Do you know your Google number? Better yet, how big is your Google number?

Your Google number is literally the number of times your name pops up in the Google search results. But, that number has taken on greater significance. To some, it means you are a thought leader, an influential person, an expert — maybe even famous.

Having a high Google number is becoming a matter of competition in some circles. Here's what one writer, Valdis Krebs, has to say about it in an article he wrote in HR.com:

"We were discussing the current economic climate, when one of the consultants started bragging about a just published book. Soon others were talking about their books. Eventually we were verbally jousting - who amongst us was the most 'well-known' consultant? Being the only consultant present without a book to my name, I had to quickly turn the measuring stick from 'books published' to something else. *** I said, "That's nice, but what's your Google number?" Puzzled looks soon overcame everyone in the room. Google number? What's that? I quickly explained that it was a rough-order measure of your reputation and influence as a thought-leader - it is how much buzz, or word-of-mouth, you have as an expert."

So, how do you interpret your score in Google? Here is what the author has to say:

"If your Google Number is around...

100 or less - keep your day job and start publishing ....

400 - do a nice web site and publish more

800 - it is probably safe to hang out your shingle

1,000 - you are getting some real attention

2,000 - you are well known in your field

5,000 - you are an often quoted expert in your field - a thought-leader"

And if you are wondering what it takes to be really famous, well Britney Spears has a score of 2,130,000.