You have a website, but it doesn’t show up when potential clients search. It is one of the most common problems small businesses face — and the cause is usually one of seven things. Here is a practical walkthrough you can apply to your own site, without being technical.
1. Google hasn’t indexed the site
Before a page can rank, Google has to find and store it. Search Google for site:yourdomain.com. If you see few or no results, add the site to Google Search Console, submit a sitemap and check that pages are not blocked with “noindex”.
2. The page doesn’t answer what people actually search for
Many websites describe the company, but not the services in the words clients use. Create one clear page per service, with the service in the title, heading and text — written for people first.
3. Several pages compete for the same search
If you have several near-identical pages on the same topic, Google can’t tell which one matters — and none of them become strong. Merge pages that say the same thing and redirect old addresses with a 301 redirect.
4. The site is slow on mobile
Most searches happen on mobile. A slow site gives a poor experience, and many visitors leave before they see your offer. Test it for free in Google PageSpeed Insights and start with the biggest wins, such as heavy images and unnecessary plugins.
5. Your business details are missing or inconsistent
If you serve a local market, create or update your Google Business Profile, and use the same name, address and contact details everywhere online.
6. Few other sites point to you
Google uses links from other websites as a signal of trust. A new site naturally has few. Start with the basics: relevant directories, suppliers and partners, associations and earned mentions — never bought links.
7. It’s hard to get in touch
Even when a site is found, many businesses lose enquiries because contact options are buried. Make it possible to email, message or fill in a short form in one tap — especially on mobile.
How long does it take?
Technical issues can often be fixed quickly, but SEO work usually takes several months to produce stable results. If you need visibility sooner, paid search ads can bridge the gap.
Check your own site
Want to know where you stand? Take the free website check — six questions, 30 seconds. Or see our fixed prices if you’d like help fixing it.