So you’ve just launched your shiny new website. The words sing on the page. The design elements tilt and zoom, pan, and fade in and out, just like you always dreamed of. Your phone number and email address are plastered on every available space, and you even configured your booking page just so. But the phone isn’t ringing, and your email inbox is looking a little lonely. You check Google search results to make sure your website is showing up and…
Horror of horrors, it’s nowhere to be found.
What gives? Your site is awesome, and the whole world deserves to know about it. Why isn’t it showing up when you search for your business name?
If your site is only a month or two old and it’s not showing up in Google search results, you’re definitely not alone. Let’s explore this together, find out why, and, more importantly, figure out how we can turn things around.
The Early Days of a Website
New Kid on the Digital Block
Just like a new kid in school, your new website might take a bit of time to become part of the popular crowd (a.k.a. Google’s index). It’s all about patience and persistence. Try searching “site:yourwebsite.com” on Google to see if you’ve made the guest list yet. If not, it’s probably just a matter of time. However, there are some things you can do to speed up the process.
Indexing: The Treasure Hunt
If your website is still a mere newborn (less than two months old) and isn’t showing up in search results, you can think of it as a hidden treasure that Google hasn’t found yet. You can play an active role in the discovery by using the Google Search Console to guide Google bots to your site.
Here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Make Sure Your Site Allows Indexing
Occasionally, web developers may accidentally push a website live without removing a “no index, no follow” tag or unchecking “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” on WordPress. Read our article about using no index no follow tags on development sites for more information on this issue.
Step 2: Connect Your Website to Google Search Console
If your website is not yet connected to Google Search Console, it’s easy to set up. Read Google’s instructions for setting up Google Search Console or have your web developer follow the steps to get started.
Step 3: Add Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Depending on your website builder, there are different ways to set up a sitemap, but if you’re using WordPress, we recommend this XML Sitemap generator plugin. Once you’ve generated an XML sitemap, you can add it to Google Search Console via the Sitemaps tab to help Google find all your MVPs–most valuable pages.
- Go to the Sitemaps tab on the left-hand side of Google Search Console.
- Add your sitemap and submit it to Google.
And that’s it! Google will take care of the rest.
Step 4: Check Back In a Few Days
After you submit your sitemap to Google, check back in a few days to make sure your sitemap is being crawled and your pages are being indexed properly. If there are any errors or notices, follow Google’s instructions to resolve outstanding issues.
Tackling the Technical Tangles
Content: Your Golden Ticket
Ever heard the phrase “content is king”? Well, it’s true! If your content isn’t up to par, Google won’t give it the spotlight it deserves. This is especially true if your content is recycled, unoriginal, or full of errors or spammy links.
Make sure your content is easy to read, informative, novel (not in length, but in the newness of your content), human-written (or QA’d thoroughly if you’re using AI to write content), broken up with headers and lists where applicable, and wrapped up with a nice call to action (CTA) at the bottom.
Building a Bridge with Backlinks
Link Up to Level Up
Think of backlinks as bridges leading Google to your website. Building these bridges takes effort, but it’s a rewarding journey. The more quality links, the greater your visibility on the Google roadmap.
You can get backlinks to your site in a variety of ways, including::
Craft Content That Captures Hearts
Think of your content as the star of the show. Make it informative, engaging, and oh-so-clickable. From in-depth blog posts to eye-catching infographics and captivating videos, great content has a way of spreading like wildfire and attracting backlinks effortlessly.
Dive into the World of Guest Blogging
Got wisdom to share? Pen articles for other websites in your niche. It’s a win-win: you get to drop a link to your site, and your brand struts its stuff on a new stage.
Play the Hero with Broken Link Building
Keep an eye out for broken links on sites related to your niche. Reach out and offer your content as the perfect replacement. It’s like saying, “Hey, let me fix that for you,” and getting a backlink in return.
Make Some Noise on Social Media
Unleash your content on social platforms. Sure, these links might be nofollow, but they’re traffic magnets that can lead to more organic backlinks.
Unleash the Power of Infographics
Create infographics that are too good not to share. They’re like visual snacks that other sites love to feature, often linking back to you as the source.
Become a Community Champ
Dive into forums, Q&A sites, and discussion boards where your peeps hang out. Share your insights and sprinkle in links to your content when it fits.
