WHY YOUR BUSINESS ISN’T SHOWING UP ON GOOGLE (AND HOW TO FIX IT)

Written by Melissa Woods

You've got a website. You're on social media. You're working hard to be discovered, right?

So why is nobody finding you on Google?

It's one of the most annoying things about running a small business. But it's totally fixable.

Here’s what you need to think about:

Google doesn't know where you are

This sounds basic but if your location isn't mentioned naturally throughout your site — not just on your contact page, but in your homepage, your about page, your footer — Google genuinely struggles to connect you to local searches.

Someone searching for "florist in Newport Shropshire" or "personal trainer Telford" won't find you if the only place your location appears is buried in a contact form.

The fix: Add your town and county naturally throughout your site. Every page. Not forced, just present.

You don't have a Google Business Profile

If you haven't claimed your free Google Business Profile listing, you're invisible on Google Maps and in local search results — full stop.

This is the single most impactful thing a local business can do for free. It takes about 20 minutes to set up and puts you directly in front of people searching for your services nearby.

The fix: Go to business.google.com and claim your listing today. Add photos, your opening hours, your website and a description that includes what you do and where you are.

Your page titles are missing or generic

Every page on your website has a title — the text that appears in the browser tab and in Google search results. Most small business websites either leave these blank or use something unhelpful like "Home" or "About." I know because I did that for years before I realised I was doing it wrong.

Google reads these titles to understand what each page is about. If your homepage title just says "Home," Google has very little to go on.

The fix: Every page needs a descriptive title that includes your business name, what you do and where you are. For example: "Melissa's Floristry | Wedding Flowers in Newport, Shropshire."

Your website hasn't been touched in months

Google favours websites that are regularly updated. A site that hasn't changed since it was built two years ago sends a signal that the business might not be active. I know this is a pathetic flex but I’m literally working on my websites ALL THE TIME!

This is one of the reasons blogging matters — not because anyone is searching for your blog specifically, but because every new post tells Google your site is alive, relevant and worth revisiting.

The fix: Update your website regularly. Add new content, refresh your copy, start a blog. Even small changes help. Think of it like a baby that neds to be nurtured to grow.

You're relying entirely on social media

Social media is great for visibility (sometimes) But the algorithm gods are in charge, not you.

The businesses that consistently appear online in search results are the ones that have invested in their website, their Google Business Profile and their content. Not just their Instagram follower count.

The fix: Think of social media as the conversation and your website as the destination. Both matter. But your website is the one Google can actually index and rank.

Nobody is linking to your website

Google decides how trustworthy your website is partly based on how many other websites link to it. A brand new website with no external links is essentially starting from zero in Google's eyes.

Don’t worry, this takes time to build. But there are quick wins — getting listed in local directories, asking suppliers or partners to link to you, writing guest content for other websites in your industry.

The fix: Start building your backlink strategy. Get listed on Yell, Bark, local business directories. Ask happy clients to mention you on their website. Every link helps.

The honest truth

Most small business websites aren't showing up on Google because nobody has ever sat down and done the background sh*t of making them discoverable. It's not about having a beautiful website for the sake of it. It's about having a website that works continuously in the background to help your business be discovered, over and over again, by people who are going to buy from you.

If you'd like a free checklist of the ten things every small business website needs to show up online, grab it below.