Why Your Website Isn’t Ranking – And How to Fix It

Let’s be honest – there’s nothing more frustrating than pouring time, money, and energy into your website, only to find it’s buried on page 7 of Google, lost in a digital graveyard. You search your business name or your main services, hoping to see your shiny homepage pop up… but no luck.

Sound familiar?

If you’re a UK small business owner scratching your head wondering why your website isn’t ranking, you’re not alone. The good news? There’s usually a clear reason – and a fix to go with it.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common reasons your site isn’t appearing where it should on search engines (especially Google), and exactly what to do about it. We’ll keep things plain English – no tech degree required.

Contents

What “Ranking” Really Means

Top Reasons Your Website Isn’t Ranking

Your Website Isn’t Indexed

You’re Targeting the Wrong Keywords

Your Site is Too Slow

Your Content Isn’t Up to Scratch

You’ve Got Technical SEO Issues

No One’s Linking to You

Your Google Business Profile is Missing or Poor

Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly

You’ve Been Hit with a Penalty

How to Fix It – Step by Step

SEO FAQs for UK Business Owners

Should You DIY or Hire an SEO Expert?

What “Ranking” Really Means

When people say “I want my website to rank on Google”, they usually mean:

“I want my website to show up when people search for what I sell.”

Simple enough, right?

But there’s a big difference between ranking for:

Your actual business name (which should be easy), and

Keywords your ideal customers are typing into Google (like “plumber in Leeds” or “best wedding cakes in Manchester”).

Ranking well means your site appears near the top of Google’s search results for the right keywords, in the right locations, at the right time. The tricky part? Google uses over 200 ranking factors to decide who shows up where.

Top Reasons Your Website Isn’t Ranking

Here’s a breakdown of the most common culprits – and yes, it’s usually a mix of these, not just one.

✅ Your Website Isn’t Indexed

What it means: If Google can’t find your site or doesn’t know it exists, it can’t rank it. This is like opening a new shop but never telling anyone or putting a sign up.

How to check:

Google your site using: site:yourdomain.co.uk

If no pages show up, Google hasn’t indexed your site.

Fix:

Submit your site to Google via Google Search Console

Create and submit a sitemap

Ensure your site isn't accidentally blocking crawlers (e.g. via robots.txt or noindex tags)

🔑 You’re Targeting the Wrong Keywords

What it means: You may be writing about things people aren’t searching for, or using terms they don’t use. Alternatively, you may be trying to rank for super-competitive keywords you’ll never beat big brands on.

Fix:

Do proper keyword research using tools like Ubersuggest, SEMrush, or Google’s Keyword Planner

Focus on long-tail keywords (e.g. “affordable accountant in Norwich” instead of just “accountant”)

Make sure each page is optimised for one clear topic

🐢 Your Site is Too Slow

What it means: If your website takes more than 3 seconds to load, you’re losing visitors – and search engines take note.

Fix:

Use tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights

Compress images, remove bloated plugins, and use fast hosting

Consider a content delivery network (CDN) if your audience is spread out

📝 Your Content Isn’t Up to Scratch

What it means: Google ranks helpful, relevant, well-written content. If your site has thin content (say, a homepage with only 100 words) or generic, duplicated text, it’s unlikely to rank.

Fix:

Make sure each key page answers your visitor’s questions clearly

Write at least 300-500 words per page (more for blogs and guides)

Use headings, bullet points, and clear formatting to make it readable

Add original images, FAQs, and calls to action

🛠 You’ve Got Technical SEO Issues

What it means: Behind-the-scenes errors (broken links, duplicate pages, missing meta descriptions, etc.) can hold your site back.

Fix:

Run an SEO audit using free tools like Screaming Frog (for small sites)

Fix errors like broken internal links, duplicate content, and missing meta data

Ensure your site uses HTTPS (secure) not just HTTP

🔗 No One’s Linking to You

What it means: Backlinks (when other sites link to yours) are one of the biggest ranking factors. No backlinks = no credibility in Google’s eyes.

