Generally, here's how we proceed with burying/pushing down
negative links on an individual when Googling their name and personal
information: (The following plan isn't limited to what is stated as we opt for
many more ways to get an online reputation repaired)
1. Search for What's Out There - We perform a search on the
client's name in Google by putting his/her name in quotation marks to limit
results to exact matches, and try a few variations of the name. Also, we
perform a Google Images search on the name. Then, I check all the sites where
the client has a profile, and where others might have posted about him/her,
such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, and others. While trying
a search within those sites, I do a Google search of them. To do a Google search
of social media posts, for example, type “‘client name’ site:Facebook.com” in
the Google search box.
2. Clean Up the Social Mess -. Starting with social media,
if the client is willing, (in most cases, they are because of the situation
they are in) we try to delete posts, photos, and videos that have attracted
negative impressions. Then, place a request to people who have posted about you
on their pages to remove their comments and photos. If they won’t delete a
photo, we usually go for the untag option, so at least the client's photo won’t
show up in a search on his/her name. You don’t want to show up as linked to
them. Also, regularly posting of positive content in a strategic way adds to
the efforts of getting a positive online presence.
In the case of news articles, blog posts or other mentions
about the client's less-than-stellar history, we usually go for the push-down
technique which is performed on Google. In the long run, it’s the best practice
to be followed in the search results with the good stuff.
3. Add Positive New Content - Search engines love new
content, so we add newer items about the client which rise in search engine
results and show up on the first pages when someone searches for the client's
name. We ensure that everything we post from now on reflects a new and positive
life—posting only positive comments and pictures. We post enough of it so that
old bad stuff can drown in the search results of later Google pages. It will
still be there, but further down in the results. (It’s important for a client
to understand that they don’t think of this as “rewriting the past.”
Usually, an online reputation repair job takes more than 6
months.