How to Bury Negative Search Results

One of the first things you can do to push down negative search results is to create a personal website. Doing so gives you control over the information that appears when someone searches for you or your business.
Typically, when you search for a business name, their website is the first thing you see. The same will happen when you create your website.
You can also optimize it to further increase its chances of appearing higher in search results. This way, any negative search result will go one rank down since your site will take the top spot.

If you already have a website, your next resort should be to optimize the content you have already published. The aim is to take space in SERPs so that negative search results about your brand go down.

Here’s how it works. Let’s say the negative search results are on the fourth and fifth rank on the first page of Google. Since most people only go through the first few search results, if you have an article that ranks second and third on page one for your brand name, it will automatically push the negative result down.

When optimizing your content, keep Google’s Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (EEAT) guidelines in mind. These guidelines outline what Google looks for in high-quality content. The key is to write for people first and search engines second. That’s what Google wants you to do.

Just like your website, your brand’s social media pages can also rank in Google. The search engine now shows business posts and profiles from LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms.

Since social profiles are specific to your business, they have a higher chance of ranking quickly. If your business name is very unique, this is even more likely.

Even if you create social media profiles on three platforms, you’re taking up three additional spaces on the first page of Google for your brand. Let’s say your brand’s website and contact page are also ranking. You now have five out of ten spots on the first page of Google dedicated to your brand.

As a result, negative search results will be pushed further down, making it less likely for potential customers to see them. Even if the negative results are pushed to the second page, you’re good to go since only 0.63% of Google users click on something on the second page.

Since creating social media profiles is free, you can easily do this yourself. A pro tip is to start with LinkedIn. In a Search Engine Land study, it was found that LinkedIn profiles of businesses rank on the first page more often than other social media profiles. Of the 500 companies analyzed, 381 had a LinkedIn profile show up on the first page of Google.

If your own website isn’t well-optimized or doesn’t have enough authority, you can still improve your online reputation through guest posting on high-authority websites. In this approach, you write articles on websites that have a high domain authority score.

You use your brand’s name and related keywords in your content. This way, when someone searches for your brand, the high-authority website may appear in the results.

Guest posts benefit your online reputation in two ways. First, negative results are suppressed since the guest posts take up more space on the first page of Google. Second, your brand’s name attains credibility by being associated with a high-authority website that search engines and people already trust.

But how do you find these high-authority websites? A simple Google search can do the trick. Search for phrases like “write for us” or “guest post guidelines” along with your niche/industry keywords to find relevant websites that accept guest posts. You can then use Moz to check the domain authority of these websites and prioritize which ones to target.

What better way to appear on Google’s first page than being featured in news publications? When a reputable news source mentions your brand, it adds authenticity and trustworthiness to your online reputation. It also helps push down any negative results related to your brand, as more people are likely to see positive news articles.


You also collect backlinks for your website. Again, it ties in with the first method we suggested, where you create and optimize your site for higher rankings.


Suppose a small blog has written a negative post about you. It has gained a lot of traction and is now the third search result when someone searches for your brand.


However, if you get featured in Yahoo or Forbes, these articles will automatically rank higher than the negative blog post. The end result? Your brand’s reputation is not only restored but also elevated.

One way to appear in news articles is to give interviews. If you’re an industry expert, journalists and bloggers will be likely to approach you for quotes and insights. You can also pitch your story or press releases to relevant publications. Many news websites publish opinion pieces or thought leadership articles from reputable business owners and individuals.

Sometimes, your personal efforts don’t yield the results you want. That’s when you need professional help from an agency like Maximatic Media. We can help your brand get featured in top publications like The Washington Post, The NY Times, Forbes, and more.


With such high-authority and reputable websites linking back to your site, you’ll see a significant improvement in your online reputation. Our team of experienced PR professionals will work with you to create compelling stories and pitches that will capture the attention of top-tier media outlets.

Our digital PR efforts will have a two-fold impact on your online reputation. Besides suppressing negative search results, it will also bring your business the exposure that comes from being featured in renowned publications read by hundreds of thousands of people.