Why your website isn't showing up on Google — and the fixes that work
Built a lovely website and can't find it on Google? You're not alone. Here are the usual culprits, from the boring-but-fatal to the genuinely fixable.
It's one of the most common questions we get: 'the site looks great, so why can't I find it on Google?' Nine times out of ten it's one of a handful of fixable reasons.
Work through these in order
The one people miss
Brand-new sites simply take time — weeks to months — to earn Google's trust. That's normal. But if your site's been live a while and still isn't indexed, that's a technical problem worth fixing today, not a patience problem.
If you're a local business, don't skip local SEO — it's often the fastest route to actual enquiries.
Can't find yourself on Google?
We'll run a quick diagnosis and tell you exactly why — and what it'll take to fix. Straight answers, no jargon.
Get a visibility check →Frequently asked questions
How long until a new website appears on Google?
Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to be indexed, and often a few months to rank well for competitive terms. New sites have to earn trust — but if you're not indexed at all after a couple of weeks, that's a technical issue to fix.
How do I check if Google has indexed my site?
Search 'site:yourdomain.com' on Google. If pages show up, you're indexed; if nothing appears, Google can't see your site yet — usually a crawl or setup problem we can fix quickly.
Why does my competitor rank above me?
Usually some mix of better/more relevant content, a faster site, and more trust (links, reviews, age). It's rarely one thing — we can benchmark you against them and show where the gap is.
Do I need to pay Google to show up?
No — organic (unpaid) rankings are earned through good content and solid technical SEO. Google Ads can buy visibility instantly, but it stops the moment you stop paying; the two work best together.