Why Your New Website Won’t Rank on Google (and How to Fix It)

Starting a new business is exciting. You’ve got the branding sorted, your products or services are ready to go, and now you’ve just launched a shiny new website. Job done, right? Wrong. Many new business owners think that once their website is live, it will magically appear at the top of Google search results. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. The reality is that getting your website found online takes time, effort, and strategy.

In this article Web Goddess explains why this is the case and, more importantly, what you can do to get your site noticed.

Why Your Website Isn’t Ranking

The Competition Is Staggering

First, let’s consider the sheer volume of websites being launched. According to recent statistics, around 25,000 new websites are created every day in the UK alone. That’s a lot of competition.

Google’s algorithm works hard to ensure users get the most relevant and high-quality results, so it’s not enough to simply exist online—you need to actively prove that your site deserves to rank.

Google Needs Time to Trust Your Website

Google doesn’t automatically know that your site is trustworthy or relevant. When you launch a new site, it’s like meeting someone new at a party: you’ve got to establish a good first impression and build a relationship over time.

Factors like domain age, quality backlinks, and consistent updates all help to build this trust.

“Build It and They Will Come” Is a Myth

The “if you build it, they will come” mindset doesn’t work online. Even the most beautifully designed website won’t get traffic without a strategy for driving visitors. Google’s crawlers need to understand what your site is about, and you need to actively promote your business to attract potential customers.

What Can You Do to Boost Your Online Presence?

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to help your website rank and get found by your ideal customers. Below are three actionable steps to get started.

1. Optimise Your Website for Search Engines (SEO)

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a fancy way of saying you need to make your website easy for Google to understand. Here are some quick wins:

• Keyword Research: Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find terms your audience is searching for. For example, if you’re a florist in Manchester, terms like “Manchester flower delivery” or “wedding flowers Manchester” might be relevant.

• Meta Tags: Write clear and compelling meta titles and descriptions for every page. These are what appear in Google’s search results and can encourage people to click.

• Mobile-Friendly Design: Over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. Make sure your site is responsive and loads quickly.

• Alt Text for Images: Include descriptive text for all images on your site. This 'alternative text' will not only help visually impaired users but also give Google more context about your content.

2. Create Quality Content

Google loves fresh, valuable content. Regularly updating your site with new blog posts, videos, or guides can help you rank for a wider range of keywords and keep visitors coming back.

• Answer Common Questions: Think about the questions your customers often ask and create content around those topics. For instance, a gym owner might write a blog titled “How to Choose the Right Personal Trainer”.

• Consistency Is Key: Aim to publish new content at least once a month. Even better, create a content calendar to stay on track.

• Longer Is Better: In-depth articles (1,000 words or more) tend to perform better in search results because they provide more value.

3. Promote Your Website

Don’t wait for people to stumble across your site—you need to actively drive traffic to it. Think of it like having business cards printed but leaving them in your drawer—no one is going to see them if you don't hand them out. The same goes with your website!

• Social Media: Share your content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, depending on where your audience hangs out. Don’t just post links—engage with your audience by asking questions or sharing behind-the-scenes updates.

• Google Business Profile: If you’re a local business, setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile is a must. This will help you appear in local searches and on Google Maps.

• Networking and Partnerships: Partner with other local businesses to cross-promote each other. For example, a wedding photographer might team up with a local florist to share each other’s services on their websites and social media.

Additional Tips for Long-Term Success

No matter what initial steps you take to get your website seen by search engines, the underlying message here is that consistency counts. Create a marketing strategy that includes your website along with other digital marketing such as email and social media to ensure that you have a plan.

To improve your chances of success:

• Monitor Your Analytics: Use tools like Google Analytics to see how visitors are finding your site and what they’re doing once they get there. This data can help you refine your strategy.

• Invest in Backlinks: High-quality backlinks from reputable sites signal to Google that your site is trustworthy. Reach out to blogs, local directories, or industry sites to see if they’ll link to you.

• Be Patient: SEO takes time. While you can start to see results in a few months, it can take up to a year or more to achieve significant rankings for competitive terms.

The Bottom Line

Launching a website is just the first step in building your online presence. To stand out among the thousands of new websites launched daily, you need to actively work on SEO, create valuable content, and promote your site. By taking these steps, you’ll increase your chances of ranking on Google and attracting the customers your business deserves.

Remember, the online world is competitive, but with the right strategy, your small business can thrive. Start implementing these tips today, and watch your website’s traffic grow over time.

And, don’t forget, Web Goddess can help you with our monthly SEO Service where we take the stress out of analysing what you need to do next and provide you with a strategy to get you seen. Just get in touch to find out more. It's what we do best!