Learn how to use Google’s Results About You so you can pull sensitive personal details out of search results and keep your public story focused on your work.
Why your digital footprint matters more than ever
If you are an artist, freelancer, or working professional, chances are that a new client, curator, or employer will Google you before they decide anything. That quick search can surface portfolio sites and press, but it can also pull up old addresses, phone numbers, and random people search listings that were never meant to be part of your public story.
The problem is not just embarrassment. Exposed contact details can invite spam and harassment. Outdated or mismatched information can confuse people who want to work with you. At the same time, you probably do not have hours each week to chase every data broker that posts your name.
Google’s “Results About You” feature gives you a way to see what personal info shows up for your name in search and request its removal when it feels risky or irrelevant. Used well, it can become part of how you curate your online presence so the work you care about stays front and center.
This guide walks through what the tool is, how it works, how artists and professionals can use it in a simple routine, and where it fits into a bigger reputation strategy.
What is Google’s “Results About You” tool?
Google’s “Results About You” is a privacy feature that helps you spot and remove search results that show your personal information, such as:
- Home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Age and date of birth
- People search and data broker profiles tied to your name
Instead of manually searching through pages of results, the tool scans for results that match your name and contact details, then groups them in a dashboard where you can review and send removal requests.
In simple terms, it helps you:
- See what personal info is out there: It surfaces results that contain your details in one place.
- Take action directly from Google: You can submit removal requests without hunting for separate forms.
- Monitor changes over time: You can recheck your footprint and see which URLs have been removed or are still under review.
Key components include:
- A dashboard that lists your personal info results
- A status view that shows which links you have reported
- Simple request flows to ask Google to remove specific results
How does the Results About You feature work?
The feature is built on top of your Google account and your identity details. To use it, you sign in, confirm your name and personal info, and let Google search for matches in its index.
Here is what it does in practice.
- Scans for matching personal information:
Google checks search results that include your name plus details like your address or phone number to see what appears together in public listings. - Organizes results into a simple list:
Instead of clicking through random people search sites, you see a list of URLs that likely contain your info, grouped by type (address, phone, etc.). - Lets you review before you act:
You can click into each result, decide whether it feels risky or irrelevant, and then choose whether to request removal. - Submits removal requests on your behalf:
When you mark a result, Google uses its own removal criteria to decide whether it qualifies. If it does, the result may be removed from search for your name or removed entirely from certain result views. - Shows status updates:
The dashboard tracks which results are pending, approved, or denied so you are not guessing what happened.
Did You Know?
You can update your address or phone number in the tool if you move or change numbers, which helps Google find new results that match your current details instead of old ones.
Benefits of using the Results About You feature
Cleaning up your footprint is not just about privacy. For working artists and professionals, it also supports your brand and safety.
- Less personal info for strangers to exploit
Removing exposed addresses and phone numbers reduces the chance of unwanted contact, harassment, and doxxing. - Cleaner first impression in Google
When someone searches your name, it is better if they see your site, articles, and profiles, not random data brokers. - More control over how you appear
You may not control every headline that mentions you, but you can limit how much of your private life is attached to your name. - Simple routine instead of endless emails
Instead of tracking dozens of sketchy sites, you can log into one place and handle the worst results in a focused session. - Better alignment with your career stage
As your work evolves, the personal details that felt fine before may no longer match the level of visibility you have now.
Key Takeaway
Using Results About You gives you a realistic level of control over sensitive personal details in Google search, even if you cannot fully erase your history from the internet.
How to get started with Google’s Results About You
You do not need to be technical to use the tool. Here is a simple step by step flow you can follow on your phone or laptop.
1. Open the tool and sign in
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Search your own name in Google.
- Look for the option related to “Results about you” in the privacy or profile area, or go directly through your account’s privacy tools page.
If you have more than one version of your name in use, you may need to run separate checks for each one over time.
2. Confirm your personal details
Google will ask you to confirm:
- Full name
- City or region
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
This information helps the system know which results are about you, not about someone who shares your name.
Tip
If you use a stage name or professional alias, keep a note of which name you used where. Your legal name may surface on people search sites, while your artist name may show up in press and portfolios.
3. Let Google scan for matches
Once you confirm your details, Google runs a scan against its search index. You will then see a list of results where your personal information appears, often grouped by:
- Phone or email listings
- Address listings
- People search profiles
- Other pages that contain personal identifiers
This list may not be perfect, but it catches many of the worst offenders that most people want removed.
4. Review and triage the results
Go through the list and decide which results you want to act on. Ask yourself:
- Does this result show my current home address or personal phone number?
- Could this information put my safety at risk?
- Is this page helpful for my career, or does it just clutter search with random data?
Mark the URLs that feel inappropriate, unsafe, or unrelated to your professional story. For example, a gallery feature or interview is probably fine. A data broker listing with your address and family names is not.
5. Submit removal requests
For each result you want to report:
- Select the URL in the dashboard.
