Brisbane & South East Queensland
Online Reputation Management Brisbane
People search your name or your business before they call you. If page one shows an old news story, a run of one-star reviews or an article that only told half the story, that's what they judge you on. We help Brisbane organisations and executives change what comes up. We're former journalists, so most of our work is through real media coverage, with SEO as one part of it.
What Brisbane Reputation Problems Look Like
Most reputation problems come down to one piece of content that won't go away. A Courier-Mail or Brisbane Times story from three years ago still ranks second for your company name. A former employee's review sits at the top of your Google profile. A regulator's decision is the first thing a new client finds.
In Brisbane the same journalists, industry bodies and decision makers cross paths all the time, so things get remembered. With Brisbane 2032 projects, pressure on the building sector and more national firms opening Queensland offices, there's more scrutiny than there used to be.
Online reputation management is the work of changing what people find, and making sure the next problem does not stick the same way.
What We Fix
- Search Negative news articles, forum posts and outdated content ranking for your name or brand.
- Reviews Low Google ratings, fake or policy-breaching reviews, and replies that made things worse.
- Media Unfair or inaccurate coverage, and the journalist calls that come with it.
- People Executives, founders and professionals whose personal search results affect the business.
How We Manage Your Reputation
Every engagement starts with an audit, so you know exactly what people see before you spend anything on fixing it.
Reputation Audit
We search you the way a client, investor, journalist or job candidate would, across Google, news, reviews and social media. You get a clear report of what is hurting you, what is helping, and what can realistically change.
Removal Where Possible
Some content can come down: reviews that breach platform policies, outdated articles a publisher will update, and material that is defamatory or breaks the law. We make those requests properly and work with your lawyers where needed.
Search Result Suppression
Most negative content cannot be removed, so we outrank it. Earned media coverage, profile pages, thought leadership and owned content, built to occupy page one with things that are true and in your favour.
Review Management
A system to get more reviews from happy clients, a response approach for the unhappy ones, and monitoring so a bad week does not turn into a bad rating.
Positive Media Coverage
Real stories in real outlets carry more weight with Google and with people than anything you publish yourself. As former journalists, this is the part we're best at.
Crisis Response
If the problem is happening right now, we switch to crisis communications: holding statements, journalist calls and stakeholder updates, available 24/7.
How Much Does Reputation Management Cost?
Our prices are published so you know the cost upfront.
ORM Audit & Strategy
A one-off review of your search results, reviews and digital footprint, with a written plan to fix or strengthen it. A good place to start.
Crisis Ready
Media and reputation monitoring, an ORM baseline, a crisis plan on file and a first-24-hours response framework.
Active Reputation
Everything in Crisis Ready plus proactive online reputation management, quarterly media training, crisis communications on retainer and stakeholder support.
Why Work With Hype Machine
Hype Machine is run by Jordan Cullen, a former print journalist, and a second senior practitioner with the same journalism degree and newsroom background. Most reputation firms come from SEO. We came from newsrooms, so we know how negative stories get written, why they rank and what it takes to get a better story published.
We're based in Mackay and work with Brisbane and South East Queensland clients remotely and on site. Most of the work is done online and over the phone. For media interviews, training or board meetings, we come to Brisbane.
Real Coverage Over Shortcuts
Fake profiles and spam links don't last and can make things worse. We build real coverage and content that stays on page one.
Honest About What Can Change
The audit tells you what is realistic before you commit. If something cannot be moved, we will say so.
One Senior Contact
You deal directly with one of the two people doing the work.
Who We Help in Brisbane
Organisations and people whose reputation directly affects the work coming in.
Builders & Developers
QBCC decisions, defect disputes, insolvency rumours and angry homeowner posts. In a stretched building market, buyers and lenders search before they sign.
Professional Services
Law firms, accountants, consultants and financial advisers, where one bad review or tribunal mention can cost a client relationship worth far more than the fix.
Health & Medical Practices
Clinics, specialists and allied health providers managing patient reviews, Ahpra matters and media attention while respecting privacy obligations.
Executives & Founders
Leaders whose personal search results are shaped by an old story, a former business or someone else with the same name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reputation management in Brisbane, answered plainly.
How much does online reputation management cost in Brisbane?
At Hype Machine, a one-off reputation audit and strategy starts from $5,000. Ongoing programs start from $7,500 a month, and our Active Reputation package, which includes proactive online reputation management, starts from $13,500 a month. Pricing elsewhere in Brisbane varies widely. Be wary of cheap monthly packages that rely on fake reviews or spam links, which can breach platform rules and backfire.
Can you remove a negative Google review?
Only if it breaks Google's policies, for example if it is fake, written by a competitor or former employee with a conflict of interest, contains offensive content, or is about a different business. We assess each review and lodge removal requests where there is a genuine case. For legitimate negative reviews, the answer is a good public reply and more reviews from satisfied clients.
Can you get a news article taken down?
Sometimes. Publishers will occasionally update or correct an article that is inaccurate or out of date, especially if charges were dropped or the facts changed. Defamatory content can be challenged with legal advice. Most of the time, though, the realistic goal is to push the article down page one with stronger, more recent coverage.
How long does reputation management take?
Review removals and publisher corrections can happen within weeks. Moving a well-ranked negative article off page one usually takes three to six months of consistent work, sometimes longer for strong news sites. The audit gives you a realistic timeline for your situation.
You are based in Mackay. Do you work with Brisbane businesses?
Yes. Reputation management is done online and by phone, so we work with clients across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the rest of Queensland. We travel to Brisbane for media training, interviews and client meetings when needed.
Do you help with personal reputation, not just businesses?
Yes. Executives, founders, doctors, lawyers and other professionals often have a personal search problem that affects their business. The approach is the same: audit what comes up, remove what we legitimately can, and build credible content that outranks the rest.
Related Services
Reputation work often needs these alongside it.
Crisis Communications
24/7 response when a reputation problem is happening right now. Holding statement within two hours.
Media Training
Prepare your spokespeople for interviews, doorstops and tough questions, in Brisbane or online.
Online Reputation Management
Our full ORM service for organisations across Queensland and Australia.
See What Comes Up When People Search You
Start with an audit. You will get a clear picture of what is on page one, what can change and what it will take. All enquiries are confidential.