name on Google. And that’s cool for small business owners, because, you now got a virtual card on Google.
It just like the rich display you get when you search for popular personality, big business, and celebrity. You get this display with relevant data for the company or celebrity.
You can get that by becoming a celebrity or you can do just that with Google People Card (add me to search). But don’t be so excited yet, because right now, it’s not yet available for all countries.
Add me to Google search, you just have to do it yourself from your email and go to Google, or you could wait and become a celebrity or a popular personality before you can even get close. So do it now, mostly to those with a business.
If you have a business I think you shouldn’t ignore this. If you’re a developer, creator, fashionista, or even a doctor you can create a card for yourself and let people look you up.
The feature was first only released in India, and now three more countries have joined from Africa; Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenyan. If you’re in this country, you can create your own People Card on Google. You just have to use the keyword ‘ Add Me to Search or ‘Edit My People Card’ to make it happen.
Every individual in the available country can only create one ‘virtual Google Card’ and it will be connected and authenticated with his/her mobile number. If you haven’t authenticated your account with a phone number; you need to so before you can even create the card.
If you create your People Card you will have complete control and decide on the information you want to share; like a workplace, social links, phone number, and email address. You can also decide to stop using the feature anytime.
Requirements for creating Google People Card
- An Android phone or tablet, or an iPhone or iPad.
- A mobile browser or the Google Search app.
- A personal Google Account.
- Web & App Activity turned on.
The People Card feature is only available for individuals in India, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa with users who have their set language to English. And it’s available mobile-only.
How to add yourself to Google search: “Add Me To Google Search” (People Card)
1. On your mobile device, open your browser and go to google.com, or open the Google Search app. Make sure you’re signed into the preferred Google account on your app or mobile browser.
2. Search the query ‘add me to search’ or ‘edit my People Card.’ At the top of search results, you’ll find the option displaying add yourself to Google Search. Tap Get started.
3. Google will take you to a new page to create a public profile and let you fill out the information you want to share publicly on your ‘People Card’. You will be asked to fill in the following details:
- Profile Image.
- Your name.
- Your current city.
- A small bio.
- Workplace.
- Education.
- Hometown.
- Website.
- Links to social profiles.
- Email.
- Phone Number.
4. Once you are done with filling up your details, you can preview your People Card. And once you’re satisfied with the content on your card, tap on the submit button, and your People Card will be created.
Once you submit your People Card a message will prompt saying, “your search card has been updated and will appear in search results shortly”.
Google says they don’t guarantee that your card will show up on Google Search. It up to you, add more than your name to make your card show up.
The more information you provide in your card, the more likely it will show up in Google Search results. So add more than just a name to make sure your card shows up when someone searches for your name.
Google suggests that if you share a common name with a famous personality, you should consider adding a distinguishable term to your profile. It will help people easily find your virtual card in search results. You just have to add a term after your name — if you have a middle name just put the first letter.
For people sharing the same name on People Card, Google will display multiple modules when someone searches for people who share the same name and you can distinguish between the different individuals using the information provided by them.
We don’t know when Google will roll out this feature globally, but you can use a VPN to get this feature. The feature is currently available in India, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
People Card is designed for business professionals, performers, influencers, entrepreneurs, job hunters, freelancers, or anyone looking to grow their presence online.
Follow these guidelines for your People Card to help people find and distinguish you from others when they search for your name on Google:
Only include information about yourself: If you submit content that isn’t about who you are and what you do, Google may remove your People Card.
Generate your People Card with suggestions for fields such as “hometown” or “profession:” If none of the suggestions fit, you can add your free-text.
Keep your information up to date: Google may stop showing your card if it hasn’t been updated or verified in a long time.
