If You Can’t Find Yourself on Google, Your Customers Can’t Either
You built a website. Maybe even paid good money for it. But when you search for your business — nothing.
You’re not alone. Many small business owners ask us the same question:
“Why isn’t my website ranking on Google?”
It’s frustrating. But the answer isn’t always technical. Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
First: Are You Even Indexed?
Google has to find your website before it can rank it. That’s called indexing.
How to check:
Go to Google and type: site:yourwebsite.com
If no pages show up, your site isn’t indexed.
What to do:
- Submit your sitemap through Google Search Console
- Make sure your site doesn’t have a noindex tag blocking pages
- Check your robots.txt file to ensure it allows crawling
- Fix broken links and crawl errors
Still unsure? We can run a free visibility scan for you.
1. Your Website Is Too New
The problem:
New sites don’t rank overnight. Google takes time to crawl and trust a domain.
If your site is less than 3 months old and hasn’t had ongoing SEO work, it likely won’t show up yet.
The fix:
- Start building keyword-rich content now
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
- Get backlinks from trusted sites
- Be patient — SEO takes consistent effort
2. You’re Targeting the Wrong Keywords
The problem:
Trying to rank for “lawyer” or “contractor” alone won’t work. These keywords are too broad and competitive.
Or worse — your site doesn’t target any specific keywords at all.
The fix:
Focus on long-tail, local search terms like:
- “Family lawyer in Las Vegas”
- “24-hour HVAC repair near me”
- “Best med spa for Botox Henderson NV”
Build pages and blogs around those phrases. That’s where the real traffic is.
3. Your Website Is Missing Basic SEO Elements
The problem:
Even great-looking websites can miss the basics:
- No title tags or meta descriptions
- No headers (H1, H2, etc.)
- No alt text for images
- No internal links between pages
Without these, Google has a harder time understanding what your site is about.
The fix:
Make sure every page includes:
- A unique title tag (around 55–65 characters)
- A clear meta description (150–160 characters)
- One H1 tag with your main keyword
- Structured headings and scannable content
- Alt tags on all images
- Internal links to related content
You don’t need to be an SEO expert — but your site structure matters.
4. Your Website Is Too Slow
The problem:
Speed is a ranking factor. If your website takes too long to load, Google may lower your ranking — and users will bounce.
The fix:
- Compress all images
- Use lazy loading for media
- Minimize scripts and CSS
- Upgrade your hosting if needed
- Run a speed test on PageSpeed Insights
Aim for a load time under 3 seconds on mobile.
5. You Don’t Have Enough Content
The problem:
If your website only has a home page and a contact page, that’s not enough for Google to see you as an authority.
The fix:
Create content around what people are searching for:
- FAQs about your services
- Blog posts answering common customer questions
- City-specific pages for each service area
- “How-to” guides related to your work
More content = more chances to rank.
6. No Backlinks = No Authority
The problem:
Google looks at how many trusted websites link to yours as a signal of credibility. No backlinks? No trust.
The fix:
Start small:
- Get listed on business directories (Yelp, BBB, Chamber sites)
- Partner with local bloggers or news outlets
- Sponsor events or donate to get mentions
- Guest post on industry blogs
Backlinks don’t have to be complicated — but they do have to be real.
7. Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
The problem:
Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing. If your site looks bad or breaks on phones, expect to fall in the rankings.
The fix:
- Use a responsive website design
- Make fonts and buttons easy to use on mobile
- Avoid pop-ups that block the whole screen
- Test your mobile usability in Google Search Console
If your site needs a mobile-friendly update, a website facelift can fix it fast — without rebuilding from scratch.
8. You Don’t Have a Google Business Profile (GBP)
The problem:
If you’re a local business and haven’t claimed your GBP, you’re missing out on Google Maps traffic — and possibly organic rankings too.
The fix:
- Claim your listing
- Add categories, services, and business hours
- Upload real photos
- Collect and respond to reviews
- Post updates every week
Your GBP can often rank faster than your actual website — and drive more calls.
Bonus: You’re Relying on Social Media Alone
The problem:
Some businesses skip SEO entirely and try to grow using only Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.
The issue? You don’t own your social media. One algorithm shift and your reach can drop overnight.
The fix:
Build a digital foundation with:
- An optimized website
- Long-term SEO
- Google Business Profile
- Optional paid ads to boost results
Social media is fuel — but your website is the engine.
Final Thoughts
If your website isn’t ranking on Google, it’s not about guessing. It’s about fixing the right things — step by step.
At Twenty8 Marketing, we specialize in:
- SEO audits
- Fast website facelifts
- Google Business Profile optimization
- Ongoing SEO strategy built for small businesses
Want to know why my website isn’t ranking on Google?
Let us run a free SEO report. We’ll tell you exactly what’s wrong — and how to fix it.