Why Is My Website Not Showing Up On Google?

You Just Launched Your Website, So Why Doesn’t It Show Up on Google Yet?

You’ve hit “publish” on your brand spankin’ new website. 🎉The confetti settles. You refresh the browser. You search your business name on Google and… Nothing. Like no trace of you whatsoever. Not even on page 8. Which leads to the inevitable question:

“Wait, why isn’t my site showing up on Google yet?”

The good news is, you’re not alone. 95% of business owners feel exactly the same way after launch. They think hitting “publish” means they’ll immediately rank on page one, but in SEO world? That’s not how it works (unfortunately!).

Let’s break this down into plain English so you know exactly what’s happening behind the scenes — and what to do about it.

First Things First: What Does “Showing Up on Google” Actually Mean?

Before your website can appear in Google search results:

1. Google has to find your site. (This is called crawling)

2. Then, it has to store your pages in its index. (This is called indexing)

3. THEN it decides whether your site is worth ranking for what people are searching. (This is called ranking)

So no, Google doesn’t instantly know your site exists. And it definitely doesn’t drop you at the top just because you showed up. You’ve got to earn your spot.

Your Site Is New, And Google Doesn’t Trust You Yet (But It's Not Personal)

Google is basically like a cautious parent. Just because your site showed up on the internet doesn't mean Google instantly trusts you with its people— especially when you’re brand new.

If your site just launched, it probably:

• Hasn’t been crawled yet

• Has no track record

• Has zero backlinks (a major trust factor)

• Doesn’t have much content yet

• Isn’t sending consistent quality signals

That’s totally normal. Not ranking right away is NOT a sign your site is broken. It’s just not on Google’s radar yet.

Step 1: Get Found with Google Search Console (Non-Negotiable)

Think of Google Search Console (GSC) as Google’s private back door. When you connect your site to GSC, you’re literally saying:

“Hey Google— this site exists. Please come check it out.”

Here’s what GSC lets you do:

✅ Submit your sitemap (an organized list of all your site pages)

✅ Tell Google exactly what to crawl and index

✅ See if anything is preventing you from ranking

✅ Get real-time data on your traffic, rankings, and search terms

✅ Spot issues before they hurt visibility

Without Search Console? Google has to “stumble” upon your site… which could take weeks, months— or in some cases, never.

Connecting to GSC doesn’t guarantee you higher rankings— but it fast-tracks your site’s chance to even show up.

"But I Googled My Name and Nothing Came Up." Yep. That’s Normal.

A few reasons why you might not see your site yet:

1. It’s brand new. (Give it time!)

2. It hasn’t been indexed. (Use Search Console to request indexing!)

3. You don’t have enough content. (Here’s where a consistent, high quality, ongoing blogging strategy comes in!)

4. You’re targeting high-competition terms only. (Ex: “photographer Asheville NC”)

5. No one’s linked back to your site yet from theirs. (Backlinks = SEO gold)

And the honest truth? Even if all of those things are in place, it can still take 30–90 days (or longer) to see movement. SEO is not overnight. It’s a build-and-compound game.

How to Start Ranking Faster (Without Losing Your Mind)

Here’s what you can do right now to give your website a fighting chance:

1. Connect to Google Search Console

📌 Submit your sitemap

📌 Request indexing for key pages

📌 Check coverage issues

2. Start Publishing Blogs Consistently

Google LOOOVES fresh content— especially when it:

• Answers specific questions people are searching for

• Uses natural keywords + phrases related to your niche

• Is actually helpful, like a real human wrote it

• Is not just surface-level fluff that anyone could put out on the internet with 10 minutes and ChatGPT

✅ Write at least 1 blog post per month (more = better, but only if you're putting out high quality, intentional, well-written content, and not just quick, short filler posts)

✅ Start with tutorials, how-to’s, lists, or FAQs

✅ Always think: “Would this help someone near me?” if you’re local

3. Share Your Site + Get Traffic Any Way You Can

• Email your list

• Share links on social

• Ask partners to link to you

• Add to Google My Business if you're location-based

Remember: Engagement and traffic signal to Google that your content matters and that people are interested.

SEO Is Not “Set It and Forget It”, It’s a Long-Term Strategy

Google wants to serve quality content to its users. That means it’s constantly learning who you are, what your site’s about, how people respond to it, and if it’s safe to send visitors your way. Day 1 website launch ≠ Day 1 page 1 ranking.

But showing up in 3–6 months? Absolutely possible. Showing up consistently for dozens of keywords in 6–12 months? Very doable.

If you stay committed to:

✔️ Publishing content

✔️ Staying connected to GSC

✔️ Maintaining a site that's updated, fast, organized

✔️ Promoting your site to colleagues, clients, your audience, and others anytime you can

✔️ Growing your online presence

YOU CAN WIN AT SEO.

Want Help Fast-Tracking Your SEO?

Here are a few ways I step in for clients:

1. SEO Setup + Indexing VIP Day. I take care of the tech setup you need to get discovered faster (Google Search Console, sitemap, site audit, and more)

2. Custom Blog Strategy Session. 90-minute strategy where I help you brainstorm your first 6 months of blog topics and keywords so your content starts ranking sooner

3. Monthly SEO Maintenance (coming post-maternity leave!) Ongoing tweaks, optimizations, and traffic reporting so you’re not flying blind

Curious about any of those? Email me, or fill out my contact form— I’d love to help you finally get seen.

Final Word

Launching your site is just the beginning. Ranking on Google? That’s the journey. Give search engines what they need: time, trust, and content— and they’ll repay you with visibility when it counts. (And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s why I’m here.)