So, most business owners embark on the journey of realizing they want to grow and attract more customers, which naturally leads them to explore marketing. Typically, a website tops the list as it is the most cost-effective means of acquiring new customers. So, you turn to Google or seek a referral, whether it’s your buddy’s nephew or a seemingly qualified stranger, to build your website. You’re delighted with its appearance; it looks professional, and you’re eager for the influx of new customers it promises. And then, you wait…
And wait…
And wait…
You start to wonder why this isn’t working. The developer you worked with is now harder to reach, and when you do reach them, you don’t receive satisfactory explanations for the lack of progress. You search for your business on Google, and you do show up near the top. So, why isn’t it working?
Well, I have some answers for you
First, I’ll explain why you appear near the top when you search. It could be a few things:
- You are actually ranking at the top.
- Google takes into account your search history and location data, showing you your site because you’ve visited it before. This result might differ for some
Google tailors results, and since you’ve visited your site, it thinks you prefer it, so it shows it to you in the results.
So, if you are indeed ranking at the top but not gaining new customers, it’s most likely the message. When users scroll, something about your result doesn’t resonate with them, so they opt for someone else. This requires a deeper discussion, often unique to each case. Feel free to contact us if you’d like to discuss your specific issues.
Now, what if you aren’t actually ranking on Google, despite having a sleek and expensive website? Well, it could be a multitude of things.
Here are some common reasons:
- Site Not Submitted to Google for Indexing:
- Poor or irrelevant content
- Lack of quality backlinks
- Slow page loading speed
- Unoptimized images
- Mobile-unfriendly design
- Duplicate content
- Technical SEO issues
- Low user engagement
- Keyword stuffing
- Thin or shallow content
- Spammy or low-quality links
- Lack of HTTPS security
- Over-optimized or unnatural anchor text
- Poor website structure and navigation
- Penalization due to black hat SEO tactics
- Insufficient social signals
- High bounce rates
- Low domain authority
- Google algorithm updates
The list of reasons is extensive, and each one can contribute to the problem. Let’s delve a bit deeper into some of the most common issues:
Site Not Submitted to Google for Indexing: This issue squarely falls on your developer. It’s the final step in the development process. Many “web developers” prioritize design but lack knowledge of the technical aspects necessary for a site to work and rank on Google.
Slow Page Loading Speed: Slow loading can result from poor-quality server and hosting or poorly optimized website content, including oversized and unoptimized images or excessive code in template-type formats.
Unoptimized Images: Optimizing images is crucial. Your site should host multiple versions of images to cater to various devices, ensuring a faster loading experience for all users.
Mobile-Unfriendly Design: Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites due to the high usage of mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-optimized, it’s unlikely to rank well.
Technical SEO Issues: These can encompass various problems mentioned earlier, including outdated software, templates, or hacked versions of programs which are often used by amateur web developers as the legitimate versions are quite expensive.
Poor Website Structure and Navigation: These factors often lead to high bounce rates. Google favors websites that engage users and offer easy navigation.
In conclusion, a successful website ranking on Google requires attention to various technical and content-related factors. If you find yourself facing challenges, it’s essential to identify and address the specific issues affecting your site’s performance. We focus on design, but our real expertise lies in these technical aspects. We have a system that checks every box, verifies repeatedly, and stays ahead of Google algorithm updates. This ensures that our sites not only look nice but also rank on Google, bringing in customers.
Just this morning, I had a conversation with Leo Lopez of Calltastic about his new site we built two months ago. Everything is working, and it’s climbing the ranks on Google as expected. However, it wasn’t getting the number of clicks for certain keywords that we wanted. So, I ran reports and found a simple glitch with Google, corrected it, and immediately the issue was resolved. We will, of course, continue to monitor his site, as we do for all customers. When we spot anomalies like these, we take corrective action.
