Why Can't I Find My Website on Google?
You've invested in your website. You've published content. You've waited. Yet when you search for your business, competitors appear while your site remains invisible.
You're not alone. Around 94% of all web pages receive zero traffic from Google. Only 1% of pages get more than 10 clicks per month.
The good news? Most ranking problems trace back to a handful of fixable issues. This guide breaks down why websites fail to rank and exactly what you can do about it.
How Long Does It Take to Rank on Google?
Before diving into fixes, let's set realistic expectations.
SEO typically takes three to six months to show results, though competitive industries may require six to twelve months. The average page ranking in Google's top 10 is around two years old. Pages ranking at position one average nearly three years old.
New websites face an additional challenge. Google's algorithms need time to evaluate trustworthiness, which is why new domains often experience a delay in gaining visibility during their first year.
This isn't a reason to wait. It's a reason to start now and build momentum.
Your Site Has Technical Problems
Search engines need clear access to your content. Technical barriers block crawlers from indexing your pages properly, no matter how good your content is.
Common Technical Issues
Recent research reveals alarming statistics about technical SEO problems across websites.
- 15% of websites are missing an XML sitemap entirely
- 23% don't link their sitemap in robots.txt
- Only 54.6% of websites pass Core Web Vitals
These issues prevent Google from understanding and ranking your content effectively.
Core Web Vitals Matter More Than Ever
Google uses three metrics to evaluate page experience.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures loading performance. Your main content should load within 2.5 seconds. Sites passing all Core Web Vitals see 24% higher click-through rates and 19% lower bounce rates.
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures responsiveness. Pages should respond to user interactions within 200 milliseconds.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures visual stability. Elements shouldn't jump around as the page loads. Aim for a score below 0.1.
Mobile-First Is Now Non-Negotiable
64.17% of worldwide internet traffic comes from mobile devices. Google now evaluates and ranks every website based on its mobile version first. A polished desktop site means nothing if your mobile experience is poor.
How to Fix Technical Issues
Start with these tools to identify problems.
- Google Search Console shows indexing errors, crawl issues, and Core Web Vitals data directly from Google.
- PageSpeed Insights tests performance and provides specific recommendations.
- Screaming Frog crawls your site to find broken links, missing tags, and redirect chains.
Technical fixes often require development expertise. Our web development team builds sites optimised for search from the ground up, and our web hosting delivers the speed and uptime that rankings require.
Your Content Doesn't Match What People Are Searching For
Google's job is to match search queries with the most relevant content. If your page doesn't address what searchers actually want, it won't rank, regardless of how many keywords you include.
Understanding Search Intent
Every search falls into one of three categories.
Informational intent means the person wants to learn something. They're searching "how to improve website speed" or "what is SEO."
Navigational intent means they're looking for a specific website or brand. They're typing "Unrivaled Marketing" or "Google Search Console login."
Transactional intent means they're ready to take action. They're searching "SEO services Brampton" or "buy web hosting."
Your content needs to match the intent behind your target keywords. A product page won't rank for an informational query. A blog post won't rank for a transactional one.
Signs Your Content Misses the Mark
- High rankings but low click-through rates
- Traffic that bounces quickly
- Keywords that attract the wrong audience
- Pages that rank for unrelated terms
How to Align Content With Intent
Research what currently ranks for your target keywords. Google has already determined which content type best serves that query. If the top results are how-to guides, create a better how-to guide. If they're product pages, optimise your product page.
Tools like Semrush and AnswerThePublic reveal the questions your audience is asking. Answer those questions comprehensively.
Our SEO services include content strategy that aligns your pages with search intent for maximum visibility.
Your On-Page SEO Is Weak
On-page optimisation tells Google what each page is about. Without clear signals, the algorithm struggles to understand and rank your content.
The Numbers Are Concerning
Research shows widespread on-page problems across the web.
- Only 35% of websites have meta descriptions on their pages
- 54% use duplicate title tags across multiple pages
- Only 26% of websites use alt text for images
- 36% have oversized images slowing down load times
These aren't minor issues. They directly impact how Google understands and ranks your pages.
Essential On-Page Elements
Title tags remain one of the most important ranking signals. Titles between 40-60 characters get 8.9% higher click-through rates. Include your primary keyword naturally and make it compelling enough to click.
