My biz mentor and success strategist, the inimitable Hannah Chambers, founder of Bored of Busy, opened her Google Search Console this morning and nearly choked on her tea.
There it was. A search query someone had typed into Google that had triggered an impression of her website:
“[Her Name] Only Fans.”
Her reaction? “What the actual fudge?”
Mine? I mean, once I’d stopped crying and ribbing her for making money selling sexy feet pics, I replied: “We need to clean up your branded search.”
Let me explain.
That may be a weird AF query she came come face to face with in her GSC, pre-9am coffee, but Search Console doesn’t lie.
Someone somewhere has typed that exact phrase into Google search engine, and her site, somehow, was ‘eligible’ to show up in the results.
Now, this doesn’t mean Google thinks she works for OnlyFans. It means her name is on her website, and that site has enough signals for Google to loosely associate it with that, ahem, search request.
Yes, it’s pretty jarring. BUT it’s fixable.
Oh, and if you’ve never considered this before, let this be a powerful reminder of the world we live in:
👉 Your name is a keyword.
👉 Your brand is a search term.
👉 And if you’re not actively telling Google what you do… it’ll make assumptions.
OK, back to the matter at hand.
Why you’re appearing in the wrong search result (and what Google’s actually doing)
So.
Let’s unpack what’s really happening when Google Search Console serves up a horror-show query like “your name + only fans.”
First: GSC isn’t accusing you of anything
Google Search Console (GSC) doesn’t create these queries. It simply shows you what real humans are typing into Google when your website appears somewhere in the results, even if no one clicked.
This isn’t a sign of sabotage. It’s a sign of visibility without clarity.
Bottom line, if Google isn’t 100% sure what your brand is about, it starts connecting any dots it can find.
What’s Google actually using to make those connections?
Google’s algorithm uses a few key data points to decide whether to match your site to a search:
-
Page titles and meta descriptions
-
Structured data (schema, author bios, image alt text)
-
Your domain name and branding
-
External mentions (social profiles, directories, backlinks)
-
What your name is near in the content
-
How often your name appears, and in what context
If your name is in your footer, your blog bylines, your bio… but there’s no strong content explicitly telling Google who you are and what you do?
You leave the door wide open for these weird associations.
Google’s job is to guess what’s relevant. And when your site doesn’t make it clear, it fills in the blanks.
Sometimes badly 😳
So why do these weird queries show up?
Here are a few common triggers for rogue branded search terms in GSC:
1. You’re starting to gain visibility, but you haven’t anchored your identity
Your name is getting indexed, maybe from podcast show notes, a blog post you wrote, or an old feature somewhere. But because your brand signals are weak or scattered, Google’s not sure what to associate it with.
2. Your name matches (or is similar to) someone else’s online
This is common.
If there’s a creator or public figure with your name, or a similar one, and they’re on a platform like OnlyFans, YouTube, or TikTok, people may be looking for them and stumbling onto you.
True story, one of my friend’s client’s shares the same name as a porn star, bet that’s fun explaining to potential clients.. 😬
3. Someone’s genuinely curious and typed something weird
Sorry babe, the internet is unhinged. Sometimes people just Google random shit. 🙃
What does this tell you?
If you’re seeing branded queries in GSC, especially if they’re off-brand or irrelevant, this is your signal:
- You’re visible enough to be found.
- But not branded enough to be understood.
That’s where your branded SEO strategy comes in.
Before we get into the good stuff: how to build a branded SEO strategy that tells Google (and your audience) exactly who you are, so you show up for the right reasons, I quickly want to explain, for the uninitiated, the difference between branded and unbranded queries.
What’s the difference between branded and unbranded queries?
Not all keywords are created equal, and knowing the difference between branded and unbranded search queries will totally change how you approach your content and SEO strategy.
Branded queries = your name (or your business name)
A branded query is any search that includes your:
-
Business name
-
Personal name
-
Product names
-
Course or service titles
-
Even Instagram handle if it’s distinctive
Examples:
-
“She’s a Peach SEO”
-
“Aly Johnson SEO content writer”
-
“Smart Girl’s Guide to SEO content writing”
-
“@shesapeachSEO Instagram”
-
“Aly Johnson OnlyFans” 🙄
Basically, branded searches happen when someone is looking specifically for you.
It means you’ve already made an impression, maybe they saw your Reel, heard you on a podcast, or someone mentioned your name in a Facebook group.
They’re searching with intention.
👉 These are high-value queries because the searcher already knows who you are.
But if the results aren’t you? You lose the lead.
Unbranded queries = what you do
An unbranded query is when someone’s searching for your offers, expertise, or category, but they haven’t heard of you yet.
For example, someone searching for SEO support for their small, female founded business, might type into Google:
-
“SEO help for female entrepreneurs”
-
“how to get my blog to show up on Google”
-
“SEO strategy for coaches”
-
“SEO for course creators”
-
“website not showing in Google search”
These are discovery keywords.
They’re what help you get found by people who don’t know you exist yet.
They’re just as important, but for a different reason.
👉 These build awareness.
Branded queries build trust.
You need both.
So, why does this matter?
Because your branded SEO strategy isn’t about reach. It’s about ownership.
You already did the work to be remembered. Now you need to make sure you’re findable.
If someone searches for your name and ends up on a dead LinkedIn profile, an irrelevant interview from 2017, or, god forbid, a query linking you to OnlyFans?
That’s not a visibility win. That’s a branding problem.
Here’s the advice I gave to Hannah, once I’d dried my tears, and shared her misfortune across my Instagram account, ofc.