- Choose the reason that best fits your concern, such as exposing personal contact information or posing a safety risk.
- Confirm and submit the request.
The requests go to Google for review. If they meet Google’s policies, the result may be limited or removed from certain views in search.
6. Recheck periodically
Your digital footprint is not a one time project. New sites can publish or republish your information. Make it a habit to:
- Revisit the dashboard every few months
- Update your address and phone if they change
- Review any new results that appear
This turns cleanup into a simple maintenance task, not a crisis response.
Where the tool fits in a bigger reputation strategy
Google’s privacy features are powerful, but they are only one piece of managing how you show up online.
For many artists and professionals, the most effective approach is a mix of:
- Removal and privacy tools:
Use features like the results about you tool to reduce exposed personal data and limit high risk listings. - Content cleanup:
Tighten social profiles, old blogs, and abandoned portfolio sites so they reflect your current work and do not overshare details like locations or personal relationships. - Positive content building:
Keep your own site, portfolio, and professional profiles updated so they become the strongest, most visible search results. - Specialist support when needed:
In complex cases, reputation management services can help with legal requests, negotiations with publishers, and search suppression strategies.
The goal is not perfection. It is a realistic level of control, where your public record feels more like a curated gallery and less like a random scrapbook that anyone can flip through.
How much does it cost to use Results About You?
The feature itself is part of your Google account and does not carry a direct fee. That said, there are still “costs” to consider.
- Time investment
Plan for an initial session of thirty to sixty minutes to review your first batch of results, plus quick check ins every few months. - Attention and follow through
You may need to revisit the dashboard if Google requests more information or if results remain under review. - Situations where you may need paid help
- Complex legal issues, such as defamation or court records
- High profile coverage on news sites
- Technical search suppression work, such as SEO to push down stubborn results
- Complex legal issues, such as defamation or court records
In many cases, though, the tool gives you a free way to handle the most uncomfortable privacy leaks in your search results before you ever pay a professional.
How to build a simple digital hygiene routine
You do not need a full time team to manage your footprint. A light, repeatable routine can keep you in good shape.
- Run a quarterly self search
Search your name, your brand name, and any alias you use in your work. Take screenshots of the first page so you can notice changes over time. - Check the Results About You dashboard
Look for new listings, especially ones tied to a move, a new phone, or a recent project that put you in the public eye. - Clean up your own channels
Remove outdated contact details from your website, old resumes, and social media bios. If you do not want people to call your personal number, do not publish it in the first place. - Refresh your portfolio and professional profiles
Make sure the content you want people to see is modern, polished, and easy to understand. This helps it rank higher and pull focus away from anything you cannot remove. - Document what you have done
Keep a simple note or spreadsheet with the dates you filed removal requests and which URLs you reported. This helps you track progress and spot patterns.
Tip
Treat your online presence like a studio or workspace. A quick tidy on a regular schedule is easier than a full cleanup only when things spin out of control.
Common questions about using Results About You
Does removing a result from Google delete it from the internet?
No. When Google approves a removal request, it affects how the result appears in search. It does not automatically delete the page from the original website. The data may still live on that site or on other search engines.
This is why it can help to combine Google removals with direct outreach to site owners and, when needed, professional support that knows how to negotiate updates or removals.
How long does it take for a removal request to be processed?
Timelines can vary. Some results may update in a few days, while others may take longer if Google needs to review more details. It is normal to see a “pending” status for a while. If a request is denied, you can review the reason and decide whether another path, such as contacting the website directly, makes more sense.
Can I use the feature for my artist name or stage name?
You can, but you may need to be strategic. The tool is designed around personal information, not brand names. If your artist name is tightly linked to your legal identity, it may still surface in results that show your personal details. For pure stage names that do not share your real info, you might rely more on content cleanup and search suppression than on this specific tool.
Do I still need a reputation management service if I use the tool?
Not always. For many people, especially those early in their career, the feature plus basic digital hygiene is enough.
You may want outside help when:
- There are news articles, court records, or viral posts that hurt your reputation.
- You are a public figure with safety concerns or targeted harassment.
- You need ongoing SEO and content work to push down stubborn results that cannot be removed.
Think of the tool as a first line of defense. If it cannot reach a result, that is sometimes the moment to talk to a specialist.
Bringing it all together
Your digital footprint is part of your portfolio now. When someone searches your name, they are not just seeing your work. They are seeing bits of your life that got swept into public databases, people search sites, and old profiles you forgot about.
You cannot control everything that appears about you online, but you can control more than you might think. By using Google’s Results About You feature regularly, tightening up your own channels, and building strong, positive content around your work, you can shape a public record that looks more like the story you want to tell.
Start small. Run the scan, remove the worst offenders, and schedule a simple quarterly check in. Over time, this habit will give you a cleaner, safer, and more accurate presence in search results that honors both your work and your privacy.