I’m trying out Google Authorship, a pilot project that identifies online works with the author’s Google Profile.”To identify the author of an article, Google checks for a connection between the content page (such as an article), an author page, and a Google Profile.” It seems like a good, straightforward idea.

Setting it up entails using “rel” tags to mark content as yours, and to point to a page that will serve as your home page as an author. Google wants your Google Profile page to be the authenticating hub. (I continue to insist that Google should have called Google Profile “Whoogle.”) The link can point to your G Profile but can also point to one of your own pages.

I’m only slightly conflicted about this service. It puts Google Profile further at the center of the identity ecosystem. (You must have a Google Profile to use the service.) On the other hand, the “rel” links can point to your own pages. On a third hand, it helps Google search users find your posts and disambiguates authorship, both of which I’m in favor of. So, I’m trying it. (Search for my name or for the title of a blog post to see it in action.)

Here’s a Google blog post about it.

Categories: everythingIsMiscellaneous, misc dw