If you had ever found unwanted Google search results, such as a humiliating or embarrassing photograph of yourself, leaked sensitive information, or other damaging comments, how would you respond? The online world today is oversaturated with opportunities for damaging searches that can harm your business or reputation.
Table of Content
- Unwanted search result can harm you in some ways.
- Steps To Completely Remove Your Name From Google
- 9 Techniques to remove unwanted Google search results
- Adapting the privacy settings of your websites and social media profiles.
- Implementing opt-out policies on websites that display or collect your information.
- You can update sensitive information in Google’s Knowledge Graph by entering it yourself
- Removing content from a website should be done by request.
- Get rid of personal information collected on people-search sites & other data brokers.
- Your websites should not contain any information about you.
- Be in control of what your social media profiles say about you.
- Delete old Youtube videos and images.
- Delete public forum posts and comments.
With a few techniques, you can remove unwanted google search results. But first, let’s know the reasons to remove these undesirable google search results. As we know, the internet is like an ocean: and you must be wondering how to find negative search results in this ocean. Maintaining and monitoring the business in today’s time is the need of today’s digital time. A positive review about your business or your positive online presence can boost your business. The same negative views can also harm your business.
If we talk as a quote, then the Unwanted search result can harm you in some ways.
- Can be a reason to ruin your personal reputation and relationships – It is often found that most of the unwanted Google search results originate with a motive of defamation. Ruining one’s image by portraying something personal is a severe threat to one’s reputation and affects their relationships. Can bring loss in your professional reputation and business – If any such humiliating content reaches the familiar spectrum of the individual, it is bound to ruin their professional reputation. Businesses may suffer heavy loss as one’s personal sphere is violated.
- Be a reason for your stress and make you emotionally upset – The internet, in recent times, plays a major role in influencing one’s mental health and emotional stability since the circle is inclusive of almost everyone. If a humiliating or personal content is uploaded on any digital platform, it takes a huge toll on one’s emotional health, which if not stopped, can lead to drastic mishaps.
- Can turn your customers or your employees away from you, which can cause you financial lossAlthough, there is a fine line between personal and professional reputation, businesses have often incurred heavy losses if the brand reputation is ruined. Employees tend to switch to competitors if there is a slight hint of controversy. This, in turn, will lead to major financial losses.
It is essential to maintain and monitor your online presence. But there may be some reactions from which you want to remove negative results.
As it is said, that first impression is the last, so what people see on the first page of the search engine is considered right. Thousands of web pages may consist of your many accomplishments or glowing reviews – but if those pages are buried beneath inaccurate or negative search results, most Google users will never find the positive content. This negative result itself can damage your reputation. Moreover, it takes up space on your first page and decreases the space available for more accurate, updated, and favourable results. For Google to prioritize your content based on its importance or relevance, you might want to eliminate negative search results that crowd out other relevant content. There are several solutions available for people that want to remove outdated or unwanted information from Google. The following two sections assist.
What Are the Steps To Completely Remove Your Name From Google?
Sadly, you cannot remove your name entirely from Google’s search engine. However, here are a few best practices to follow when trying to remove information that can be taken down and protecting your digital privacy:
- Accept and utilize the fact that more and more information, especially publicly accessible information, is being posted and stored online. Turning a blind eye to the matter can lead to further escalation. Hence, it is important to understand the gravity of the situation and take measures accordingly.
- Do your best to make sure that you only use public information, and remove any private information. Your private data can give the audience and the wrong-doers new ways to defame you as it will be equated with your professional or public life.
- Take responsibility for your online reputation and suppress information you do not want to appear on the first page. You will be held accountable for the information that goes on the internet. It is, thus, advisable to limit your public information as much as possible and to keep a check on the data you want to eradicate from the first page.
- Deactivate unnecessary accounts and delete them. The accounts or virtual profiles that are no longer needed, shall be deleted immediately. More information on the virtual media can invite further questioning and can contribute immensely to the downfall of your reputation (To do it properly, please read our ORM Mistakes).
