One of the most common questions that website owners ask is: why is my website NOT being shown on Google?
This video will go into a deep dive into how to get seen on Google.
Watch the video (or read the transcript below) to learn about SEO 101: and show you exactly what you can do to make your website get ranked on Google Search and seen online.
Topics explored:
- How to find out if your website has been indexed
- Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console
- Make a Google Business Profile
- Why mobile-friendliness is a key factor
- User experience (UX) is important for humans and Google search crawlers
- Add internal links to guide users
- Content length matters more than you think
- Relevant keywords
- The SEO “triangle trick”
- Update frequently with a Resources page
- Build authority with backlinks
- Avoid duplicate content
- Build credibility with SSL, social media links, transparent policies, and social proof
Watch the video below to get into it!
Transcript below:
Hi everyone! I’m going to go into a deep dive into how to get seen on Google. I’ll show you what you can do with your website, and I’ve created mine with the website builder website.com. We’ll talk about submitting to Google Search, your website setup, and the best way to structure your website content. Let’s get into it.
First things first, if you just published your website, not to worry: it takes Google a while to crawl your website and know of its existence. So if your website is published, up and running smoothly, let’s go a bit further to get your website ranking on Google search.
You can check if your website has been indexed by Google by going to Google Search, and typing:
Site:yourwebsitedomainname
So I’ll type site:auntiescupcakes.com
If your website doesn’t show up, then it has not been indexed by Google yet.
One way to speed up the indexing process is to verify your website and submit your sitemap to Google Search console.
The good news is that Website.com will automatically create a sitemap for you.
To verify your website and submit it to Google, we made this step by step video tutorial, I’ll leave that in the comments.
Next, if you have a local business, it is well worth your time to create a Google Business Profile.
This way, your website can be shown in a directory list on Google Search and Maps, getting more eyeballs and traffic to your website.
To watch how to create your Google Business Profile, we have a video tutorial for you to follow which will also be in the description.
Now let’s get to the nitty gritty of your website design and content.
First of all, having a mobile friendly website is essential for Google, but luckily, your website is automatically mobile optimized by Website.com.
In the website builder, to take a look at the mobile version o your website, you can look at it in the preview.
Now UX or the user experience of your website is very important. Make sure the navigation through your website is smooth and makes sense.
Double check that all the buttons work, that the text is legible, and that you don’t have tons of subpages in your menu, important links buried on random pages, or large videos that autoplay for no reason.
You want to make sure that your website gives visitors a good experience, so have some friends or trusted clients test out your website and give you their thoughts.
Naturally add internal links within your website to lead visitors through your website. It will also help Google understand your website.
For example, if you mention your top rated services on your home page, you may want to link to your Services page.
Another thing to pay attention to is the content length on your website.
One mistake that website owners make is having not enough content on their web pages.
You want to have enough relevant content that can let both humans and search engines what you offer, and how you fit into your industry.
A good sweet spot to aim for is 300-700 words per page.
Make sure this content is relevant to your business and industry, and incorporates your target keywords naturally within the flow of your content.
Speaking of keywords, make sure you do your research to ensure that you are using the best keywords for your website.
You want them to be specific to your type of business, instead of too broad. Think of your ideal client and what they would be searching for.
Here’s a trick to boost your SEO. If your keywords are “best cupcakes in Mainland,’ try to incorporate your targeted keywords in the H1: Best Cupcakes in Mainland, in the URL auntiescupcakes.com/best-cupcakes-in-mainland, and in the opening paragraph or very early on in the content on your main page.
You may also want to build a resources page that you can update regularly with new articles and pages.
Watch our tutorial to show you how to create a resources page, and again I’ll link that in the comments.
You may also want to build authority for your website by having backlinks that lead back to your website.
One way to have this is to to be a guest author for another reputable blog or website, and have include a link back to your website.
Now make sure you aren’t sabotaging your website by using duplicate content. Even if you have pages with similar content, for example, an About Section on each page, aim to use different content instead of just copying and pasting word for word from another page.
Google wants your page content to be unique.
And above all else, do NOT copy content from someone else’s website.
Now lastly, a top SEO tip is to make sure your website looks trustworthy.
First, make sure you have an SSL certificate – and rest assured, all Website.com premium plans include a SSL certificate for free.
Add reviews on your website, add links to your social media accounts, and make sure you are very transparent about your policies and services.
So try all of these tactics out and see how it can improve your rankings on Google Search!
Be aware that patience is needed – this is not an overnight fix, but it sets you up with the best possible strategies to help your website succeed consistently over time.
We hope this was helpful, and don’t forget to subscribe to @websitedotcom for more website tips and tutorials.
Thanks for watching!