Googling yourself is a fundamental aspect of online reputation management.

If you Google using only your computer’s browser, though, you aren’t seeing an accurate picture of what comes up in searches when others research you. That’s because they may be using a different browser.   Five dominate the market: Google’s Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Apple’s Safari.  (There are many other good ones; this consumer guide provides additional information.)

In most cases, every browser pulls up a different mix of online content when used to Google a topic. So what you see in your browser may be very different than what other people see. That’s why it is important to Google yourself with a different browser than the one your computer uses. All come with built-in browsers, but you can download any browser you want directly from the company that makes them. You can also download more than one.

Google’s Chrome Recommended

Google’s Chrome is on its way to becoming the lead browser in use.  It is the fastest, has strong security, enables you to browse incognito and pulls up the most online pictures of a subject, which is one reason we like it. (According to our Google Analytics of visitors to this blog, more use Google Chrome than any other browser.)

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is still one of the most common browsers used by computers, but what it comes up with is often far different from what Google Chrome and other browsers do.  (It is also the most vulnerable browsers to hacking and malware.) So if Internet Explorer is your browser, it is especially important to Google yourself using another product.

To Google yourself thoroughly, use three browsers. We use Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari. (If you only have time to try one, use Chrome; if you already use it, try Internet Explorer). The results they pull up will enable you to determine if your image delivers the content that reflects you accurately, or if you need to consider what is missing. It will take more time than using just one browser, but the results are well worth it. Clearing your browser’s cache before you conduct a search in your name will give you the most accurate results.