Whilst searching Google (or googling as its better known), you may have noticed pictures next to some links, the pictures are usually Google+ profile pics of authors or contributors of websites.
There are some interesting stats starting to come out regarding these profile pics – its significantly increasing a websites click through rate from the SERPs (search engine results page).
If you have a blog or website and would like to add your Google+ profile pic so it may show up in results, the tutorial below should help you.
Although, it would be beneficial if you already have an established Google+ profile, as Google states in their webmaster tools article:
“If you want your authorship information to appear in search results for the content you create, you’ll need a Google+ Profile with a good, recognizable headshot as your profile photo. Google doesn’t guarantee to show author information in Google Web Search or Google News results.”
1. If you don’t already have a Google account, simply create an account for free.
2. Add a photo (250×250) to your Google+ profile, try to use a headshot of you as your profile photo, not a company logo or an image of multiple people.
3. Associate your content with your Google+ profile. Add a link to every page you author or contribute to in the following format:
<a href="[profile_url]?rel=author">Google+ Profile</a>
[profile_url] will be changed shortly, but your link must contain ?rel=author, otherwise Google won’t be able to associate your content with your Google+ profile.
Replace [profile_url] with your Google+ url, You’ll find your profile url in the web address bar when you view your profile.
For example mine is: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108511438827152738314/posts
So modifying
<a href="[profile_url]?rel=author">Google+ Profile</a>
Mine would look like:
<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108511438827152738314/posts?rel=author">JC Madge on Google+</a>
4. To link your website to a Google+ profile you need to add a link to it on Google+. Edit your Google+ profile, and add your website to the Contributor to field. Once your site is added to your Google+ profile click save.
The results won’t appear instantly on Google, but if you continue to add step 3 to your posts, the results with your Google+ profile pic should appear in time!
Further reading: Webmaster Tools