How to Clean Up Google Search Results and Restore Your Reputation
A bad link, article, or arrest record can destroy your reputation. Learn how to clean up Google search results and take control of your online image.
Google and other search engines are all-powerful in our digital age. These days, search results determine the success and failure of businesses and employees alike.
In fact, Google’s first page is now considered just as important as your resume or business card.
When was the last time you Googled yourself? And when you did, what appeared in the search results?
You might be surprised by what you find. Or, if you’re like many people, horrified.
And if you’ve ever been arrested, that incident may be the first thing that pops up.
That’s not all.
Your private pictures may be on unflattering websites thanks to a jilted ex-spouse. Your business could even be listed on “don’t work for” websites if you’ve ever had a problem employee.
And if you’ve ever had an unhappy customer, your brand could be suffering due to negative reviews online – including fake Google reviews.
How can a bad search result hurt my reputation?
There are many ways that unwanted search results can hurt your reputation or your brand.
That’s because Google allows users to search your name from any place, and at any time. In fact, many hiring managers are now required to Google job candidates before offering a position.
That’s right! Many employers search your name online before taking that next step!
If a coworker, employer, landlord, or even a loved one ever checked your background on Google, what would they see?
Would it make a good impression and strengthen your relationship? Or would it fill their head with doubt?
Is there anything I can do?
If there’s harmful information about you on the internet, you’re not alone.
What’s more: you’re not powerless.
In fact, you have the power to change your search results for the better!
Interested in removing harmful and unwanted search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo? Want to improve your online presence and get the job of your dreams?
Below, we show you how to clean unwanted Google search results and take control of your reputation for good.
Where Can I Remove My Info And Keep My Search Results Clean?
There are several types of websites on which you never want your name, face, or business.
These include:
People-Search Sites
People-search sites like Whitepages.com and My Life allow anyone to access your personal information, including your home address, telephone number, email address, and more. And when your personal information is on the internet, marketers, spammers and criminals can find it instantly.
What’s more: when your personal data is exposed online, you’re at higher risk of identity theft, credit card fraud, and more.
Monitoring your name and removing your information from such sites allows you to protect your family and your privacy.
Background Check Sites
If you’ve ever been in legal trouble or have a negative public record, you want to remove yourself from background check sites immediately.
That’s because these sites generate a great deal of traffic. So, even if people aren’t searching your name, your records will still get Google’s attention.
Employers, landlords, lenders, and even loved ones check these sites regularly. And if a bad record pops up, your application will likely get thrown to the bottom of the pile.
Ex Revenge Sites
Have you ever seen revenge sites allowing exes to post revenge materials? These sites continue to grow in popularity, leaving countless reputations and careers in their wake.
These sites exist solely to make money. They also give angry exes ample opportunity to damage or even destroy your good name on the web.
What’s worse: revenge sites are notorious extortion rackets, offering “removal” for hundreds or even thousands of dollars a clip.
Fortunately, you can beat them at their own game and remove the information yourself!
Mugshot sites
Mugshot sites are very popular and valued highly by Google.
And because they’re public records, any mugshot you’ve ever had taken can appear on these sites at any time.
They also get a crazy amount of traffic, bumping up their Google rankings and thrusting embarrassing images into the online spotlight.
Of course, this can be extremely damaging to your image. And you’ll want to remove those images as soon as possible!
Complaint sites
Complaint sites are common problems for businesses and business owners, and they can cause big issues down the line.
These days, more than 90% of consumers google local businesses before making a purchase. And if your company shows up on a complaint site, it can spell bad news for your bottom line.
Complaint sites don’t have to feature truthful information. In fact, a competitor might try to hurt your business on a complaint site!
Take control by removing these “complaints” fast.
How do you get your personal details off of the web?
Privacy Policies and Removal Requests
One way to erase negative or personal info from the internet is to ask site owners to remove it.
Of course, the website you’re working with has to be receptive (asking a revenge site owner to remove content will likely result in a request for money). But you may get lucky with this approach.
Another way to remove information is to flag that info as a violation of the site’s privacy policy. Unfortunately, privacy policies are often vague, and you could have trouble getting the webmaster to take your request seriously.
Google’s “Remove Outdated Content Tool”
In rare cases, Google will remove information about you using their Remove Outdated Content Tool.
The problem is that Google removal policies tend to be complicated. They also depend on your particular situation.
In short, Google will remove certain items and leave others alone. And what they will remove can change at any time and for any reason.
