Why isn’t my website ranking on Google?
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As a small or medium-sized business, it can be frustrating to search for your business on Google—and not see it anywhere. You’ve built a website, maybe added some content, but your traffic is low or nonexistent. So, why isn't your website showing up on Google search?
Here are 7 common reasons your site isn’t ranking—and what you can do about it.
1. Your Website Isn’t Indexed
If your website isn’t in Google’s index, it can’t show up in search results. This is often due to:
A missing or incorrect robots.txt file
Pages set to “noindex”
A sitemap that hasn’t been submitted
💡 How to Fix it:
Go to Google Search Console, verify your site, and check the “Pages” report to see which URLs are indexed. Submit a sitemap if needed.
2. There’s Not Enough Content
Google needs content to understand what your site is about. If your pages are too thin, or your homepage just has a few lines of text, that’s a problem.
💡 How to Fix it:
Create helpful, keyword-rich content that answers your customers’ questions. Start with a few core pages (e.g. services, about, contact) and expand with a blog or FAQs.
3. Your Site Isn’t Optimized for Keywords
If you’re not targeting specific search terms, Google won’t know what queries to rank you for.
💡 How to Fix it:
Do basic keyword research (using tools like Google Keyword Planner) and include relevant keywords in your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and content.
4. Your Website Is Too Slow
Site speed is a ranking factor. If your website loads slowly, especially on mobile, users bounce—and Google notices.
💡 How to Fix it:
Use PageSpeed Insights to test your site. Optimize images, use caching, and avoid heavy scripts or bloated plugins.
5. Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
Over 60% of searches are from mobile devices. If your site doesn’t work well on smartphones, Google may demote it in the rankings.
💡 How to Fix it:
Use a responsive design (e.g. via Squarespace, WordPress, or Shopify) and test your site on different devices.
6. You Have No Backlinks
Backlinks—links from other websites to yours—are one of the strongest ranking factors. If nobody is linking to your content, Google sees it as less authoritative.
💡 How to Fix it:
Build local citations (e.g. business directories), write guest posts, or create useful content others will naturally link to.
7. You’re in a Competitive Industry
If you’re a small business competing with large companies or directories, it will take time and effort to outrank them.
💡 How to Fix it:
Focus on long-tail keywords (e.g. “plumber Berlin Kreuzberg” instead of just “plumber”) and target local SEO opportunities like Google Business Profile.
Final Thoughts
Getting your website to rank on Google takes time, strategy, and regular updates. But the good news is: once your site is properly set up and optimized, organic traffic can become one of your most valuable marketing channels—without ongoing ad spend.
Need help improving your visibility on Google?
Contact us for a free SEO audit tailored to your business.