5 Ways You Can Combat a Negative Online Reputation

Frankie • January 30, 2020

Most people’s names aren’t unique to them, and that is completely fine and normal. It can sometimes be quite humorous and may even open a few opportunities for some people. The problem, however, is when someone shares a name with another person who has a negative reputation. This can be damaging to their own identity, and it’s only made worse by the internet today.

The good news is that there are ways to combat this. In this article, we’ll go over some of those methods. 

1 - Create your own website or blog

One of the ways you can reclaim your identity online is by creating a space that’s all yours. You can launch a website where you get to control everything that gets published on it. In doing this, you can ensure that nothing damaging to you or your brand gets posted on your site.

You can also further combat negative affiliations to your name by sharing positive reviews and testimonials from people you’ve worked with before, whether they were customers, colleagues, or your boss. 

Make sure you post fresh content frequently so that your website has a better shot at ranking high. Also, post updated contact information so that visitors know it’s you.

2 - Claim your social media profiles

Another way you can ensure a positive online presence is by carefully managing your social media accounts. Clear your feeds of anything that could potentially hurt you in the future and completely fill out your profile.

Moreover, check to see your connections and remove the ones you no longer want to be affiliated with. This is where it helps to be extra thorough since social media platforms can be quite complicated, and you might not even be aware of everything and everyone you’re linked to.

3 - Look yourself up on search engines

Do an online search of your name or brand to get an idea of what you’re fighting. This will let you tackle the problem more easily since you’ll have a better knowledge of what people might mistake you for. Make sure you do this regularly, as search results will vary over time, and new, harmful content can suddenly appear from nowhere.

4 - Tweak your name

Consider differentiating your name or brand from the one that is damaging your reputation. You can try a slightly different variation in spelling or go by a second name if necessary.

5 - Request malicious content to be taken down

You can also consider contacting web authorities and site owners to take down content that poses risks to your reputation. Many websites have a report function that facilitates this process. For more aggressive measures, you can even contact a content removal specialist to take action on your behalf.

In this age, where information on anyone or any business is readily available on the internet, it’s important to stay on top of things to ensure a healthy and positive online reputation. Whether you’re a regular individual or a big company, the stakes are too high to ignore, and it would be wise to ensure that your name is not attached to anything that might harm you.

We’re an online reputation management company, get in touch with us to see how we can help.

How to Remove Negative Content from Google Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

