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Question

Why don’t we show up on Google when people search for our services?

Expert Answer

Why don’t we show up on Google when people search for our services?

It’s one of the most common frustrations for business owners: you know people are searching for what you offer, but your business isn’t showing up. The truth is, Google doesn’t hide your site on purpose. It rewards websites that check certain boxes and punishes those that don’t.

1. Your site isn’t indexed

First, make sure Google even knows your website exists. You can check by searching site:yourwebsite.com in Google. If no results show up, your site hasn’t been indexed. Submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console is the first step.

2. Weak or missing SEO fundamentals

If your site has thin content, vague titles, or doesn’t use keywords people actually search for, Google has no reason to rank it. Every service page should clearly target one keyword and explain your offering in detail.

3. Local SEO isn’t set up

If you’re a local business, your Google Business Profile matters as much as your website. Missing or incomplete business information, few reviews, and inconsistent citations (like your business name and address listed differently on directories) will hurt your chances of showing up in local searches.

4. Technical issues hold you back

Broken links, poor mobile usability, slow load times, and security issues (like not having HTTPS) all tell Google your site isn’t trustworthy. Even if your content is great, technical problems can keep you buried.

5. Competitors are simply stronger

If other businesses in your space have been investing in SEO for years, they’ve built authority through backlinks and consistent publishing. That means even if your site is decent, Google trusts them more—at least for now.

6. No content strategy

Google rewards websites that answer searchers’ questions. If your site is just a homepage and a couple of service pages, you’re invisible. Adding blogs, guides, and FAQs gives Google more reasons to show your site.

Bottom Line

Not showing up on Google isn’t a mystery—it’s a sign that something’s missing in your SEO foundation. The good news is that it can be fixed. By tightening up technical SEO, building stronger content, and setting up local signals, you can move from invisible to visible.

If you’re not sure where to start, I can run a detailed audit and map out the quickest wins.

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