Technical SEO
Why isn't my website showing up on Google?
Your website is live, but you cannot find it in search. Before changing every headline or buying another tool, find out whether Google has discovered the page, can read it, and has added it to its index.
First, separate indexing from ranking
Indexing means Google has added a page to its searchable collection. Ranking concerns where an eligible page appears for a particular search. A page can be indexed and still be hard to find for a competitive service phrase.
Open Google Search Console, verify your website if needed, and inspect the exact page address. Start with the homepage, then a service page. Do not rely only on searching your business name or scanning the first page of results.
Check whether Google can access the page
A live page should work for someone who is not signed in. Open it in a private browser window. If it asks for a password, shows an error, or redirects somewhere unexpected, investigate that first.
Google?s technical requirements include allowing Googlebot access, returning a successful HTTP response, and providing indexable content. Ask your developer to check the server response and whether hosting or security settings block crawling.
A site can look fine to its owner while a launch password or overprotective security rule affects other visitors. Checking access before rewriting content prevents wasted effort.
Look for settings left over from development
Developers sometimes tell search engines not to index a staging site. That instruction, called noindex, needs review before a public launch. Check both the page markup and response headers with your developer.
Also review the robots.txt file, which controls crawler access, and the canonical URL, which identifies the preferred address for a page. These controls do different jobs. A wrong canonical can point at an old domain or another version of the page; a crawl block can prevent Google from seeing an updated instruction.
Ask for the specific reason shown in Search Console and the proposed correction. Avoid removing every rule blindly, since private or duplicate pages may intentionally be excluded.
Make the page easy to discover
Link important service pages from your navigation or other relevant pages. A visitor should not need to know the exact address to reach them. Make sure your XML sitemap lists the public addresses you want discovered, and submit it in Search Console.
For a new or corrected page, you can request indexing using URL Inspection. Google explains that recrawling can take days to weeks, and a request does not guarantee inclusion. Repeatedly submitting the same address will not make it happen faster.
If it is indexed, review what the page offers
Once access and indexing are confirmed, compare the page with the customer?s actual need. Does it explain the specific service, where it is available, and what to do next? Does it offer real examples or merely repeat a generic claim?
A page titled ?Services? with two sentences may not give a customer enough information about a detailed repair or installation. Develop the explanation around useful questions: what is included, what affects the quote, and what happens during the first visit.
Use Search Console?s performance report to see which searches produce impressions. Website results and Google Maps visibility are related parts of a local presence, but a Business Profile is a separate property to review. Our local SEO service covers that wider picture.
A practical order for fixing the problem
- Inspect the exact page in Search Console.
- Fix access errors and unintended indexing restrictions.
- Check the preferred URL, internal links, and sitemap.
- Improve the page?s usefulness for the service and audience.
- Request a recrawl when appropriate, record the changes, and monitor.
If visibility dropped after a redesign, give your developer the old and new page addresses. Missing redirects or changed content may deserve attention before new content is added.
If visitors can find you but the website feels sluggish, continue with our website speed guide. For help reviewing the site itself, start a conversation.