Why Is My Website Not Showing Up on Google Search? Real SEO Results for New Websites

One of the most common concerns for website owners—especially those who’ve recently launched a new site—is: “Why is my website not showing up on Google search?”

This is not just a technical problem; it’s a business concern. Without Google visibility, even the best-designed website can’t fulfill its purpose. In this article, we’ll explore the answers to this question through a real-life SEO case study, specifically focused on a new website launched in June 2024. We’ll walk through what actions were taken, what results were seen, and what new website owners can learn from this journey.

Just before we dive in, we refer to new websites as those that had been live for less than a year. And when it reaches a year old and more, it is then referred to as an aged website.

The Case Overview: 6-Month SEO Campaign for a New Squarespace Website

Website Background

• Platform: Squarespace

• Launch Date: June 2024

• SEO Campaign Start: January 2025

• Niche: Therapy Services in Two U.S. States

• Initial Problem: Website was not appearing in Google search results, had no impressions, and wasn’t indexed properly.

 

 

Phase 1: The Challenge

When the SEO campaign began in January 2025, the website had the following metrics and details:

• No sitemap submitted to Google Search Console (GSC)

• Very limited or no visibility on Google

• Weak technical foundation

• No backlinks

• Poor keyword alignment

• Existing service pages that were too focused on low-volume keywords

The initial metrics on Google Search Console was taken on the next month (February 2025) since there was no data on their Google Search Console as their sitemap was only submitted by January 2025 (start of SEO Campaign). We started with the following metrics by February:

Phase 2: The Strategy — Detailed Breakdown

The goal of this SEO strategy was to ensure the website met Google’s technical requirements, aligned content with real search demand, and built topical authority through off-page efforts. Each component below was essential in helping the site transition from invisible to visible within 6 months.

1. Technical SEO Audit

A foundational step for any new website, the technical SEO audit revealed several structural and indexing issues that were preventing the website from showing up on Google.

Key Actions:

• Submitted XML Sitemap to Google Search Console:
  Before the audit, the website had not submitted its sitemap, meaning Google had no clear map of what to crawl. This was the first priority. The sitemap was submitted in January 2025, which led to crawl activity and query impressions starting the following month.

• Crawl Budget and Indexing Status Check:
  Ensured that all important pages were crawlable and not mistakenly marked with noindex tags. Also reviewed canonical tags to avoid duplication and index dilution.

• robots.txt and Meta Robots Review:
  Checked the robots.txt file and meta robots directives to ensure they weren’t blocking Googlebot from accessing key areas of the site.

• URL Structure and Slug Optimization:
  Simplified and standardized URL slugs to be SEO-friendly. For example:
  example.com/couples-therapy-hollywood instead of
  example.com/page123?ref=home.

• Internal Linking Improvements:
  Linked related service pages and new landing pages together to enhance crawlability, reduce orphan pages, and pass link equity internally.

• Page Speed & Mobile Optimization Checks:
  Although Squarespace controls much of this, unnecessary image weight was reduced and layout shifts were corrected to improve Core Web Vitals.

• Google Search Console & Analytics Integration:
  Verified proper tracking and set up performance reporting to monitor ongoing SEO impact.

2. Keyword Realignment & On-Page SEO

The original content was well-written but not aligned with actual search demand. Many of the service pages targeted keywords with no or low search volume, making ranking and traffic nearly impossible.

Key Actions:

• Keyword Research:
  Conducted in-depth keyword research focused on:

  • Therapy-related services

  • Local SEO modifiers (city/state names)

  • Long-tail queries based on user intent (e.g., “couples counseling for anxiety in Hollywood”)

• Rewriting of Core Pages:
  Existing service pages were re-optimized to reflect high-volume and intent-driven keywords, ensuring every page had:

  • A clear primary keyword

  • Supporting semantic keywords

  • Updated and SEO-optimized headers (<h1>, <h2>, etc.)

• Meta Title and Description Optimization:
  Wrote unique meta titles and descriptions for each page using relevant keywords while maintaining click-through appeal.
  Example:
  Couples Therapy in Philadelphia | Licensed Relationship Counselor

• On-Page UX Improvements:
  Included trust-building elements like testimonials, service benefits, and calls to action. This helped reduce bounce rates and signaled higher engagement to Google.