By Frankie Lee • August 18, 2025
Introduction: Why Google Results Control Your Reputation When people want to learn about you or your business, they don’t ask you directly — they Google you. A single search result can mean the difference between: Winning or losing a client. Closing or missing an investment deal. Being trusted or being doubted. In today’s world, Google is your first impression. And when negative content shows up — whether it’s a bad review, a defamatory article, or an embarrassing old post — it can feel like your reputation is being hijacked. That’s why millions of people search for terms like “remove content from Google” or “delete Google results.” The problem? Google doesn’t make it easy. This guide gives you a step-by-step framework to understand your options, protect your name, and take back control. Step 1: Understand What Google Can (and Can’t) Do Before learning how to remove Google search results, it’s crucial to understand how Google works. Google doesn’t own the content: It simply indexes web pages published on other sites. Two main strategies exist: Remove at the source (delete the content where it was published). Remove from Google’s index (de-index it so it won’t show in search results). 👉 If the content is deleted at the source, Google will automatically update. But if it remains live, you’ll need to request a removal from Google (which only applies in specific cases). Step 2: Identify the Type of Negative Content Different types of harmful results require different strategies. Let’s break them down: 1. Defamation False statements that harm your personal or business reputation. Example: A blogger writes that you scammed clients without evidence. 2. Copyright Infringement Someone stole your images, text, or videos. Example: A competitor copies your website and publishes it. 3. Personal Information Exposure Doxxing, revenge porn, or exposure of addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts. Example: A forum publishes your private details. 4. Fake Reviews or Complaints Competitors or anonymous attackers leave fake reviews. Example: 1-star Google Business reviews from accounts that never used your service. 5. Negative Press or News Coverage News articles, blogs, or opinion pieces that damage your reputation. Example: An old article resurfaces about a legal dispute, even after it’s resolved. Step 3: Attempt Removal at the Source (Most Effective) The gold standard is to delete the content where it lives. How to Remove at the Source: Find contact information: Look for a “Contact Us” page. Use WHOIS lookup if the owner is private. Request removal politely: Be professional and clear. Explain why it should be removed (e.g., false, outdated, violating rights). Escalate legally if needed: Send a legal demand letter. File a DMCA takedown for copyright. Engage an attorney if it’s defamatory. 💡 Pro Tip: When content is deleted at the source, it’s the fastest and cleanest solution. Google will automatically remove it when it re-crawls the site. Step 4: File a Removal Request with Google If source removal isn’t possible, your next option is Google’s own removal tools. Google Offers Removals For: Outdated Content Tool: If the page is deleted but still shows in search. Legal Removal Requests: For defamation (in certain jurisdictions), copyright, and sensitive personal info. Revenge Porn & Explicit Imagery: Google prioritizes urgent takedowns for non-consensual media. Financial or ID Information: Bank details, ID numbers, or hacked data. 👉 Submit requests via Google’s Content Removal page . Be aware: Google will not remove content simply because it is negative. It must violate a policy or law. Step 5: Suppress Results When Removal Isn’t Possible Some content simply cannot be removed — for example, accurate news articles or protected opinions. In those cases, the strategy shifts to suppression. What Suppression Means: Suppression = pushing negative results off page one by ranking positive, optimized content above them. Suppression Tactics: SEO for owned assets: Optimize your website, blog, and social media profiles. Content creation: Publish articles, press releases, interviews, YouTube videos, podcasts. High-authority platforms: Build LinkedIn, Crunchbase, Medium, Quora, and other strong profiles. PR & media coverage: Secure features that rank in Google News and top publications. Since over 90% of users never click past page one, pushing harmful content to page two makes it practically invisible. Step 6: Ongoing Monitoring and Protection Reputation management is not a one-time fix. New threats can appear anytime. How to Stay Protected: Set Google Alerts for your name or brand. Track reviews across Google, Trustpilot, SiteJabber, etc. Use professional monitoring services to get alerts and immediate takedown action. At ContentRemoval.com, we provide continuous monitoring and monthly removal services so you’re never blindsided by sudden attacks. Step 7: When to Hire a Professional Some removals are straightforward. Others — like fighting with major news publishers, suppressing viral Reddit threads, or negotiating with review platforms — require expert intervention. Professional content removal experts can: Navigate Google’s complex policies. File successful DMCA, defamation, and privacy removals. Negotiate directly with publishers. Combine legal, SEO, and PR strategies into one solution. If your reputation, business revenue, or peace of mind is at stake, hiring a professional is the fastest, most reliable way to protect yourself. Case Studies (Proof Section) Case Study 1: Entrepreneur Attacked Online Problem: 42 defamatory blog posts damaging credibility. Solution: ContentRemoval.com secured takedowns on 31 and suppressed the rest. Result: Entrepreneur rebuilt reputation and closed $3M funding round. Case Study 2: CEO with Negative Press Problem: Old news coverage ranking on page one. Solution: 90-day SEO + PR campaign. Result: Positive stories ranked, pushing the negative to page three. Case Study 3: Company Flooded with Fake Reviews Problem: Competitor attack using fake Google reviews. Solution: Removal requests + review platform escalation. Result: 85% of fake reviews deleted, average rating restored. Conclusion: Taking Back Control Your online reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Negative Google search results don’t have to define you. Best case: Remove content at the source. Next best: File a removal request with Google. If all else fails: Suppress the results with SEO and content. 👉 The longer harmful results stay online, the more damage they cause. That’s why ContentRemoval.com exists: to help people like you remove, suppress, and protect their online reputation with proven strategies.
Reputation Management Australia

Online Reputation Management - Your Customer Said What About Your Business?

By Frankie Lee • March 7, 2021
If you own a business in today's modern world, you know that it's no longer a question of whether you have an online presence or not. It's now a matter of what that online presence is. You need to know how people perceive your brand and whether that perception matches the one you want established. It's not wise to just let things fall where they may when your online reputation is involved. Businesses can't just let other people determine what their brand is, they should be the one on top of it controlling the narrative.