Team Up with Influencers
Collaborate with industry influencers. They can give your site a shoutout or feature your products, paving the way for natural backlinks.
Get Listed in Online Directories
Find directories that are relevant and respected in your industry. Getting listed there can be a straightforward way to score a backlink.
Tell Your Success Stories
Worked with other brands? Write a case study or provide a glowing testimonial. It’s not just about patting each other on the back; you can often snag a backlink out of it.
Become the News with Press Releases
Got something newsworthy? Send out a press release. If your story gets picked up, that’s free publicity and backlinks coming your way.
Be a Trailblazer with Original Research
Conduct and publish your own research or surveys. This kind of content is gold for backlinks as others reference your findings in their articles.
Contribute to Resource Pages
Hunt down resource pages in your field and pitch your content as a worthy addition. It’s like saying, “Hey, I’ve got something awesome for your readers.”
Host Webinars or Workshops
Get in the spotlight by hosting webinars or workshops. They’re not just learning sessions; they’re backlink bait, especially when you team up with other experts.
Sing Praises of Products You Love
Write testimonials for tools or services you use and adore. Companies often showcase these on their websites with a shiny backlink to you.
Claim Your Unlinked Mentions
If your brand gets a shoutout without a link, don’t be shy. Reach out and ask if they can turn that mention into a backlink.
Decoding Google Penalties
Google Penalties: Rare but Real
Imagine Google as a strict teacher who sometimes hands out penalties. If you suspect your site’s been penalized, it’s time to check your Google Search Console and get back in Google’s good books. For more information on this, read Search Engine Journal’s comprehensive overview of Google penalties and how to resolve them.
Embracing Mobile Accessibility
The Mobile Movement
These days, most industries see at least 50% or more of their traffic from mobile devices. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, it’s like having a shop that’s hard to get into because the doors are blocked. Revisit your site’s usability to make sure your digital doors are wide open for all.
Solving the SSL Puzzle
SSL: Your Website’s Security Blanket
SSL certificates tell Google and site visitors that your site is trustworthy and won’t infect their device with a virus or malware. Having an up-to-date SSL and/or fixing SSL issues not only secures your site but also reassures Google that you’re a safe bet. Work with your web developer or contact Evolve Organic Marketing to get help fixing SSL issues.
FAQs
If your brand-spanking-new website (aged two months or less) isn’t showing up on Google just yet, don’t sweat it. Think of Google as that super busy friend who hasn’t had a chance to catch up yet. New sites can take a bit to get noticed. It’s like planting a seed – it needs a little time to sprout and get noticed in the big, bustling garden of the internet.
Want to catch Google’s eye? It’s like sending an invite to your website’s grand opening. The best way is to use the Google Search Console. Just submit your sitemap there and wait for the bots to handle the rest.
Playing detective on why your site isn’t ranking? There are a few usual suspects: maybe your content isn’t quite hitting the mark, or perhaps your keywords are playing hide-and-seek. Other times, it’s a lack of backlinks or your site being harder to navigate than a maze. And don’t forget about page loading speeds – slow pages can be a real party pooper for rankings.
Backlinks are like gold stars in Google’s world. They’re a big deal. When reputable sites link to yours, it’s like they’re vouching for you, telling Google, “This site’s legit!” It’s one of the key ways Google decides if your site is the real deal and worth showing to more people.
This can happen if you’ve stepped outside Google’s guidelines – maybe by being a bit too enthusiastic with keywords or taking a shortcut with questionable links. The fix? Clean up your act, fix the issues, and submit a reconsideration request. It’s like making amends and getting back into Google’s good books.
Mobile-friendly is the name of the game because, let’s face it, everyone’s glued to their smartphones. If your site’s not mobile-friendly, it’s like having a store with a “no entry” sign for anyone with a phone. Google knows this, so it really favors sites that play nice with mobile devices. It’s all about giving users a smooth, easy-peasy experience, no matter what device they’re on.
SSL errors? That’s a big no-no. It’s like having a faulty lock on your shop’s door. Google takes web security super seriously, so if your site’s not secure, Google might be wary of sending visitors your way. Fixing SSL errors is like reassuring Google (and your visitors) that it’s safe to come in and browse around.
Have you tried all of the above with no success? With a bit of detective work, patience, and some elbow grease, we can boost your site’s visibility. Remember, every great journey starts with a single step – let’s take it together!
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