Your online reputation isn’t just how you look. It’s how you get hired. Whether you’re a freelance designer, photographer, or running your own creative studio, your reputation decides who emails you, who trusts you with their brand, and who hits “book now.”
Table of Contents
Here’s what you should know about online reputation management (ORM), how to protect it, grow it, and bounce back fast when something tanks your vibe.
Google Yourself Right Now
Most creatives wait until something bad happens before checking their online presence. That’s too late.
Search your name. Your studio. Your handle. Use Google, Bing and even Pinterest or YouTube. Use incognito mode to see what others see.
Check these three things:
- Is anything negative or weird on page one?
- Are review platforms showing up before your site?
- Do you control most of the links?
A BrightLocal study found that 87% of people skip a business if they see bad reviews on the first page of Google. That’s almost everyone.
Lock Down Your Name
Your name is your brand. Own it before someone else does.
Grab every username and domain that matches you. Start with:
- [yourname].com
- [studio].com
- Instagram, Behance, TikTok, YouTube, X
- Dribbble, LinkedIn, Pinterest, ArtStation
Even if you don’t use them all, you want to block anyone else from using them. I’ve seen ex-clients launch fake Instagram pages to trash-talk their old photographers. Don’t leave the door open.
Get Real Reviews, Fast
Designers and photographers often rely on referrals. But online reviews still do the heavy lifting when new people search for you.
Get your early clients to post reviews on:
- Yelp
- Thumbtack
- Trustpilot
- Facebook business pages
Make it easy:
- Send a direct link after you deliver final work
- Ask during your wrap-up call
- Offer a simple sentence they can build on
One logo designer I know doubled her bookings after asking just 10 past clients to leave honest reviews. It helped her show up for “brand designer + city” searches.
A Harvard study found that every extra star rating can boost revenue by up to 9%. And if something nasty shows up? Sites like erase.com can help clean it off your record.
Post Loud. Post Often.
If you don’t post content, Google fills the silence. And not always with stuff you like.
You don’t need to go viral. You need to show up consistently.
Post the stuff you control:
- Case studies
- Before-and-afters
- Time-lapse videos
- Tips from your process
- Client wins
Talk about:
- Why you shot a project a certain way
- Lessons from a tricky client brief
- How you fixed something that broke
One wedding photographer I know does 30-second voiceovers of her edits. She ranks #1 in her city and gets 80% of her bookings from organic search alone.
Get Featured (Even Small Wins Count)
You don’t need to be in Vogue. Local blogs, design podcasts, or a mention on a vendor’s site all count.
Here’s how to get seen:
- Trade interviews with other creatives
- Answer CisionOne (formerly HARO) or Qwoted press calls
- Reach out to blogs that feature your niche
- Turn client stories into guest posts
Each mention pushes your name higher and helps bury anything sketchy or outdated.
I once worked with a retoucher who got slammed by an old client in a blog post. We got her featured in a Lightroom tips roundup, a local magazine, and a few podcast guest spots. Now the hate post is buried on page three of Google.
Build a Reputation Toolbox
Keep everything ready for when you need it.
Here’s your basic kit:
- Google Alerts for your name and studio
- Screenshots of reviews and press
- A Notion doc with your bios, links, awards, and past features
- Up-to-date headshots and portfolios
- A simple FAQ for potential clients
Have it ready so you’re not scrambling if a bad review or weird Reddit thread shows up.
Fix Bad Content the Right Way
It happens. A bad review, a public complaint, or a messy misunderstanding can spread fast.
Don’t freak out. Handle it step by step:
- Screenshot it
- Check if it breaks platform rules (fake, abusive, etc.)
- Flag or report if needed
- Respond calmly if it’s public
- Drown it out with better content
Most people won’t remove a negative post—but Google will rank better stuff above it if you feed it the right content.
One designer I worked with got accused of copying another artist’s logo. It spread on Twitter. She posted her concept sketches, timestamps, and testimonials from the client. Then we published a behind-the-scenes post about her process. Problem solved—and she got new leads from it.
Don’t Get Messy Online
You are your brand. Don’t post drama from your personal life on your public-facing accounts.
No vague stories about clients. No arguing in comments. No messy subtweets about unpaid invoices. Save it for your group chat.
Even screenshots of private posts can show up on Google if someone makes them public.
Keep your public content helpful, positive and professional. Think of every post as something a future client or brand partner might see.
Make It a Monthly Routine
This doesn’t have to take all day. Just set aside 30 minutes once a month.
Here’s your checklist:
- Google your name and studio
- Check for new reviews
- Reply to anything new (good or bad)
- Post one case study, tip, or update
- Ask one client to leave a review
- Update your links and bios if needed
That’s it. Done right, this simple routine keeps your name strong and search-ready.
Final Thoughts
Your reputation is your best sales tool. Most creatives ignore it until something goes sideways. But not you.
Control your links. Own your story. Stay one step ahead. And when the mess hits the fan, fix it fast and move on.
And remember—your work speaks for itself, but only if people can find it. A strong online reputation makes sure your best projects, client feedback, and personal brand show up first. Treat it like part of your creative process.
Keep it clean, consistent and active, just like your portfolio. Because in the end, reputation isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being visible, trusted and ready when opportunity comes knocking.
You don’t need a PR team. You just need a plan.
Start now. Keep it light. Stay in control.
