Online Reputation Management FAQs

Everything You Need to Know About Online Reputation Management, Reverse SEO, and Protecting Your Name Online

When people Google your name, what do they find? Whether you're a business owner, political candidate, doctor, or public figure, your online presence can shape your future—for better or worse. At Intellicate, we help individuals and organizations take control of what shows up in search results, using proven tools and expert strategies.

Below are answers to the most common questions we receive about online reputation management, reverse SEO, and how we work with clients to restore and protect their digital image.

  • Online Reputation Management (ORM) is the process of influencing and controlling what appears about you online—especially in Google search results. Whether it’s outdated news, misleading content, or unfair reviews, ORM helps clean up, suppress, or replace negative content with accurate, trustworthy, and positive results. It's not just damage control; it's brand building for individuals.

  • Reverse SEO is a core part of our strategy to bury negative search results. Instead of trying to delete a damaging article (which is often impossible), we create optimized content that ranks higher—pushing the bad links down and out of sight. Think of it as building a digital firewall made of credible, high-ranking content that protects your name.

  • Political Reputation Management is tailored to candidates, elected officials, and advocacy organizations. It involves monitoring, defending, and enhancing a political figure’s online presence—before opponents weaponize Google against them. We’ve worked on everything from cleaning up search results before a campaign launch to protecting candidates from coordinated smear campaigns during an election cycle.

  • Yes. We offer flexible and transparent pricing designed to fit a range of budgets—from grassroots campaigners to CEOs. There are no long-term contracts or bloated retainers. Just straightforward, effective help when you need it. Whether you're running for office, launching a business, or facing an unexpected crisis, we’ll help you find the right solution without breaking the bank.

  • It depends on the complexity of the issue, how competitive the keywords are, and how many negative results you're dealing with. Some cases show results in just a few weeks, while more complex projects may take a few months. We’ll give you a realistic timeline after your initial consultation—and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way.

  • Absolutely. In fact, many of our most successful campaigns involve state-level and local candidates, where one negative article or old social media post can have a disproportionate impact. We’ve worked with candidates in high-stakes races across the country to build positive visibility and neutralize online attacks.

  • While we can’t delete content from third-party sites, we can remove it from the spotlight. Through a mix of legal outreach (when appropriate), suppression tactics, and strategic content placement, we help ensure that harmful links no longer dominate your search results.

  • Content is your most powerful ally. This includes SEO-optimized bios, press releases, professional profiles, interviews, blog articles, and strategic backlinks. We publish across high-authority platforms to ensure Google sees your best work first—pushing negative or irrelevant content out of view.

  • You can try, but it’s like bringing a garden hose to a wildfire. Google’s algorithm is complex, and amateur efforts often backfire—triggering more visibility for negative content. We’ve spent years mastering the system, and we bring the tools, relationships, and publishing access that most individuals simply don’t have.

  • Set up Google Alerts for your name and key terms. Search yourself in incognito mode regularly. And, most importantly, keep tabs on your first page of results. Or better yet, let us monitor it for you. We offer ongoing tracking and monthly reports so you’re never blindsided by a digital crisis.

  • Experience. Discretion. Results. At Intellicate, our team has worked behind the scenes for Fortune 500 brands, political figures, and professionals navigating high-pressure moments. We don’t offer cookie-cutter fixes—we build custom strategies based on what works in the real world. No fluff, no false promises. Just smart, fast, and proven solutions.

  • Yes. Your name is your brand, and if you work in a trust-based industry—medicine, law, finance, or public service—online perception matters. We work with professionals who need their Google results to reflect their actual accomplishments, not past mistakes, doppelgängers, or unfair reviews.

  • Always. We understand how sensitive reputation issues can be, and we operate with complete discretion. Every engagement is handled under strict confidentiality. No public case studies. No client name-dropping. Just clean, secure, behind-the-scenes work that protects your privacy and peace of mind.

  • Start by Googling yourself. See what shows up on page one. If there’s anything inaccurate, outdated, or damaging—or if you just want to build a stronger digital foundation—schedule a free, confidential consultation. We’ll give you an honest assessment and a clear plan. No pressure. Just solutions.