Oh, Google: the search engine of our life. How many times have you answered our most embarrassing and inane questions — without a second of hesitation (literally)?

Google, in all of its infinite glory, can also be an invaluable tool for building your personal brand online. In the latest Mediabistro feature, we talk to some content marketing pros for their advice on optimizing personal search results:

“One of the many things that Google considers within its algorithm, everyone believes, is fresh and updated content,” says Nick Barron, founder of The Limbertwig, a full-service media marketing company that specializes in online content marketing. “So, if you publish a website and you don’t update it and a year goes by, Google’s going to view that as not so fresh content. If someone with your name or with similar spelling of your name comes behind and has a blog or has a fresher website, then they’re likely to rank more highly on Google than you would, because your content is just sort of stagnant.”

For more tips, read Google Yourself: 4 Ways to Fix Your Online Reputation.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Journos committed to telling the truth about parenthood can land a byline at Babble.com, an award-winning online magazine serving up nitty-gritty, real-talk content.

“[Babble is] the site that we imagine [a mom] reads at night to relax or in the morning,” said senior editorial manager Dara Pettinelli. “It’s where she goes to unwind and connect with her as woman, and not her as mom. Obviously, parents are more than just mom and dad, and that’s really what Babble speaks to.”

For pitching etiquette and editors’ contact info, read How to Pitch: Babble.com.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

New to the freelancing game? Even if writing is your passion, going solo can be terrifying.

First tip: Don’t think of it as “going solo.” One of the most important parts of freelancing is building connections with your fellow peers, writers and media professionals. Don’t be intimidated; there are people who want to help.

In the latest Mediabistro feature, freelance writer Amanda Low advises:

Be professional before you get personal: turn in assignments as early as possible, respond promptly and succinctly to emails, and unless you’ve just lost your fingers in a freak chainsaw accident, don’t make excuses. And for the love of Shakespeare, always use proper grammar and punctuation.

For more tips on pitching etiquette and staying organized, read The Rookie Guide to Freelancing.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

While journos don’t have to live in the Bay Area to pitch to San Francisco, all pitches must resonate with the readers who do. The mag definitely doesn’t scrimp on diversity; recent freelance stories covered everything from prison tech incubators to halal slaughterhouses.

Jon Steinberg, an ASME winner for his work at New York magazine, and now editor-in-chief at San Francisco, says the mag’s big-picture mission has remained the same over the years. “It’s big-city journalism on a number of levels. We have in-depth feature reporting on civic issues, social justice, politics and personalities in power positions. Then, we cover the service side: how to live the good life in a vibrant, exciting, constantly changing city. Then there’s our food, style and cultural coverage.”

For pitching etiquette and editors’ contact info, read How To Pitch: San Francisco.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

With a big revamp scheduled for a fall 2013 debut, editors at Vibe Vixen need good writers to generate content for their exciting digital cover rollouts and mobile platforms.

Vibe Vixen is one of the few pubs that reach out to black and brown women in their 20s and 30s.  Known for honest content and thoughtful but conversational writing, the former print pub went all digital in April 2013 and is already getting inundated with story pitches — just not the right ones.

“Once I get a writer who works well with me, I’ll take all of their pitches. But right now, I’m passing on a lot of them. We’re looking for fresh voices and people who’ve done this,” said editor Shanel Odum. Wanna know what Odum really wants in content? Read How To Pitch: Vibe Vixen.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.