My website is not findable on Google, what should I do?

Findability on Google is essential for businesses and websites to reach visitors and potential customers. While good content plays an important role, it is not the only factor. Technical optimisations, link building and user experience also play a crucial role in how well a website performs in search results. In this article, we discuss the most important aspects that contribute to better findability in Google.

Indexation: how to make sure your website gets listed in Google?

Before a website can appear in search results, it must be indexed by Google. This means that the search engine must be able to find your pages and include them in its database. One of the most common reasons why a website is not visible is that it is not indexed correctly.

Google uses crawlers to scan websites and add them to its index. Websites accidentally blocked via a robots.txt-file or a noindex-meta tag, are not displayed in search results. To check whether a page is indexed, you can use Google Search Console. This allows you to see which pages are and are not indexed and fix any errors.

In addition, an XML sitemap helps Google find and understand your website faster. A well-structured sitemap ensures that important pages are included in the indexation, while via the robots.txt-file you can specify which pages do not need to be indexed.

The role of keywords and content in SEO

Choosing the right keywords is the foundation of any SEO strategy. This does not mean simply filling texts with as many search terms as possible, but understanding the intent behind users' searches. Google rewards content that actually answers questions and responds to the searcher's needs.

An effective way to do this is to use long-tail keywords, or specific multi-word search terms. These tend to have less competition and attract visitors who are more targeted in their search.

In addition, the structure of your content plays a big role. A well-constructed page with clear headings, internal links and structured information ensures that Google better understands what your page is about. This helps not only findability, but also readability for visitors.

Technical SEO: the basis for a highly findable website

Besides content and keywords, the technical side of SEO is at least as important. A website that loads slowly or performs poorly on mobile devices will rank lower in Google, even if the content is of high quality.

An important aspect of this is website speed. Google values fast load times and measures this with the Core Web Vitals. Factors such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) determine how fast a page loads and whether visual shifts occur during loading.

To improve speed, you can:

• Optimise images by compressing them and using them in modern formats such as WebP.
• Remove unnecessary scripts and plug-ins to make your website's code leaner.
• Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to load content faster for visitors from different regions.

In addition, mobile usability is a factor that cannot be ignored. Because Google is a mobile-first index handles, the mobile version of your website is considered leading. This means that a website that does not perform well on smartphones will rank worse in search results.

The impact of link building and authority

Not only does the quality of your own website play a role, but also how other websites link to you. Backlinks - links from other websites to your page - are seen by Google as a sign of reliability and relevance.

However, not all backlinks are equally valuable. High-quality links come from reliable and relevant websites within your industry. Getting backlinks can be done in several ways:

• Writing guest blogs for other websites in your niche.
• Creating valuable content that others want to share.
• Getting mentions on company directories and industry websites.

In addition to external links, a strong internal link structure also important. By cleverly placing internal links, you help visitors and search engines better understand the structure of your website. This contributes to findability and ensures that important pages gain more authority. You can find more about this in the blog: The ins and outs of a good internal link structure.

Why an optimised Google Company Profile is essential

For businesses operating locally, a well-established Google Company Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a must. This profile determines how your business is displayed in Google Maps and local search results.

Factors such as consistent company data, customer reviews and regularly posted updates help with better visibility. An optimised business profile can ensure you appear at the top of local search results in relevant searches.

SEO is a continuous process

SEO is not a one-off task, but an ongoing process. Google's algorithms are constantly changing and competitors are adjusting their strategies. Therefore, it is important to regularly evaluate and adjust your SEO strategy.

Want to get started with SEO yourself, but don't know where to start? Then consider a SEO training at Onder, in which you will learn how to technically optimise your website and make it more findable in search engines.

A combination of strong content, technical optimisation and strategic link building will ensure that your website is not only found, but also ranks higher in search results.