Having a strong online presence has become a crucial part of growing any business. However, if your business isn’t showing up in Google search results related to what you offer, it’s time to do some troubleshooting. There are five common reasons why your business might not be ranking well on Google. The good news? You can address nearly all of these issues by leveraging strong SEO or optimizing your Google My Business profile.
Reason #1: You Haven’t Claimed Your Business on Google
One common reason why your company doesn’t show up on Google search results is that you haven’t claimed your business on Google at all. By claiming your business, you can ensure it appears in search results and provides accurate information to potential customers. To add your business to Google, follow these simple steps:
- Go to the Google My Business website.
- Click on “Start Now” and sign in with your Google account.
- Enter your business name and address.
- Select the correct business listing or create a new one if it doesn’t exist.
- Verify your business through the provided verification methods, such as phone verification or mail verification.
That’s it, easy right?
Reason #2: Your Content Isn’t SEO-Optimized
Creating great content is important, but optimizing it for search engines is equally crucial. If your content lacks proper SEO optimization, it may not rank well in Google search results. To get found on Google with SEO, consider the following tips:
- Perform keyword research: Identify relevant keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for. Use these keywords strategically in your content, including in headings, titles, and meta descriptions.
- Optimize on-page elements: Ensure your page titles, headings, URLs, and image alt tags include relevant keywords.
- Improve page load speed: Optimize your website’s loading speed to provide a better user experience and increase your chances of ranking higher.
- Create high-quality, engaging content: Google values content that is informative, engaging, and valuable to users. Focus on creating content that answers questions and provides solutions to your audience’s problems.
Reason #3: You Have Either Bad or No Google Reviews
Google reviews play a significant role in building trust and credibility for your business. If you have either bad or no Google reviews, it can negatively impact your search ranking. Here are some tips to handle Google reviews effectively:
- If you come across false, spammy, or inappropriate reviews, you can flag them for removal. Follow Google’s guidelines and report any reviews that violate their policies.
- Regularly monitor and respond to the reviews you receive. You can find and manage your Google reviews by logging into your Google My Business account.
- Encourage your happy customers to leave reviews! You can send follow-up emails or include a review request on your website or invoices.
- When you receive negative reviews, respond promptly and professionally. Address the customer’s concerns, offer solutions, and show that you value their feedback.
Reason #4: Your Website Lacks Citations (aka Backlinks)
Backlinks, which are links from other websites to yours, are like votes of confidence for your website. They can improve your website’s authority and boost its visibility in search results.Think of them as the link version of getting verified on social media. If your website lacks citations or backlinks, it might struggle to rank well on Google—especially for highly competitive search terms. Here are some strategies to build a strong backlink profile:
- Reach out to other websites in your industry and offer to contribute guest articles or collaborate on content. This can help you earn backlinks to your website. Just don’t be spammy!
- Focus on acquiring backlinks from reputable websites that are relevant to your industry. Quality backlinks from authoritative sources can have a more significant impact on your search ranking.
- The quantity of backlinks is not as important as their quality.
Aim for acquiring high-quality backlinks from diverse sources rather than focusing solely on the number.
Reason #5: Your Website Isn’t Indexed by Google
If your website isn’t indexed by Google, it won’t appear in search results. Ensuring your website is properly indexed is crucial for visibility. Here’s how to index your website on Google:
- Submit your website to Google for indexing using the Google Search Console. This tool allows you to add your website, submit sitemaps, and monitor your website’s performance in search results. It’s simple and free.
- After submitting your website for indexing, it may take a few days to a few weeks for Google to crawl and index your pages. The indexing process can vary depending on various factors, such as the size of your website and the frequency of updates. Just keep checking back.
- Use the site:yourdomain.com search operator in Google to check which pages of your website are currently indexed. This will give you an idea of how well Google has crawled and indexed your site.
Improving your business’s Google search ranking has many components, but staying on top of all of them is essential for attracting more customers and increasing your online visibility. By claiming your business on Google, optimizing your content, managing Google reviews, building a strong backlink profile, and ensuring your website is properly indexed, you can make massive strides toward helping your company show up on Google so more of the right people can find you!
Not sure where to start? Our SEO audit can identify your biggest opportunities so you can prioritize.
