You type your business name into Google… and nothing. Or your site shows up on page three, behind your competitors and some directories. Before you panic, know that the causes are almost always the same, and most of them can be fixed.
1. Your site is blocked from search engines
WordPress has a “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” checkbox, often ticked during development and forgotten at launch. Check it under Settings → Reading. One checkbox can make your entire site invisible.
2. Google doesn’t know your site yet
A brand-new site can take a few days to a few weeks to show up. To speed things up, add your site to Google Search Console and submit your sitemap. You’ll also see which pages are indexed and which have issues.
3. Your content doesn’t match what people search for
Your home page says “Innovative solutions for your success,” but your customers are searching for “plumber in Laval” or “business card printing.” Use your customers’ words, not your jargon. Every important service deserves its own page, with a clear title that says what you do and where.
4. Your titles and descriptions are empty or identical
Each page’s title and meta description are what Google shows in its results. If they’re empty, generic or the same everywhere, Google struggles to understand your pages, and fewer people click.
5. Your site is slow or not mobile-friendly
Most searches happen on phones. A slow site, or one that’s hard to use on mobile, is at a disadvantage. Oversized images are often the number-one cause of slowness.
6. You don’t have a Google Business Profile
For a local business, the Google listing (the one that appears on Google Maps) is often more visible than the website itself. Create it, complete it (hours, service area, photos, categories) and ask happy customers to leave a review.
7. Nobody is talking about you
Google trusts sites that are mentioned elsewhere: local directories, associations, partners, media. A few quality links beat hundreds of dubious ones. Be wary of offers promising “1,000 links for $50.”
Where to start?
- Make sure your site isn’t blocked (Settings → Reading).
- Add it to Google Search Console.
- Create or complete your Google Business Profile.
- Rewrite your main page titles using your customers’ words.
These four free actions solve a good share of the problems.
Need a hand?
All our websites are delivered with basic SEO in place. To go further, our local SEO service ($350 per month) handles your Google listing, your content and ranking tracking. See the Website maintenance page, or write to us for a check of your site.