Google Not Showing Your Website? Find Out Why and How to Fix It

You've just laucnhed your website, you're excited to see it appear in Google's search results, but for some reason, it's nowhere to be found.

Don't worry—you're not alone ! Many website owners face this issue, especially when they're just starting out. In this blog, we'll explain the main reasons your website might not be showing up on Google, and more importantly, how to fix it.

Your Site Hasn't Been Indexed Yet (or It's Accidentally Blocked)

Before your website can show up on Google, it needs to be discovered, crawled, and indexed by Googlebot (Google's crawling bot). If this process doesn’t happen, your site remains invisible to Google.

• Your site is too new. If you've just launched your site, it might take a few days or even weeks for Google to discover it.

• You've accidentally blocked Google. Here’s what might be happening:

You might have a "noindex" tag in your HTML that tells Google not to index your pages. Your "robots.txt" file might be blocking Googlebot from accessing your pages. Some pages might be password-protected or hard for Google to reach. Always remember, if Google can't access your site, it won't show up in search results.

Your Site Is Visible... But Google Doesn't Trust It

Even if Google has indexed your site, that doesn’t mean it will rank well in search results. Google wants to show its users the best, most relevant, and most trustworthy sites.

• Technical issues or poor user experience. If your website is slow, hard to navigate, or not mobile-friendly, Google might penalise you. Google favours websites that load quickly and provide a great user experience, especially on mobile devices.

• An unsecured site (without HTTPS). Having an HTTPS connection is a ranking factor. Google now prioritises secure websites, and if your site doesn’t have HTTPS, it could harm your rankings. Visitors will also see a security warning in their browser, which could deter them from exploring your site.

• A domain with a bad reputation. If your domain has been previously used for spam or low-quality websites, it might be penalised by Google. This could significantly hurt your ability to rank well in search results because Google might rank it lower or even choose to ignore it entirely.

Your Site Still Lacks Authority

Google doesn't just look at your website; it also considers what others are saying about you. One of the most important factors for ranking is popularity. To rank well on Google, you need to prove your site is valuable, not just to Google but to the wider web community. The problem is often due to :

• A lack of backlinks. Backlinks are one of the strongest signals Google uses to determine your site’s authority. Without backlinks from reputable websites, Google might see your site as isolated and not trustworthy.

• Your site being too new or isolated. If your site doesn't have any external signals like social media activity, mentions, or external articles linking to it. Google might not see it as a relevant source of information.

How to Fix a Website That Doesn't Show on Google

Now that you know why your website isn’t showing up on Google, here’s how to get it seen.

1. Make sure your site can be indexed.

Add it to Google Search Console, submit a sitemap, and check for any "noindex" tags or blocking rules in your "robots.txt" file. Small technical issues can completely prevent Google from accessing your content.

2. Improve your website’s overall quality.

Google values fast, well-structured, and secure websites. Optimise your loading speed, use proper heading tags (H1, H2, etc.), fix any broken links, and create content that is original and genuinely helpful. Also, make sure your site uses HTTPS — not having a secure connection can impact both trust and rankings.

3. Build your site’s authority.

Earn backlinks from reputable websites through high-quality content or partnerships. Stay active on social medias platforms and keep your site updated with fresh, relevant content to show Google that your site is reliable and alive.

If your website isn’t showing up on Google, it can seriously harm your business. But don’t worry — it’s fixable. Getting your site to appear on Google takes a mix of technical setup, quality content, and ongoing effort. Start with the basics, stay consistent, and results will follow.