Before you ask how to get your website to show up on Google, we need to understand what we are searching for.
First up, what are you searching for on Google?
If you’re typing your business name into Google and your website isn’t showing up. That’s a problem!
If your website is relatively new, Google simply may not have indexed it yet. When left to its own devices, Google can sometimes take weeks and even months to get around to indexing new sites. But there are steps you can take to expedite the process.
- Make sure your website site map has been submitted via Google Search Console to prompt Google to do its thing and crawl your website.
- If you haven’t already, make sure you get your business listed on Google Business Profiles (this makes sure your business will show up on Google maps when someone is searching in your area).
Your business should ideally be showing in the top position when you search for it by name. If your business name is similar to other established businesses on the internet – this might not be the case. You might have to enlist the help of a professional to make sure your SEO is whiz-bang to make that magic happen.
But what if someone searching doesn’t know about your business?
You want your website to show up on Google, right?
This is where your keywords come into play.
Let’s use a local mechanic as an example.
If someone is in your area and they need a mechanic but don’t know you by name – what are they likely to be typing into their search engine? It’s not going to be ‘Super Supreme Motors’. It’s highly likely that they will type ‘local mechanic’.
In this example, you’ll want to have the words ‘Local Mechanic’ throughout your website & in your SEO. This will increase the likelihood of showing up in the search results.
The art of SEO is a balancing act. But it’s one you want to get right if you’re going to show up on Google results.
Search engines (such as Google & Bing) rank the quality of your website against a whole host of things to determine where you will show up in search results. A few of the easiest ones to explain are:
- The set-up of your website – is it secure, rendering quickly and displaying correctly
- Does your website provide relevant content and images that match the search query
- Does your website have Meta Data that accurately explains the content of your website?
For the average business owner, mastering all of the above can be tricky and that’s when it’s time to call in a professional.
Grahn Creative works with businesses across New Zealand to help them raise their profile online. Using a combination of clever website design and strategic SEO we can help improve your ranking in search results.