Why Your Website Isn't
Ranking on Google

The Problem

Google needs time to crawl, index, and assess the trustworthiness of new websites. A brand new site may take 3–6 months before it starts ranking for anything competitive.

The Fix

Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console, build some initial backlinks from reputable sources, and focus on low-competition keywords while your domain authority grows.

The Problem

Backlinks (other websites linking to yours) are one of Google's most important ranking signals. Without them, Google has no reason to trust your site over established competitors.

The Fix

Build backlinks through directory listings, local business associations, guest posts, press releases, and by creating content that other sites want to reference.

The Problem

You might be writing about what you want to say, rather than what your customers are actually searching for. If your content doesn't match search intent, Google won't rank it.

The Fix

Use keyword research to understand exactly what your customers search for, then create content that directly answers those queries. Each page should target one primary keyword.

The Problem

Google's Core Web Vitals measure page speed and user experience. A slow website is penalised in rankings — and visitors leave before they even see your content.

The Fix

Compress images, use a fast hosting provider, enable caching, and minimise JavaScript. Aim for a Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5 seconds.

The Problem

If you're a local plumber trying to rank for 'plumber' against national directories and established businesses, you'll struggle. The competition is simply too strong.

The Fix

Target long-tail, location-specific keywords like 'emergency plumber Manchester' or 'boiler repair Salford'. These have lower competition and higher purchase intent.

The Problem

For local businesses, your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is often more important than your website. An incomplete or unoptimised profile means you won't appear in Google Maps results.

The Fix

Complete every section of your Google Business Profile, add photos regularly, respond to all reviews, and ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent across all directories.

The Problem

Broken links, crawl errors, duplicate content, missing meta tags, and incorrect canonical tags all prevent Google from properly indexing and ranking your pages.

The Fix

Run a technical SEO audit using Google Search Console or a tool like Screaming Frog. Fix crawl errors, add missing meta descriptions, and resolve any duplicate content issues.

The Problem

Google uses mobile-first indexing — meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of your site for ranking. If your site looks bad or works poorly on mobile, you'll rank lower.

The Fix

Test your site with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool. Ensure text is readable without zooming, buttons are easy to tap, and there's no horizontal scrolling.

The Problem

Pages with very little content (under 300 words) or content copied from other sites are penalised by Google. Each page needs unique, substantive content to rank.

The Fix

Audit your existing pages and either expand thin content with useful information or consolidate multiple thin pages into one comprehensive resource.

The Problem

In 2026, a growing percentage of searches happen through Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. If you're not optimised for AI search (GEO), you're missing an increasingly important traffic source.

The Fix

Structure your content with clear headings, add FAQ sections, use schema markup, and ensure your business appears in authoritative directories that AI systems reference.