If you’ve created a website, you might have found yourself pondering, “Why is my website not appearing in Google’s rankings?” The truth is that multiple factors come into play. Some crucial aspects to consider include your site’s Domain Authority, Page Authority, and overall structure. If you’re still wondering about the reasons behind your website’s absence from Google’s search results, this post aims to offer advice on addressing this issue.
If your website isn’t visible in Google’s search results, and you’re uncertain about the reasons, there could be various ranking factors contributing to its lower placement.
The first aspect to investigate is relevancy. Google strives to deliver the most relevant information to searchers. This involves analyzing website content and matching it to the keywords or search queries users are targeting. If your site duplicates content from authoritative sources or fails to comprehensively cover the searched topic in your on-page content, it’s likely that Google will not display your website in the results.
Before we explore the reasons why your website isn’t ranking on Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP), let’s first clarify what SERP actually means.
What is Google SERP
Google SERP stands for “Google Search Engine Results Page.” It refers to the page that appears when a user performs a search using Google’s search engine. The SERP displays a list of relevant web pages, images, videos, news articles, maps, featured snippets, and other types of content related to the search query.
The typical layout of a Google SERP includes organic search results, which are non-paid listings that Google’s algorithm deems most relevant to the user’s query. These results are ranked based on various factors, such as the website’s authority, content quality, and relevance to the search query.
In addition to organic results, the SERP often contains paid advertisements, indicated by “Ad” labels. These are sponsored listings that website owners pay for to have their websites displayed at the top or bottom of the page.
Google SERP layout and features may vary depending on the type of search query, location, and other personalized factors. The goal of the SERP is to provide users with the most relevant and helpful information to meet their search needs.
Factors that Influence Google Rankings to Improve Your Position in Search Results
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Keyword Placement and Density
Properly placing keywords is of utmost importance in assisting Google to identify the main topic of a page. It is recommended to include your targeted keyword or phrase in the title tag, at the beginning of the page content, and throughout the rest of the page. This practice holds significant value for SEO!
However, it’s crucial to write your content for human readers, not just for search engines, ensuring that the page flows naturally and is not excessively stuffed with keywords. Keyword stuffing can be perceived as spammy by Google, potentially leading to penalties for your website. The objective is to create relevant signals for Google without going overboard.
In addition, consider the domain you choose. Incorporating the keyword into the domain is beneficial, and if your preferred domain has already been registered, you can opt for adding the keyword to a subdomain. For example, you can set up a page domain like this: seo.example.com instead of www.example.com/seo.
For effective SEO optimization, utilizing plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can be highly beneficial. These tools offer guidance on content readability, keyword usage, image optimization, and other essential aspects to enhance your website’s performance on WordPress.
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Content and Website Updates
Google highly values fresh and unique content. To maintain the appeal of your website, ensure regular updates by adding new blog posts and making frequent updates. For better signals to Google, consider implementing substantial changes instead of minor ones during updates.
Apart from blog posts and pages, it’s beneficial to create supplementary content that offers value to both searchers and your target audience. Consider including the following:
- Videos
- Infographics
- Interactive Maps/Tools
- E-books, Whitepapers, Downloadable Templates
By incorporating diverse and valuable content, you enhance your website’s appeal to Google and visitors alike.
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Image Optimization
To aid Google’s web crawlers in comprehending the meaning of images on your webpage, it is crucial to provide appropriate information. Ensure that the image file name, alt text, and title tag effectively describe the image. Keep the descriptions concise and diverse, even if your site contains similar images. This may require a touch of creativity to ensure accurate representation.
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Track Website Engagement Duration
When visitors quickly leave your website, also known as bouncing, Google may interpret it as a sign that the information on your page is not relevant to the search query that led them to your site. To prevent this, ensure your content is engaging and effectively conveys the intended message. If visitors spend time on your site, it indicates that you are providing value, and Google will be more likely to share your website with new users!
Optimizing Your Website for Improved Google Search Rankings
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Maintain Domain Registration
Ensure your domain remains up-to-date and consider opting for longer domain registrations. Google views longer registrations as more legitimate and grants greater credibility to websites they believe will remain active for an extended period. In contrast, domains with short-term registrations may appear less authoritative, suggesting they are not actively maintained or are meant for temporary purposes compared to established sites on the same subject.
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Verify Domain History
Websites that rank poorly on Google could be facing issues with their domain history. Penalties like Penguin and Panda were introduced to target abusive tactics aimed at artificially boosting web rankings, which could negatively impact your site. Be cautious about hosting your website with spammers or engaging in “black hat” techniques. Google will eventually detect these practices, leading to a decline in your website’s visibility.