• Use of Schema Markup:
  Implemented basic local business schema and service schema to enhance search appearance (rich results potential).

3. Content Expansion: Supporting Landing Pages

A major breakthrough in the campaign came from strategically crafted supporting pages, which served two critical roles:

1. Reinforce the topical authority of the main services

2. Target real, location-specific search traffic

Key Actions:

• Created Two Sets of Supporting Pages:
  Each supporting landing page had two unique versions targeting different geographical areas:

  • “Couples Counseling in Hollywood”

  • “Couples Counseling in Philadelphia”

• Location-Based Keyword Targeting:
  Each page was optimized for specific search intent combined with a geographic modifier, like:

  • “best couples counseling in Hollywood”

  • “Philadelphia marriage therapy for young professionals”

• Content Customization by Location:
  Each page wasn’t just duplicated with a different city name. Localized elements (neighborhood references, service availability, community events, etc.) were used to increase authenticity and relevance.

• Internal Linking Strategy:
  All supporting pages linked back to the core “Couples Therapy” page, passing authority and contextual relevance.

• Optimized for Future Growth:
  The structure allows new locations to be added using the same scalable template, making the site ready to expand.

Off-Page SEO: Backlinks & Authority Building

New websites often struggle to rank because they lack domain authority—Google has no signals that the site is trustworthy or authoritative.

Key Actions:

• Initial Link Building Campaign:
  Focused on acquiring backlinks from:

  • Local business directories

  • Therapy-related blogs and forums

  • Industry citation sources

• Niche-Relevant Referring Domains:
  Preference was given to links from mental health directories, counseling associations, and local healthcare listings.

• Anchor Text Strategy:
  Used a natural anchor text mix—avoiding over-optimization while still targeting relevant keywords like “couples therapy in Hollywood.”

Phase 3: Results After 6 Months (June 2025)

By the end of the 6-month SEO campaign, the Squarespace website showed measurable improvements across all key SEO performance indicators. While the site didn’t achieve overnight rankings or massive traffic spikes (which is expected for new domains), it established a strong foundational presence in Google’s index—paving the way for long-term organic growth.

1.Growth in Google Search Impressions

In January 2025, when the campaign began, the website was barely visible in Google’s search results, receiving only about 10 to 30 impressions per month. These impressions are the number of times a page from the site showed up in Google search results—even if the user didn’t click on it. By June 2025, impressions had increased to a consistent range of 20 to 50 per month.

This increase, while modest, is significant for a new website under one year old. It reflects Google’s growing recognition of the site’s content and structure, and it confirmed that the site was starting to show up for relevant search queries.

2. Search Query Visibility Increased Significantly

Before January, the site had no recorded query visibility because the sitemap hadn’t been submitted yet—meaning Google had not properly indexed the pages. After submitting the sitemap in January, the site started appearing in searches. By February 2025, it was showing up for 26 different queries.

Fast forward to June 2025, the number of queries the website was appearing for had grown to 91. This means the website was now being considered relevant by Google for nearly four times more keywords than it had been just four months prior. These queries were not just random—they were closely related to the therapy services the website was offering, and many were tied to specific locations being targeted, such as Hollywood and Philadelphia. (For privacy purposes, the keywords mentioned are just meant as an example)

3. Significant Improvement in Site Health, Authority and Backlinks

At the start of the campaign, the website had multiple technical issues holding it back from ranking or even being indexed. These included missing sitemaps, unoptimized meta tags, and thin or improperly structured content.

By June, those issues were resolved. The website had undergone a complete technical optimization, making it structurally sound, mobile-friendly, and easy to crawl. It was now set up in a way that Google could navigate its pages efficiently, index content accurately, and evaluate it for rankings. Importantly, the site was also built to be scalable—ready to accommodate new service pages and blog posts without the risk of technical SEO regressions.

When the SEO campaign started, the website had virtually no backlinks—meaning other websites were not linking to it. This lack of authority made it difficult for Google to trust the site or assign value to its content.

Over six months, the SEO strategy included acquiring quality backlinks from niche-relevant sites, directories, and guest content placements. These backlinks didn’t just boost visibility; they signaled to Google that the website had value and legitimacy within its industry. This ongoing growth in referring domains contributed directly to improvements in domain authority and query rankings.

