Launching a startup is exciting. But once your name is out there, so is everything else. That includes blog posts, reviews, tweets, press, and even things you never meant to be public.
Getting your startup to show up on Google is easy. Controlling what shows up? That takes work.
Here’s how to get your business listed—and how to remove a search result from Google when it’s hurting your reputation.
How to Get Your Startup on Google Fast
If people can’t find your business, you’re missing out. Google is the first place people search when they hear about you. Whether you’re selling a product, launching a service, or building a local brand, visibility is everything.
Step 1: Create a Google Business Profile
Go to Google Business Profile and claim your business. Even if you’re not a brick-and-mortar location, this helps your startup show in search and on maps.
Add:
- Your business name
- A short description
- Website URL
- Contact info
- Hours (even if they’re flexible)
- Photos or a logo
This alone will boost your presence. It tells Google, “Hey, we’re legit.”
Step 2: Submit Your Site to Google Search Console
Go to Google Search Console and add your website. Then submit your sitemap. This helps Google find and index your site faster.
Use tools like Yoast SEO or Rank Math if you’re using WordPress. These help you structure your content in a way Google understands.
Step 3: Start Posting Fresh Content
Google likes updates. So post regularly. That could be:
- Blog posts
- News updates
- Customer stories
- FAQs
Even a few short posts a month helps your site look active. It also builds more opportunities to rank for your name and keywords.
How to Get a Search Result Removed from Google
Here’s where things get tricky.
Let’s say someone posted a bad review, a complaint, or an old article about your startup. It’s inaccurate or unfair—but it shows up every time someone searches your name.
You want it gone. But Google doesn’t just delete things because you ask nicely.
Step 1: Understand What Google Will Remove
Google only removes content if it violates their policies. This includes:
- Private info (like Social Security numbers)
- Explicit images posted without consent
- Fake content that qualifies as impersonation
- Court-ordered takedowns
If the link is to a news site, blog, or public review, it probably won’t meet those standards.
But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck.
Option 1: Ask the Website to Remove It
This is the fastest path—if you can get a reply.
Find the contact info for the site owner or editor. Look for:
- A “Contact” or “About” page
- LinkedIn profiles
- WHOIS domain info (use tools like Whois Lookup)
Send a polite message explaining the issue. Keep it short.
“Hi, I saw this post about [your startup] and wanted to ask if you’d consider removing or updating it. The info is outdated and doesn’t reflect who we are now. Happy to provide a current statement or clarification if that helps.”
Some people say yes. Others ignore it. But it’s always worth trying.
Option 2: Use Google’s Removal Tools
If the site agrees to delete or update the page, but the result still shows up in search, use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool.
This tells Google to refresh the page and remove the old snippet or link if it no longer exists.
You can also file a legal request if the content meets any removal criteria. That includes impersonation, defamation, or specific laws like GDPR (if you’re in the EU). Google has a legal removal request form.
Option 3: Bury It with Better Content
If removal doesn’t work, you need to suppress the bad result.
This is where content strategy comes in. You need to flood Google with new, high-quality content that outranks the bad stuff.
That could include:
- Press releases
- Guest blog posts
- Podcast interviews
- YouTube videos
- Medium articles
- Testimonials from real customers
- Product updates on trusted platforms
Use your startup’s name in the title, URL, and body of each post. Link to your homepage. Make it easy for Google to understand these pages are more current and useful than the one you want gone.
Over time, these new links will outrank the old one and push it off page one.
When to Call in Help
If the content is damaging your business and you can’t get it removed or buried, it might be time to bring in experts.
Companies that specialize in online reputation management can help. They use legal requests, content creation, SEO, and strategic outreach to suppress or remove harmful links.
They also know how to handle sensitive cases, like:
- Fake reviews
- Disgruntled former employees
- Competitor attacks
- Outdated news from early startup days
One well-known company that offers this kind of help is Guaranteed Removals. They work with businesses to clean up search results and protect reputations from long-term damage.
It’s not cheap. But if a single link is killing your funding or stopping customers from trusting you, it might be worth it.
Final Thoughts
Getting your startup on Google is simple. Controlling what shows up? That takes effort.
Start with the basics: set up your business profile, submit your site, and create new content. Keep your name active and updated.
But if something harmful is ranking high—don’t ignore it. Find out if it can be removed. And if it can’t, replace it with something better.
Your search results are your online storefront. Make sure they reflect what you’re building, not what’s holding you back.
Born in the family of entrepreneurs and have inherited the same. Started building applications in order to pay for my tuition. Later founded a tech company, marketing agency, and media outlets.