Getting found Why your website isn’t showing up on Google: seven causes and how to check them

“We don’t show up on Google” can mean two very different things: Google doesn’t have your page in its index, or it does but ranks other pages above it. Mixing them up leads to spending money on the wrong fix. This guide helps you tell them apart and check the most common causes in order.

First: does Google know your page exists?

Search Google for site:yourcompany.com (with your domain). If nothing comes up, Google doesn’t have your site in its index. If some pages appear but not the one you care about, search site:yourcompany.com/service to check it specifically.

The reliable answer is in Google Search Console: the URL Inspection tool tells you whether an address is indexed and, if not, why. If you don’t have Search Console yet, setting it up is step one; our Search Console guide for business owners walks you through it.

Seven common causes and how to check them

1. A forgotten “noindex” tag

It’s the most common cause after a redesign: the site was built with WordPress’s “Discourage search engines” option turned on, and nobody turned it off at launch. Check Settings → Reading, and use URL Inspection, which shows whether the page has a noindex directive.

2. A robots.txt block

The yourdomain.com/robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of the site they can crawl. A “Disallow: /” line blocks everything. Open it in your browser and check.

3. A new site Google hasn’t discovered yet

Google finds pages by following links and reading your sitemap. If your site is new and nothing links to it, it can take a while. Submit your sitemap in Search Console and link to your site from your professional profiles.

4. “Discovered” or “crawled”, but not indexed

In Search Console’s Page indexing report, these statuses mean Google knows the page and decided not to include it for now. It often happens with pages that are very similar to each other, thin on original content or low quality. The fix is to improve the page, not to resubmit it over and over.

5. A canonical tag pointing elsewhere

The canonical tag tells Google which version of a page is the main one. If it points to another address, such as your home page, Google will index that instead. URL Inspection shows which canonical Google chose.

6. Security issues or manual actions

If the site was hacked or breaks Google’s policies, Search Console flags it under “Security issues” and “Manual actions”. It’s rare, but worth ruling out.

7. It’s indexed, but other pages answer better

If your page is in the index but doesn’t show up for what your clients search, the problem is relevance: the page doesn’t clearly answer that search, or other pages are more complete or more authoritative. That’s where site structure, content and links come in, and results build over months, not days.

Search the way your clients do

Check what your client types when they need what you sell. If you search your company name and show up, Google knows you. If you don’t show up for “bookkeeping firm for small businesses in Austin”, it may be because your site never clearly says that’s what you do and where. Search Console’s Performance report shows the real searches you already appear for, and it’s the best place to start.

What doesn’t work

Paying to “submit” your site to Google, requesting indexing for the same URL every day, or stuffing pages with keywords. Google doesn’t charge to index pages, and its guidelines ask for pages written for people. No serious provider can guarantee you a ranking.

A 20-minute check

1. Search site:yourdomain.com and note which pages appear.
2. In WordPress, under Settings → Reading, make sure the box that discourages search engines isn’t checked.
3. Open yourdomain.com/robots.txt and look for Disallow lines.
4. In Search Console, inspect the URL that’s missing and read its status.
5. Review the Page indexing report and the security and manual actions sections.
6. Submit your sitemap if you haven’t yet.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Google take to index a new page?

There’s no fixed timeline. It can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Submitting your sitemap and linking to the page helps Google find it sooner.

Is showing up on Google Maps the same thing?

No. Google Maps and local results depend on your Google Business Profile, which is managed separately. This guide is about your website.

Do ads help me show up in organic results?

No. Ads and organic results work separately.