How to get you picture in search result via Google Authorship markup

I bet you google everyday for lot of stuff. Have you ever noticed certain results are paired with the picture of their content’s author. These results do stand out from others. Now, don’t you want your picture to be associated with your content in these google search engine results? If your answer is yes, then all you need is Google authorship.

Through Google authorship, google links your content with your Google+ profile, pulling your profile picture and other information for the search engine result. These links with Google Authorship markup are called as ‘rich snippet’.

These rich snippets are more prominent and more credible. Hence they give your content much better fighting chance against other results. Also, listings with author images and information attached will high-lighten a sense of professionalism, and transparency thereby removing any suspicions of spammy content.

Now that you are sure you want to apply for Google authorship, then here’s how to do it.

There are two methods to do it, depending on whether or not you have your email address on the same domain as your content.

If you have an email address on the same domain as your content.

1. Make sure that you have a Google+ Profile with a profile photo which is a recognizable headshot.
2. Make sure that a byline containing your name as the author (for example, by “XYZ”) appears on each article you publish on your domain.
3. Also, Make sure that this byline name on your domain matches with the name on your Google+ profile.
4. In the "About" section of your Google+ profile, add this email address so it's easier for Google to associate your Google+ account with your domain. Also, make sure the profile discovery box, "Help others discover my profile in search" is checked.
5. Now visit Google’s Authorship page, and submit your email address to google. This is a one time process.

If you don’t have email address on the same domain as your content.

1. Again you'll need a Google+ Profile with a good, recognizable headshot as your profile photo.
2. Create a link to your Google+ profile from your webpage, like this: <a href="[profile_url]?rel=author">Google</a>[profile_url] should be replaced with your Google profile url. Make sure you don’t miss ?rel=author parameter, otherwise Google won't be able to associate your content with your Google profile.
3. The second step of the verification process is to add a reciprocal link back from your profile to the site(s) you just updated.

To add links to your Google profile is simple

Sign in to your google profile --> Click Edit profile --> Click the Contributor To section --> click Add custom link --> dd your link and click save.

To check your markup and see what author data Google can extract from your page, use the structured data testing tool.

Also, If you use WordPress, there are plugins, such as Author Box Reloaded, that will add the markup for you. They will also add your image and icons to all the social networks.

If in any case, you don't want your authorship information to appear in search results, edit your profilehttp://plus.google.com/me/about/edit) and make sure the Profile discovery option Help others discover my profile in search results is unchecked.

With all said and done, Google doesn't guarantee to show author information in Google Web Search or Google News results. You may receive an email confirmation from Google once your request for Authorship has been approved. But it’s worth a try, so go connect your content with your Google+ profile and hope your see your smiling face next time next to your content when it ranks.