Meta descriptions don't directly affect rankings, but they heavily influence clicks. Google rewrites 60-70% of meta descriptions, so write ones worth keeping. Stay within 150-160 characters and include a clear value proposition.
Heading structure helps both users and search engines navigate your content. Use one H1 per page containing your primary keyword. Structure H2s and H3s logically to create a clear hierarchy.
Image optimisation affects both speed and accessibility. Compress images, use descriptive file names, and write alt text that accurately describes each image.
Internal linking distributes authority across your site and helps Google discover all your pages. Link related content naturally within your copy.
How to Improve On-Page SEO
Audit your existing pages using tools like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. Address missing elements systematically, starting with your most important pages.
Good web design supports on-page SEO by creating logical structures that guide both users and search engines through your content.
Your Site Lacks Authority
Google needs to trust your website before ranking it highly. Authority comes from signals that demonstrate expertise, experience, and credibility in your field.
Why Backlinks Still Matter
Backlinks remain a top-3 Google ranking factor. The top-ranked page on Google has 3.8 times as many backlinks as pages ranking in positions 2-10.
Yet 95% of website pages have zero backlinks. This represents an enormous opportunity for sites willing to earn them.
Quality matters far more than quantity. 93.8% of SEO experts agree that a single link from a reputable source outweighs dozens of low-quality links.
E-E-A-T Signals
Google evaluates Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness across your site. The March 2024 core update placed even more weight on these signals, with sites lacking E-E-A-T experiencing significant ranking drops.
Demonstrate E-E-A-T by including author biographies with credentials, citing credible sources, displaying reviews and testimonials, and maintaining accurate business information across the web.
How to Build Authority
- Create content worth linking to. Long-form articles over 3,000 words attract 3.5 times more backlinks.
- Earn mentions through digital PR and industry participation.
- Build relationships with other credible sites in your space.
- Ensure your business listings are consistent across directories.
Monitor your backlink profile with Ahrefs Backlink Checker or Moz Link Explorer.
Authority building extends beyond SEO. Coordinated social media marketing amplifies your reach and reinforces brand trust.
Google's Algorithm Updates Hit Your Site
Google released seven major updates in 2024 alone, including four core updates and three spam updates. The March 2024 update was Google's largest ever, lasting 45 days and reducing "unhelpful" content by approximately 45%.
What Triggers Algorithm Penalties
Sites hit hardest by recent updates share common characteristics.
- Excessive ads disrupting user experience
- AI-generated content without human expertise or oversight
- Missing E-E-A-T signals like author credentials
- Content that hasn't been updated in 90+ days
- Thin content that doesn't fully address user queries
How to Recover From Algorithm Updates
Recovery requires honest assessment. Audit your content against E-E-A-T principles. Remove or improve pages that don't provide genuine value. Update stale content with current information. Improve user experience by reducing intrusive elements.
Rankings often stabilise within weeks of making improvements, though full recovery from major penalties can take months.
Your Hosting Is Holding You Back
Infrastructure directly affects rankings. Slow servers, frequent downtime, and security vulnerabilities all send negative signals to Google.
53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than three seconds to load. If your hosting can't deliver fast, consistent performance, your rankings suffer.
Signs Your Hosting Is the Problem
- Inconsistent page load times
- Frequent downtime or server errors
- Poor Core Web Vitals scores despite optimised code
- Security warnings from browsers
The Infrastructure Solution
Modern hosting built on NVMe storage, LiteSpeed servers, and CDN integration delivers the performance Google expects. Our web hosting is built specifically to support SEO success with speed, security, and reliability as standard.
What Should You Do Now?
Stop guessing and start diagnosing. The path to better rankings begins with understanding exactly what's holding your site back.
Step 1. Check Google Search Console for indexing errors and Core Web Vitals issues.
Step 2. Audit your most important pages for on-page optimisation gaps.
Step 3. Analyse your content against search intent for target keywords.
Step 4. Review your backlink profile and E-E-A-T signals.
Step 5. Test your site speed on mobile and desktop.
Each issue you fix moves you closer to the visibility your business deserves. SEO takes time, but the businesses that start now are the ones that rank later.
Ready for a comprehensive audit that identifies exactly what's limiting your rankings? Explore our SEO services and let's build a plan for measurable growth.