- Put your social media and other accounts private. Social media like Facebook, Instagram, etc. are the very first platform through which people tend to reach you. Changing the privacy settings can help you get rid of unnecessary trouble and help you deal with your mental weaknesses.
- Do not participate in data broker sites or unsubscribe. These sites are used to conduct unethical activities like selling your personal info. To get rid of further hassle, do not participate or subscribe to these sites and if any, you need to unsubscribe them.
- Get your personal information removed from the websites you control and from your websites’ Whois information. Remove the information you don’t want to share on the digital platforms through the websites you control. Suppress and limit the information on your website.
How to remove your information and content from websites to improve your online reputation?
Here are 9 Techniques to remove unwanted Google search results:
Change and adjust the privacy settings of your website or other profiles on the virtual platforms. Social media is a direct link between the audience/clients and you, hence, it must be set to private to avoid uncalled for criticism.
- Implementing opt-out policies on websites that display or collect your information.
Websites that harness information about your business or reputation, should be opted out at a go. The primary goal is to make your online presence minimal for a few days.
- You can update sensitive information in Google’s Knowledge Graph by entering it yourself (or by contacting Google).
Google’s Knowledge graph allows you to edit sensitive content. You can enter it manually or contact Google to assist you on this matter. This is an effective tool and is one of the first steps in taking strict measures on the matter.
- Removing content from a website should be done by request.
You can appeal to a website to take down the information which is violating your reputation or professional image. Contact the support team or write to them regarding the content published on their website.
- Get rid of personal information collected on people-search sites & other data brokers.
The personal information that is accessed by the data broker sites should be eliminated from your public profile. This information can cause severe damage to your professional or personal relationships.
- Your websites should not contain any information about you.
Keep your website professional and no trace of personal information that does not mean business should be exhibited. Update your website and make it solely business-centric.
As mentioned earlier, social media is a direct and easy link for people to reach you. Be careful with what goes on your social media profiles and limit the information to what is required. Delete or make the data private.
- Delete old Youtube videos and images.
People tend to circulate YouTube videos and images, or any content, no matter how old. Thus, refine your profile and change the privacy settings to avoid further hassle. Old images might call for more controversy.
- Delete public forum posts and comments.
Public posts are most likely to invite diverse opinions. To avoid unwanted and destructive criticism, it is essential to delete your virtual public presence by removing posts and comments.
Are there any types of websites and content appearing in search results that you have no control over that you can remove?
In some ways, you can control how your online information is found, but there are some sources of information you cannot control, such as:
- Websites or blogs that feature content about you;
- Articles published on news sites or Wikipedia;
- Websites that utilize your artwork or photos;
- Pins on Pinterest that feature a photo of you or a photo you took;
- A profile or post on social media that includes information about you.
There is no guarantee that the content of any website that you control won’t display your information, including shaming websites, scraper sites, old news articles, and social media posts. If the content of a web page harms your reputation, you (or your attorney) will have to take action.
As the owner of a domain name, you can control the content of the site. If you have a blog through WordPress, Wix, or Blogger, you can make sure that the content there is correct and consistent with your brand. You can also decide what information you want to include on your Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or TikTok profiles. Make sure you set your profiles to private; otherwise, the following information could be made public:
- Your full name, age, gender, and marital status,
- Contact information,
- Your professional and educational history,
- Your family and connections,
- and your photos.
After that, make sure everything you post to your social media profiles is something you feel comfortable having publicly available on the internet. Go through your profiles to remove anything you might not want to appear when someone searches for you on a search engine.
It is possible to remove the content you have previously posted to YouTube to prevent it from appearing in search results. Additionally, you may be able to change the privacy settings for your channel if you want to keep it online. You can choose where your YouTube videos appear (and who can watch them) when you own a YouTube channel.
It is almost certain that you will eventually find results concerning you on the internet because it is such a vast, complex network of unique web pages. If you see damaging content about yourself online, it can feel overwhelming. However, these were steps you can take to have this content removed (or at the very least removed unwanted Google search results).
