You’ve built a brilliant website for your business. You’re proud of it. But there’s one big problem – when people search for your business or services on Google, your website is nowhere to be found. Sound familiar?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many business owners face this exact issue. The good news is that it’s usually fixable with some simple changes.
Why Google Might Be Ignoring Your Website
Google is like a massive library with billions of books. When someone searches for something, Google tries to find the most helpful and relevant “books” (websites) to show them. If your website isn’t appearing, it might be because:
- Google doesn’t know your website exists
- Your website isn’t following Google’s rules
- Other websites are doing a better job of showing they’re relevant
- Your website has technical problems
Let’s look at 10 practical ways to fix this.
1. Make Sure Google Knows Your Website Exists
This might sound obvious, but Google won’t show your website if it doesn’t know about it. Think of it like this – if you opened a shop but didn’t tell anyone the address, no one would visit.
How to fix it:
- Submit your website to Google Search Console (it’s free)
- Create a sitemap and upload it to Google
- Ask other websites to link to yours
2. Use the Right Keywords
Keywords are the words people type into Google when they’re looking for something. If your website doesn’t mention these words, Google won’t know your site is relevant.
How to fix it:
- Think about what your customers would search for
- Include these words naturally in your website content
- Don’t stuff keywords everywhere – it looks spammy
3. Write Helpful, Original Content
Google loves websites that actually help people. If your website just says “We’re the best!” without explaining why or how you help customers, Google won’t be impressed.
How to fix it:
- Write blog posts that answer customer questions
- Create helpful guides related to your business
- Keep your content fresh and up-to-date
4. Fix Your Website’s Technical Problems
Sometimes your website has hidden problems that stop Google from reading it properly. It’s like having a book with pages stuck together – Google can’t see what’s inside.
How to fix it:
- Make sure your website loads quickly
- Check that all your pages work (no broken links)
- Ensure your website works on mobile phones
5. Optimise Your Page Titles and Descriptions
Every page on your website should have a clear title and description. These are like the title and blurb on a book cover – they tell Google (and people) what the page is about.
How to fix it:
- Write clear, descriptive titles for each page
- Include your main keywords in titles naturally
- Write compelling descriptions that make people want to click
6. Get Other Websites to Link to Yours
When other websites link to yours, it’s like them recommending your business to Google. The more quality recommendations you have, the more Google trusts your website.
How to fix it:
- Create content worth linking to
- Partner with local businesses
- Get listed in local directories
- Write guest posts for industry websites
7. Claim Your Google Business Profile
If you have a local business, your Google Business Profile is crucial. It’s like your business listing in the phone book, but for the internet age.
How to fix it:
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
- Keep your information accurate and up-to-date
- Encourage customers to leave reviews
- Post regular updates and photos
8. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
More people search on their phones than on computers these days. If your website doesn’t work well on mobile, Google will notice and might not show it to mobile searchers.
How to fix it:
- Use a responsive website design
- Test your website on different phone sizes
- Make sure buttons and links are easy to tap
- Ensure text is readable without zooming
9. Improve Your Website Speed
Nobody likes waiting for slow websites to load. Google knows this and favours faster websites in search results.
How to fix it:
- Optimise your images (make file sizes smaller)
- Choose good web hosting
- Remove unnecessary plugins or features
- Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool to check your speed
10. Consider Professional Help
Sometimes the best solution is to get expert help. Just like you might hire a plumber for complex pipe problems, digital marketing experts can solve complex website visibility issues.
How professional help works:
- SEO experts can audit your website and fix technical issues
- Professional SEO services can help improve your Google rankings
- PPC advertising can get you visible while you work on organic results
- Regular monitoring ensures your website stays visible
The Bottom Line
Getting your website to show up on Google isn’t magic – it’s about following best practices and being patient. Google wants to show people helpful, relevant websites. If you focus on creating a website that genuinely helps your customers, Google will eventually notice.
Remember, this isn’t a one-time task. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is ongoing work. Google’s rules change regularly, and your competitors are working to improve their websites too.
According to research by Lindgaard et al. (2006) published in Behaviour & Information Technology, users form opinions about website visual appeal within just 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) of visiting a page. This means that not only do you need to be found on Google, but your website needs to make a great first impression almost instantly when people arrive.
The good news is that professional SEO services can handle all of this for you, letting you focus on running your business while experts work on improving your online visibility.
Start with the basics from this list, be patient, and remember that building trust with Google takes time. But once you start climbing those search results, you’ll see more visitors, more enquiries, and more business coming through your website.
