The Power of Google: How to Control What People See About You Online
- xoriginswork
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
In the digital-first world, Google is your first impression.
Whether you’re a startup in Pune, a hospital in Banglore, or a national e-commerce brand, what people see about you on Google shapes your brand story—sometimes before you even get the chance to speak.
But here’s the big question:
Can you control what people see about you online?
The answer: Yes, you can
With smart Online Reputation Management (ORM) strategies, you can influence, guide, and protect your online narrative.
Let’s explore how.
Why Google Matters More Than Ever
When someone searches your name, your business, or your service, Google displays:
Your website
Google My Business profile
Customer reviews
News articles
Blog mentions
Social media links
This becomes your digital resume.
For Indian Businesses:
In India, platforms like Google, Justdial, Sulekha, Practo (for doctors), and Google Maps reviews play a huge role in shaping buying decisions—especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where people heavily rely on online validation before making a purchase.
If negative reviews, outdated links, or irrelevant articles appear on the first page of Google, it can instantly damage your credibility and cost you real customers.
What Happens If You Don’t Manage Your Google Presence?
Your competitors may outrank you for your own brand keywords.
Negative articles or fake reviews may stay at the top.
Your outdated profiles may mislead potential clients.
Remember, Google doesn’t forget—but Google can be guided.
How to Control What People See About You on Google
1. Optimise Your Google My Business (GMB) Profile
Your Google My Business listing is your fastest online handshake.
Update your contact details, website, and location.
Add high-quality photos and recent posts.
Regularly collect positive reviews from happy customers
Note For Indian Businessess -
GMB listings often show first when people search “near me” services like restaurants, hospitals, coaching classes, and local shops. Keep this profile fresh and active to dominate local search.
2. Push Positive Content to the Top
Google ranks fresh, high-quality content higher.
If negative content exists, you can push it down by creating and ranking positive content like:
Blogs
News features
Customer testimonials
Social media profiles
YouTube videos (Google loves video content)
Example: A Pune-based interior design firm consistently posted SEO-optimized blogs and videos, which eventually buried a low-star review from page one to page three.
3. Respond to Reviews Actively
Don’t ignore your Google reviews, even the bad ones.
Respond politely and quickly.
Address concerns with a solution.
Show potential customers you care.
Note For Indian businesses: Indian customers highly appreciate a direct response, even if it’s just an acknowledgment. It shows your brand is accessible and trustworthy.
4. Leverage SEO-Optimised Social Profiles
Your LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages can rank on Google when properly optimised.
Keep social profiles active and consistent with your brand.
Use your exact business name in your social handles.
Link back to your website.
Why this matters: If your own assets fill the first page of Google, you control most of what people see.
5. Get Local & Industry Mentions
You can improve your Google presence by appearing on:
Local directories like Justdial, Sulekha
Industry blogs and news websites
PR articles on reputable platforms
Note: Search engines trust well-known platforms. Getting listed or mentioned on high-authority sites can push negative results lower.
Can You Remove Negative Links from Google?
Not always. But you can:
Request removal of fake reviews or defamatory content (Google may take it down if it violates policies).
Push negative content lower using content suppression strategies.
File legal action in extreme cases, especially if the content is abusive or false (works for many Indian ORM cases).
A professional Online Reputation Management agency, like us (CLEAN SLATE) can handle this process smoothly without escalating the issue.
Final Say
Google is not just a search engine—it’s your brand’s first impression. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, influencer, hospital, or a fast-growing Indian business, your Google results can either open doors or block opportunities.
The good news? You can control the story. With the right mix of SEO, content marketing, review management, and proactive ORM strategies, you can ensure Google shows the best version of you.
Need Help Managing Your Google Reputation?
Our team of experts, at Clean Slate, specialise in Online Reputation Management for Indian professionals, individuals and brands.
Contact us today to take control of your Google search results and build a brand that thrives online.
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