4. The Website Became Ready for Long-Term Growth

By the end of the 6-month campaign, the real success wasn’t just in rankings—it was in infrastructure. The site was now:

• Technically optimized for Google crawling and indexing

• Structurally consistent and scalable

• Aligned with real keyword opportunities

• Built with a clear content strategy for future blog posts and location pages

This preparation means the site is not just reacting to Google’s algorithms—it’s ready to grow with them.

 

 

24 Common Questions Answered for New Website Owners

1. How do I get my website to appear in Google search?

To appear in Google search, your website needs to be discovered, crawled, and indexed by Google’s search engine.

Here’s what you should do:

• Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console so Google knows which pages exist.

• Make sure your pages aren’t hidden from search engines (no noindex tags or blocked by robots.txt).

• Create helpful, keyword-focused content that answers what people are actually searching for.

• Get other websites to link to yours (backlinks), which helps Google trust your site.

📌 In our case study, once the sitemap was submitted, the website started appearing for search queries within a month.

2. Why does my page not appear in Google search?

There are a few reasons why your page might not show up:

• Google doesn’t know it exists yet (no sitemap or links pointing to it).

• The content may be too thin or not useful enough for Google to rank.

• You might be targeting keywords that nobody is searching for.

• The page could be blocked from indexing.

📌 In the case study, the site didn’t show up at all because no sitemap had been submitted, there were no backlinks, and the content wasn’t optimized for actual search terms.

3. How long does a new website take to show up on Google?

For a brand-new website, it usually takes 3 to 6 months to start seeing results like impressions and low-tier rankings. It can take even longer (6–12 months) to rank for competitive search terms.

📌 In the above case study, the website started appearing for 26 keywords by the second month and for 91 by month six. That’s a normal timeline for new sites.

4. Why is my page not indexed by Google?

Indexing is the process of Google saving your page in its database. If your page isn’t indexed, it can’t show up in search results.

Reasons this happens:

• You haven’t submitted a sitemap.

• Your page has a noindex tag or isn’t linked from anywhere.

• You’ve used duplicate content copied from other websites.

• The content is low quality or irrelevant.

📌 In our example, indexing issues were fixed immediately after submitting the sitemap and improving internal links.

5. How to speed up Google indexing?

To help Google find and index your content faster:

• Go to Google Search Console → URL Inspection and request indexing.

• Link to new pages from existing ones so Google can find them naturally.

• Share the content on social media, blogs, or email newsletters to create signals.

• Get backlinks from other sites, which encourages crawlers to visit you more often.

📌 For the case study site, just adding internal links and fixing the sitemap significantly sped up indexing.

6. How to fix a website that’s not showing up?

If your site isn’t showing up in Google, here’s what to check:

1. Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console.

2. Run a technical SEO audit to catch errors (like noindex, slow speed, mobile issues).

3. Make sure your content targets real search terms that people use.

4. Use clear page titles and meta descriptions that match your content.

5. Start building links to your site from other relevant websites.

📌 The case study site implemented all of these: keyword realignment, structured landing pages, and link-building. That’s when it started showing up.

7. How do I get Google to crawl my website?

Google crawls your site by following links from other sites and from your sitemap.

Here’s how to make it happen:

• Submit a sitemap to Google Search Console.

• Make sure your pages are linked together internally.

• Improve your website’s speed and mobile usability.

• Avoid orphan pages—make sure every page is reachable from another one.

📌 Once the case study site had better internal links and technical structure, Google crawled it more frequently and started indexing more pages.

8. How do I know if my website is indexed by Google?

You can check in two simple ways:

• Search on Google using this: site:yourdomain.com. If you see your pages listed, they’re indexed.

• Go to Google Search Console → Index → Coverage to see all the pages that are indexed or excluded.

9. Why isn’t Google indexing my listing?

If you’re asking about a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business):

• Make sure your profile is fully filled out and verified.

• Add your website URL and contact info.

• Avoid having duplicate listings with the same name or location.

10. Why is my website not showing up on Google?

This is usually a combination of:

• The website is too new.

• There’s no sitemap or indexing setup.

• Pages aren’t optimized for keywords people search for.

• There are no links to help Google find or trust your content.