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Evaluate Page Speed
Websites with slow loading times tend to rank lower compared to those that deliver content quickly. Google prioritizes quality content for searchers, and a slow-loading page can signal poor quality. Additionally, customers seek speed, so a slow-loading page may lead to them quickly abandoning your site, negatively impacting your bounce rate.
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Utilize Tools for Link Strategy
Various tools, such as the Moz browser extension, Ahrefs, and Screaming Frog SEO Spider, can aid in enhancing your link strategy.
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Assess Backlink Quality
Ensure your website sends the right signals to Google by examining your backlink profile. Low-quality or spammy inbound links can be seen as an attempt to manipulate the ranking system, leading to potential penalties from Google. Natural link building is essential, and obtaining backlinks from authoritative sites with a high level of trust can significantly boost your rankings, as they provide valuable resources to readers.
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Address Broken Links
Regularly check for and repair broken links on your website, as they can convey poor-quality signals to Google and diminish your site’s visibility in search results.
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Focus on Internal Linking
Internal linking within your website is equally important to Google. Make sure you have an adequate number of internal links directing traffic to relevant pages of content. For instance, consider adding a link to your contact page or including links to service pages when mentioning those services in blog articles.
What if the Keywords You’re Using Are Completely Wrong?
The search volume of your chosen keyword phrases holds immense significance as it forms the foundation of your SEO strategy. Attempting to rank for a term that only receives 100 searches per month is likely to provide limited chances of reaching the top of the search results page. To maximize your chances of ranking successfully, opt for keywords with relatively high search volumes.
This approach will prove more efficient than engaging in an uphill battle to achieve higher rankings. Research the words and phrases commonly used by people to discover similar pages and build your content around those relevant topics.
Your Website Is Not Getting Indexed by Google
Search engine optimization (SEO) involves creating well-represented content, but its value diminishes if nobody sees it. Ensuring people can find your website is crucial. You can employ various SEO tactics, such as posting on popular sites and utilizing social media channels. Additionally, an SEO audit might prove beneficial.
Understanding the reasons behind your website’s absence from Google’s rankings is essential, but taking action as a website owner is even more significant. Use this motivation to learn what you need to know to improve your website’s search engine rankings.
The absence of authoritative backlinks can impact your website’s perceived authority by Google. To enhance your site’s credibility, strive to obtain links from high-authority sites to boost your “link juice.”
With the rise of mobile web browsing, optimizing your site for mobile devices has become crucial. Ensure your website is compatible with smartphones and other handheld devices, granting easy access to all your content.
Citations are Essential for Local Search Results
Having citations for your business is crucial for establishing credibility in your local listing. Recently, Google has been implementing algorithmic updates that may impact citations on various sites, including those optimized by citation services or SEO companies. One possible reason for this is that such companies often fail to provide consistent information and links back to your site, leading to diminished trust from Google. As a result, these listings might not rank as effectively as properly optimized ones. Therefore, if you’re wondering why your website isn’t ranking well in Google, it might be related to citation issues, and the task of fixing them has just begun.
Google Has Penalized Your Website
Google penalties have been a long-standing concern, with Google using over 200 signals to rank websites, making rankings susceptible to penalties at times. If your site faces a penalty, swift action is necessary before it reappears in search results. The initial step is to thoroughly understand the reasons behind the penalty and how to rectify the issue, which can be aided by resources like this blog post. Additionally, Google Search Console offers a disavow tool that allows you to disassociate certain links from your website.
Numerous factors can hinder your website’s ranking on Google’s SERPS, and unfortunately, gaining insights may not immediately lead to solutions. Nevertheless, with diligent research and effort, you can steer things in the right direction.
Google Algorithm Updates
Google regularly releases algorithm updates on an annual basis, which can significantly influence certain aspects such as backlinks, spammy links, and social media profiles. If your website contains any spammy elements, it could be impacted by the next major Google update.
If your website is struggling to rank in Google, don’t worry – our digital marketing agency can help. So feel free to schedule a free strategy session and learn more about our proven SEO services.
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Perform a Website Audit to Identify SEO Issues
The factors mentioned above are among the most impactful elements influencing your search engine results, but it’s important to note that Google’s search engine algorithms consider over 200 ranking factors. Therefore, there can be various reasons why your site is not ranking well.
If you need assistance in identifying the “SEO troublemakers” responsible for hindering your website’s ranking on Google, we are here to help! Receive a complimentary website audit from a certified SEO expert.
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