Can’t Find Your Website on Google? Here’s What’s Going Wrong

You built a website. You paid for the domain. You even triple-checked that everything looks great on desktop and mobile.

So why can’t anyone find it?

If you’ve ever typed your business name into Google, hit “search,” and come up empty or buried on page six, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating. You did the work, but you’re still invisible.

The good news? There’s almost always a reason. And more importantly, there’s a fix.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common reasons your website isn’t showing up on Google—and what you can do to get it out of hiding.

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1. Your Website Hasn’t Been Indexed Yet

Let’s start with the most basic (but overlooked) reason: your site might not even be in Google’s system yet.

Google doesn’t automatically know your website exists the moment you hit publish. It needs to crawl and index your pages first. If that hasn’t happened, your site literally can’t show up in search results.

What you can do:

• Go to Google and search: site:yourdomain.com

If nothing shows up, your site hasn’t been indexed.

• Set up Google Search Console (it’s free)
• Submit your sitemap (usually found at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml)

That tells Google, “Hey! I’m here! Come take a look.”

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2. Your Website Has No Real Content

If your site is just a homepage and a few vague sections that say things like “We’re passionate about quality and committed to excellence,” Google doesn’t know what you actually do.

Search engines rely on content to understand who your website is for and what it offers. No content, means no context, means no rankings.

What you can do:

• Add specific service pages
• Write a blog with answers to common client questions
• Include keywords people actually search for

(Tip: think “eco-friendly pest control Omaha” not “next-level pest control solutions”)

You don’t need to publish daily. You just need a few pages that clearly explain what you offer, where you offer it, and who it’s for.

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3. Your Site Isn’t Optimized for SEO (Yet)

Here’s where things get a little more technical, but don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert.

If your site isn’t using SEO best practices, it makes it harder for Google to figure out where you belong in the rankings. That includes things like page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for images.

What you can do:

• Add clear page titles (like “Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Dallas” not just “Home Page”)
• Write meta descriptions for every page
• Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content
• Add image alt text that describes what’s on the page

SEO is like giving Google a map. The clearer the directions, the easier it is to find you.

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4. Your Website Is New and Needs Time

Let’s say you just launched last week and are already panicking about not being on page one. Take a breath.

Google doesn’t rank new websites immediately. It takes time, sometimes a few weeks, sometimes a couple of months, for search engines to crawl your site, understand your content, and decide where you belong.

This is normal. Annoying, yes. But normal.

What you can do:

• Keep adding quality content
• Stay consistent with your SEO practices
• Share your site on social or with email to drive traffic while you wait

Think of it as Google getting to know you. The more helpful, consistent, and clear your site is, the faster that relationship builds.

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5. There Are Technical Issues Holding You Back

Sometimes it’s not your content or SEO. It’s the tech.

Things like broken links, slow load times, missing pages, or even blocking Google from crawling your site (yikes) can quietly tank your chances of being found.

What you can do:

• Run your site through tools like Google Search Console or PageSpeed Insights
• Look for issues like 404 errors, crawl blocks, or mobile usability problems
• Fix or get help fixing anything flagged

It’s worth doing this regularly. You wouldn’t drive a car without checking the oil. Don’t run your website without checking what’s under the hood.

6. You’re Competing with Stronger Sites (and That’s OK)

Here’s a reality check: if you’re trying to rank for broad terms like “marketing consultant” or “real estate agent,” you’re up against some big players.

That doesn’t mean you can’t show up; it just means you’ll need to be more specific and strategic.

What you can do:

• Target local keywords (think “interior designer in Austin” not just “interior designer”)
• Focus on niche topics your competitors aren’t covering
• Use long-tail keywords (more specific phrases people are searching for)

You don’t have to beat everyone. You just have to reach the people who are looking for exactly what you offer.

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7. You’re Not Updating or Promoting Your Site

Let’s say your site is live, it’s technically sound, and it has decent content—but it’s been sitting untouched for months.

Google notices. Stale sites tend to slip down in rankings over time. Active, regularly updated sites tend to rise.

What you can do:

• Add a new blog post or case study once a month
• Refresh your homepage copy every few months
• Share new pages or updates on social media and email

Traffic tells Google that your site is useful. Even small updates help you stay visible and relevant.

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So… Why Isn’t Your Website Showing Up on Google?

Quick recap:

1. It might not be indexed yet
2. You might not have enough content
3. You might need better SEO
4. It might just be too new
5. There could be technical issues
6. You might be targeting too broad
7. You may not be staying active

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None of these are permanent problems. Every one of them has a solution. You don’t need to rebuild your site or hire a giant agency. You just need a plan, a few tweaks, and a little bit of patience.

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And if all this sounds like a lot to juggle—we can help with that too.

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At Crafted in Haus, we help small businesses build smart, search-friendly websites that not only look good but get found. If you’re tired of Googling yourself and getting crickets, let’s get your site working the way it should.

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Ready to show up where it matters? Let’s talk.