📌 Our case study showed that once those issues were fixed, the site started appearing in Google search and gaining impressions and queries.

11. Why isn’t Google crawling my site?

Google may avoid crawling your site if:

• Your pages aren’t linked internally (orphan pages).

• The site is blocked by the robots.txt file.

• There’s very little content or it’s not trustworthy.

• Your domain has no backlinks, which makes it harder for Google to find.

📌 After link building and structural changes, crawl frequency improved for the case study site.

12. How long does it take for Google to index my site?

Usually a few days to a few weeks. If your site is new and doesn’t have links or authority, it might take longer. But once you’ve submitted your sitemap and created quality content, Google will get to it.

13. How do I bring my website to Google?

Do these steps:

• Submit your site and sitemap in Google Search Console.

• Publish content using search-friendly titles, headers, and keywords.

• Start building links (even from local directories or niche forums).

• Ensure the site is fast, mobile-friendly, and error-free.

14. How to speed up indexing in Google?

• Use the Request Indexing feature in Search Console.

• Create internal links from older pages to new ones.

• Share new pages through email or social media.

• Get a few backlinks, even if they’re from small but relevant sites.

15. How do I force Google to index my website?

Use this method:

• Open Search Console → URL Inspection Tool.

• Paste the page’s URL and click “Request Indexing.”
  Make sure the page isn’t blocked and has useful content.

16. How do you check if your site is indexed by Google?

You can:

• Use the site:yourwebsite.com search in Google.

• Open Search Console → Index → Coverage Report to see a list of indexed and excluded URLs.

17. How to fix page indexing issues?

Here’s what to look at:

• Remove any noindex meta tags if the page should be indexed.

• Check canonical tags—they should point to the correct version of the page.

• Improve the page with better content, unique text, and relevant keywords.

• Submit it for re-indexing in Search Console.

18. How long does it take for Google to verify your website?

Once you add your site to Google Search Console and complete the verification step, it usually takes a few minutes to 48 hours. Choose the fastest method, like uploading a file or using a DNS record.

19. Does my website appear on Google search?

To find out:

• Search Google with: site:yourdomain.com

• Go to Search Console → Performance to see:

  • What keywords you’re showing up for

  • How many impressions and clicks you’re getting

📌 The case study site appeared for 91 search terms and received over 50 monthly impressions by Month 6.

20. Why is my site not ranking on Google?

Even if your site is indexed, that doesn’t mean it will rank well.

Ranking depends on:

• Relevance: Are you targeting the right keywords?

• Authority: Do other sites link to you?

• User experience: Is your site fast, mobile-friendly, and useful?

📌 The site in our case study didn’t rank until backlinks were built and pages were optimized for real search demand.

21. How long does it take for a new website to rank on Google?

Generally, it takes 6 to 12 months to start ranking on the first few pages for meaningful keywords. For new sites, progress can be slow at first, but a good SEO foundation pays off over time.

22. How do I make my website available on Google?

Make sure your site:

• Isn’t blocked by noindex or robots.txt

• Has a valid sitemap submitted

• Uses clear, descriptive URLs

• Has content that includes the right keywords

23. How do I tell if my website is ranking on Google?

Use these tools:

• Google Search Console: See impressions, average position, and keywords.

• SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest: Track exact rankings over time.

24. How do I get my website to show up on Google?

Think of this as a four-part formula:

1. Technical SEO: Fix errors, submit sitemap, improve page speed and mobile experience.

2. On-Page SEO: Use keywords in titles, headers, content, and internal links.

3. Off-Page SEO: Build backlinks from relevant sites in your niche.

4. Content Strategy: Create valuable, keyword-focused blog posts, landing pages, and service pages.

📌 This exact strategy helped the case study site go from zero to visibility across 90+ keywords in six months.

Key Takeaways

Although the site did not experience explosive traffic in 6 months (as expected for a new domain), it achieved what matters most early on: visibility, relevance, and a scalable SEO foundation.

This is a typical success benchmark for a new website under a properly executed SEO campaign:

• Increased impressions

• Greater visibility for relevant keywords

• Improved crawl behavior

• Backlink growth

• Structural readiness for future campaigns

This strong beginning makes the website far more resilient and competitive as it moves into its second phase of content growth and ranking development.