You’ve launched your website, optimized a few pages, and maybe even dabbled in blogging—but when you Google your business, it’s nowhere to be found. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many small business owners struggle to understand why their website isn’t ranking on Google. The good news? It’s fixable.
Common Reasons Your Website Isn’t Ranking
1. Your Website Lacks Proper SEO Structure
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t just about using the right keywords. Google looks at your website’s structure, mobile-friendliness, and how easy it is for users to navigate. If your site has poor navigation, missing meta tags, or is cluttered with broken links, Google may not prioritize it in search results.
How to Fix It:
- Ensure your site has clear, intuitive navigation.
- Optimize your URLs, title tags, and meta descriptions.
- Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) properly to structure content.
2. You’re Targeting the Wrong Keywords
How Does Google Ranking Work?
Google ranks websites using a complex algorithm that evaluates relevance, quality, and user experience. It scans your content for keywords, assesses backlinks from authoritative sources, and measures factors like site speed and mobile-friendliness. The more valuable and optimized your site is, the higher it ranks in search results. If your website isn’t ranking, you might be focusing on keywords that are either too competitive or not relevant to what your audience is searching for.
How to Fix It:
- Regularly update content based on trending keywords in your industry.
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find keywords that match user intent.
- Focus on long-tail keywords (e.g., “affordable website design for small businesses” instead of just “website design”).
3. You Don’t Have Enough High-Quality Content
Google prioritizes websites that provide valuable, fresh, and relevant content. If your site has only a few pages with minimal content, it won’t stand out.
Learn how to write high quality content here.
How to Fix It:
- Start a blog with useful, industry-related content.
- Publish in-depth guides, case studies, or FAQs.
- Update outdated content to keep it fresh.
4. Your Site Lacks Backlinks
Backlinks (links from other reputable sites to yours) signal to Google that your content is credible. If your website has little to no backlinks, it may struggle to rank.
How to Fix It:
- Guest post on relevant blogs where it makes sense
- Create shareable content that others naturally want to link to
What is Guest Posting?
Guest posting is the practice of writing and publishing content on another website within your industry. This strategy helps build backlinks, which signal to Google that your site is credible and authoritative. By contributing high-quality content to reputable sites, you can improve your rankings and drive more traffic to your website.
5. Your Website is Too Slow
Site speed is a major ranking factor. If your website loads too slowly, visitors will leave, and Google will penalize you.
How to Fix It:
- Optimize images to reduce file size.
- Use caching and a content delivery network (CDN).
- Choose a reliable hosting provider.
Check your website speed using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool: https://pagespeed.web.dev/
6. You Haven’t Optimized for Local SEO
If you’re a local business, ranking in Google’s local search results is crucial.
How to Fix It:
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.
- Get positive customer reviews.
- Use local keywords (e.g., “SEO services in [your city]”).
We wrote an entire article on how to get more Google reviews!
Fix Your Rankings with Two Dot Marketing’s Growth Plans
If all of this sounds overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. Our Growth Plans are designed to take the guesswork out of SEO and help your website climb the ranks in Google search results.
With our Growth Plans, we:
- Review your entire brand, goals, and tailor a plan specific to your small business
- Optimize your website for better search visibility
- Conduct in-depth keyword research and content strategy
- Build high-quality backlinks to boost credibility
- Continuously track performance and adjust as needed
Let’s get your website ranking where it belongs—on the first page of Google. Check out our Growth Plans to get started today!
Final Thoughts SEO isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. If your website isn’t ranking, don’t get discouraged. By identifying and addressing these key issues, you can start seeing real improvements. And if you’re ready to take things to the next level, Two Dot Marketing is here to help!