Step 1: strengthen your on-site signals
Optimise your website to shout your name and purpose
These are the absolute basics, non-negotiables if you want to own your name in search:
Your about page
-
Include your full name in the H1 (e.g. “About Aly Johnson”)
-
Write in first person. Use phrases like “Hi, I’m Aly Johnson” so Google associates the domain with a human
-
Mention your brand name AND what you do (e.g. “Hi, I’m Aly Johnson and I founded She’s a Peach to help women grow their visibility through SEO content.”)
Page Titles + Meta Descriptions
-
Use your name + business name combo where relevant, i.e. Aly Johnson | She’s a Peach SEO
-
Make sure your homepage, about page, and any sales pages specifically mention you in both the meta title and description
Blog bylines + author schema
-
Set up author bios for blog content that clearly tie your name to your niche
-
Use schema markup if possible (many SEO plugins like Rank Math or Yoast support this)
Alt Text + image names
-
Upload your headshot as
aly-johnson-seo-content-writer.jpg -
Alt text: “Photo of Aly Johnson, founder of She’s a Peach SEO”
-
Do this across your homepage, blog, and about page
Step 2: Claim and clean up your digital real estate
If someone Googles you, Google pulls from everywhere, not just your site. So your job is to plant your flag across the internet:
Secure your social handles
Even if you’re not actively using them, claim:
-
Stan Store / Medium / Google Business Profile (if relevant)
Use your full name and make sure bios include:
“Founder of [Business Name], [What You Do] for [Audience]”
Link it all together
Cross-link between platforms and your site.
For example:
-
Link to your LinkedIn from your About page
-
Add your domain to your Instagram bio
-
Put a consistent short blurb in all bios (Google reads these)
Step 3: Create content that reinforces who you are
If you’re not publishing anything with your name and your expertise, Google has less to work with.
So, try these blog ideas to support branded SEO:
-
“Meet [Your Name]: Why I Started [Business Name]”
-
“What I Actually Do (Because Instagram Can Be Misleading)”
-
“How I Help [Your Audience] Get [Specific Result]”
-
“Behind the Brand: How [Your Business] Got Its Name”
- E.g How I Used Blogging to Grow My Product Brand (and Land Our First Listing in Fortnum & Mason)
Even one or two posts like this can give you a massive edge in the branded query battle.
Google needs content to rank. If you don’t write it, someone else will, poorly.
Step 4: Monitor + manage your branded queries
Don’t set it and forget it. Branded SEO is ongoing.
Here’s how to stay on top of it:
-
Like Hannah does, log into GSC monthly
-
Check the Queries tab under “Performance”
-
Filter for your name and brand terms
-
Note any weird, irrelevant, or surprising results
If something strange keeps showing up? You can either:
-
Strengthen your signals to drown it out
-
Reclaim the narrative with intentional content (yep, even a post like this one)
Step 5: Just to clarify, once more for the ones skimming…
Your goal with branded SEO isn’t to rank once.
It’s to flood the first page of Google with multiple, credible, consistent results that all clearly point back to you.
Here’s how:
1. Follow my instructions from above, and create and optimise all the assets listed below:
-
Homepage
-
About page
-
Blog posts
-
Guest articles
-
Podcast interviews
-
Your LinkedIn
-
Your Instagram
-
A Substack/Medium article
-
A Pinterest profile
-
A YouTube video
-
Testimonials or mentions on other people’s websites
2. Ensure every one of them is clearly branded with:
- Your full name (e.g. Aly Johnson)
- Your business name (e.g. She’s a Peach)
- Your niche or expertise (e.g. SEO content writing for female entrepreneurs)
3. Cross-link them strategically so Google can tie it all together
You want someone to Google your name and see a wall of YOU.
No confusion. No misfires. No f*cking OnlyFans.
What to do if the weird query keeps coming back?
You reclaim the fck out of it, that’s what you do.
Step 1: Name It, Claim It, Frame It
If the same weird search is triggering impressions again and again, own it.
Seriously.
Create a blog post or landing page that targets the query on purpose, but flips the script to spotlight what you actually do.
For example:
- Title: No, I Don’t Have an OnlyFans — But Here’s What I Do Do
- H1: Why People Are Googling My Name (and Why It’s Time I Set the Record Straight)
- URL:
/aly-johnson-onlyfans-rumour - Meta Description: Aly Johnson, founder of She’s a Peach, doesn’t have an OnlyFans, but she does help female entrepreneurs rank on Google through SEO.
This approach is bold, strategic, and effective.
Google sees the page. Google sees the query. Google connects them, on your terms.
Step 2: Use the content to clarify your brand
Don’t think of this as damage control, think of this as brand awareness building.
Use the post to:
-
Reintroduce yourself
-
Explain what your business actually does
-
Outline the transformation you offer your clients
-
Add a CTA to your services, Power Hour, or signature guide
Step 3: Optimise it like you would any other post
Don’t forget to:
-
Use a strong meta title and description
-
Add internal links to key pages (About, Services, Blog)
-
Use alt text for any photos or brand visuals
-
Include your name + business in the intro and throughout
-
Match the tone of the rest of your site, this isn’t a rant, it’s a reframe
Step 4: Promote it (yes, really)
This post can be:
-
A story-led Reel
-
A pinned carousel on Instagram
-
A newsletter titled “The Search Term That Made Me Spit Out My Tea”
-
A talking point in podcast interviews
Why? Because people LOVE transparency, sass, and behind-the-scenes mess.
And more importantly, it makes you unforgettable.
Final word: You’re not at the mercy of search
If you’re seeing weird, irrelevant, or even reputation-risky queries popping up in Search Console, don’t panic.
This isn’t a glitch.
It’s a sign you’re being searched, and a chance to get ahead of the story.
With a smart branded SEO strategy and a little content judo, you can make Google work for you, not against you.