The following is a Google snippet regarding their removal policies:
“You can ask Google to remove your sensitive personal information, like your bank account number, or an image of your handwritten signature, or a nude or sexually explicit image or video of you that’s been shared without your consent, from Google search results.”
Because of company policies on information removal, chances are you’ll need other methods to remove and bury negative Google search results.
That’s great news, right?
Unfortunately, the following snippet is from the same page explaining Google’s policies:
“Even if Google deletes the site or image from our search results, the webpage still exists and can be found through the URL to the site, social media sharing, or other search engines. This is why your best option is to contact the webmaster, who can remove the page entirely. If a photo or information shows up in Google search results, it just means that the information exists on the Internet and it doesn’t mean that Google endorses it.”
Obviously, this is very select information. Most people looking to fix their internet reputation have different issues to contend with.
Third-Party Removal Services
These days, companies offering to remove harmful information from the internet are everywhere.
But to get the fastest results, an experienced, award-winning ORM firm is your best bet for quality and reliability.
Our team has decades of combined content removal experience, and we understand how to remove damaging information from the web fast.
Our third-party removal services offer the best way to clean up Google search results and help you build a better reputation online. This way, your reputation no longer depends on Google’s rules or the goodwill of a webmaster.
In short, we offer customized internet and reputation management service solutions designed to maximize your online success.
How to Clean Up Google Search Results and Restore Your Reputation
Keep Your Social Media Profiles Clean
If you’re not careful, your social media profiles can erode your reputation in a hurry. The good news is you have several options to protect your reputation on social media, without involving a third party or contacting Google.
Adjust Privacy Settings
Adjust the privacy settings on your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts. Avoid setting your profiles to public. Particularly if you engage in activities often seen as controversial or unprofessional.
Everything on the internet carries a risk. For example, any picture from your Facebook can quickly be inserted onto a revenge site for everyone to see. You can reduce this risk by protecting your information.
Be Careful About What You Share
As the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is particularly true for your online reputation.
If you don’t want controversial images to be used against you, don’t share them. Also, don’t let your friends share those images on their own feeds.
Sharing the wrong type of information can ruin a good reputation in the blink of an eye. But properly managed social media profiles can do wonders for an online reputation.
TIP: If social networking sites have caused you problems in the past, consider taking a break from social media. You don’t want to accidentally make things worse.
How to Clean Up Google Search Results on Bing and Other Search Engines?
Google is the heavy-hitter in the world of search engines. Yet, Bing and other search engines also have a significant amount of users, giving them influence on how people see and feel about your online image.
Bing has processes similar to Google for requesting outright information removal. The removal process steps are as follows:
- Visit Bing.com and complete a simple search.
- Select “Help,” which is located in the bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Click “Report a Concern” in the Safety and Privacy column.
- File your concern and wait for a reply.
Of course, removing information is completely up to Bing. Most of the time, they probably won’t do so, especially if that info is public domain.
S0, what is Bing’s policy on content removal?
The following is taken directly from Bing’s website:
“Please understand that Bing does not control the content that websites publish or which appear in search results. Removing a website from search results does not remove the content from the web; it can still be discovered by going to the site. To remove content from a website, your best option is usually to contact the site’s webmaster and request that the content be deleted or removed.
“Reporting a concern may not result in the removal of a website from search results. Bing only removes search results that meet a specific set of conditions and circumstances to ensure our users have access to relevant information.”
The majority of other search engines process removal requests the same way. All have a way for users to reach out and request information removal. But, if the information isn’t a social security number or something of that nature, it’s unlikely the search engine will take any action.
We can show you how to clean up Google search results, repair the damage and put your reputation back on track.
Monitor Your Name to Build a Clean Reputation and Protect Your Privacy
Once you’ve cleaned up your name on Google and other search engines, you’ll want to make sure that it stays that way. Just as a plant will die if you forget to water it, your reputation will wither if you forget to maintain it.
Monitoring your name online can help, alerting you of any potentially negative pages appearing in Google’s search results anyway. With monitoring, you’ll be able to address any new issues right away.
We offer reputation monitoring and privacy protection services that help you protect and defend your online reputation. Our Monitoring & Private Protection services can help keep your internet reputation clean!
We also offer an alert service that notifies any time your name or other personal details are published on the internet.
With our team on your side, you can rest easy knowing we’re monitoring your reputation and working to clean up Google search results for your name.
We help repair and manage your online reputation, and our services will keep negative search results for your name clean so only the best info about you is seen on the web.
Call us today at 941-259-4554 to set up a free consultation, or click here for additional information.
