How do I find out what's showing up about me online?

Do a basic search

Start with Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo searches of your full name in quotes. Try variations: your name with your city, your profession, your business name. Open an incognito browser window to see results as a stranger would, without your search history influencing results.

Check specific platforms

Manually visit social media accounts under your name on major platforms. Search your name on review sites relevant to your field. If you're a professional, check LinkedIn, industry directories, and association listings. For businesses, audit Google Business Profile and local directories.

Set up alerts

Google Alerts (free) sends notifications when your name appears on new indexed pages. This catches new mentions automatically over time, though it won't catch everything.

Document what you find

Screenshot concerning results. Note URLs, which platform hosted the content, and whether you control it. Categorize findings: your own content, third-party mentions, negative reviews, or irrelevant results about someone else with your name.