Fix:

Get listed on UK directories (Yell, FreeIndex, local chambers of commerce)

Write guest posts, collaborate with local bloggers or businesses

Share useful content that others naturally want to link to

Use PR and outreach campaigns to build high-quality links over time

📍 Your Google Business Profile is Missing or Poor

What it means: If you’re a local business and haven’t set up (or optimised) your Google Business Profile, you’re missing out on local traffic.

Fix:

Claim and verify your listing

Add opening hours, photos, business description, and categories

Ask happy customers to leave reviews

Post updates regularly

📱 Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly

What it means: Over 60% of searches now happen on mobile. If your site is clunky on a phone, Google will knock it down.

Fix:

Check your mobile-friendliness with Google’s Mobile Test

Use a responsive theme

Keep buttons and text easily clickable on smaller screens

🚫 You’ve Been Hit with a Penalty

What it means: If you’ve used shady tactics in the past (keyword stuffing, paid backlinks, duplicate content), Google may have penalised your site – either automatically or manually.

Fix:

Check Google Search Console for any warnings

Remove or disavow bad backlinks

Clean up low-quality or duplicated content

Submit a reconsideration request if needed

How to Fix It – Step by Step

Here’s a practical roadmap you can follow:

Step 1: Check if You’re Indexed

Use site:yourdomain.co.uk. Not there? Submit your sitemap to Google.

Step 2: Do Basic Keyword Research

Use tools like Ubersuggest or even Google Autocomplete. Find what your customers actually search for.

Step 3: Optimise Your Pages

One main topic per page. Use the keyword naturally in the:

Page title

Meta description

Headings

URL

First paragraph

Step 4: Write Great Content

Solve problems. Answer questions. Make it easy to read. Add value.

Step 5: Improve Site Speed & Mobile Experience

Use speed test tools. Fix image sizes. Remove bloated plugins. Use a mobile-responsive theme.

Step 6: Fix Technical Errors

Audit with Screaming Frog or another SEO tool. Fix broken links, duplicate content, and missing meta data.

Step 7: Build Local & Relevant Links

Start with local directories and partnerships. Then work on content and PR that earns links.

Step 8: Create or Optimise Your Google Business Profile

This is huge for local rankings. Get reviews. Add photos. Keep it fresh.

SEO FAQs for UK Business Owners

❓“How long does SEO take to work?”

It depends on your starting point and how competitive your industry is. Most see early improvements in 3–6 months, with more meaningful gains after 6–12 months. But remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.

❓“Is SEO worth it for a small business?”

Yes – if done properly. Unlike paid ads, SEO gives you long-term traffic without ongoing spend. It’s one of the best marketing investments you can make, especially for local businesses.

❓“Do I need to blog?”

Not always. But regularly publishing useful content (like blog posts, guides, FAQs) helps you rank for more keywords and build authority. If you’re not ready to blog weekly, start with monthly.

❓“Can I do SEO myself?”

You can absolutely do the basics. But SEO can be time-consuming and technical. Many business owners try it themselves, get stuck, and then bring in help. If you’re short on time or results, working with an expert is often the smarter move.

❓“What’s the difference between SEO and Google Ads?”

Google Ads are paid placements – you appear at the top instantly, but only while you pay. SEO is organic – it takes longer, but delivers long-term results. The best strategy often combines both.

Should You DIY or Hire an SEO Expert?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a quick guide:

Situation DIY May Work Better to Hire Help

You have time to learn and test ✅

You need fast results ✅

Your site has technical issues ✅

You enjoy writing content ✅

You’re in a competitive market ✅

You’re overwhelmed by SEO jargon ✅

Working with an SEO professional doesn’t mean giving up control – it just means getting expert help where you need it most. And for many UK small businesses, that makes all the difference.

If your website isn’t ranking, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean your business is failing or that you’ve missed the boat. More often than not, it means your site needs a bit of SEO TLC – and now you know where to start.

Take it one step at a time. Fix the basics. Keep your site useful and user-friendly. And if you ever feel stuck, there’s no shame in calling in some expert help.

Because at the end of the day, your website should work for you – bringing in traffic, enquiries, and customers. Not gathering dust on the digital shelf.

Remember if you need some help contact us and lets see how we can help[ you