Why isn’t my website showing up on Google?
How Google finds, understands and ranks websites, why yours might be missing, and how to check for yourself with free tools.
What you’ll learn
- How Google finds and indexes pages
- The three things Google weighs for local searches
- How to check if your pages are indexed
- The most common reasons a site doesn’t show up
Why it matters
Most customers find local businesses through a search. If your website isn’t there, it can’t bring you work, and the reason is usually fixable.
First, Google has to find your pages
Google sends programs (crawlers) to read web pages, then stores the ones it decides to show in its index. A page that isn’t indexed can’t appear in results. New sites, pages with no links pointing to them, and pages accidentally blocked from search are the usual reasons.
Quick check: search site:yourbusiness.com on Google. The results are pages Google has indexed. Few or none means start there.
Relevance · Distance · Prominence
Three things Google weighs
Relevance: does your page clearly match what was searched? Distance: for local searches, how close you are. Prominence: how well known and trusted you are: reviews, links and how complete your information is.
The map and the list
For local searches Google shows a map with a few businesses, then a list of websites. The map results lean heavily on your Google Business Profile; the list leans on your website.
Check with Google Search Console
Search Console is Google’s free tool for website owners. Once your site is verified, the Pages report shows which pages are indexed and why others aren’t, and the URL Inspection tool checks a single page and lets you request indexing.
Every TL Web Design site is built with clear titles and descriptions, a sitemap and fast mobile pages. Search Console tells you how Google is actually seeing them.
Your toolbox
Use it today
Search “[your service] near me” on your phone. For the top 3 on the map, note: reviews (count and stars) ______, photos ______, category ______, website link? ______. What do they have that you don’t? ______
Free tools to check your own site
Implementation Lab · 20 min
Put it to work: SEO Readiness Checklist
You’ll check the basics Google looks at and get a prioritized list of what to fix. These are your own answers (self-reported), not a live scan of your site.
You’ll finish with: A results summary with prioritized actions that flow into your improvement plan.
Do this next
- 1
Search site:yourbusiness.com and note how many pages appear.
- 2
Set up or sign in to Google Search Console.
- 3
Open the Pages report and note any “not indexed” reasons.
- 4
Complete the SEO Readiness Checklist in the Lab.
Verification checklist
How you’ll know it’s done
Common mistakes
- Never checking whether Google has indexed your pages
- Paying for promises of “guaranteed first place”
- Ignoring the Google Business Profile and focusing only on the website
Quick answers
My site is new. Why isn’t it on Google yet?
New sites can take days to weeks to be found. Submit your sitemap in Search Console and make sure your Google Business Profile links to it.
Is paying for ads the same as SEO?
No. Ads show while you pay; SEO builds lasting visibility. The next lesson compares them.
Your one next step
Take the SEO Readiness Checklist →Next recommended lesson
Lesson 12: SEO vs. Google Ads: what’s the difference? →Level 3 · Professional implementation
Rather not do it yourself?
Send the work to the TL Web Design team through Client Updates. We review what you need and send an estimate when one applies. Nothing changes on your website and nothing is charged until you approve it.
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