We hope you enjoy reading the MEANit blog with all the guides and tips. If you want our team to help with your web presence click here

The articles here will give you everything you need to plan, design, develop, market and maintain your website, if you have the time required – Enjoy.

Why is my website not indexing or showing up in Google search?

by | Last updated: Mar 17, 2025

A website or a specific website page might not be appearing in Google for a lot of reasons.

Start by running this FREE Google search check by adding a site:  in front of the domain such as the site:https://meanit.ie/. Do include the colon :. This will bring back a list of all the pages that are currently being indexed by Google. You can even check if an individual page is indexed by doing the same with an individual page site:https://meanit.ie/what-is-seo/

Google may see your website or a specific page, but not be in a rush to crawl it, then index it or rank it. Initially, it crawls and then indexes the page, then it ranks it in the SERPs search engine results pages. Over time the ranking may improve or not, depending on the quality of your page content and search engine optimisation.

 

Here are the common reasons why a page or a website may not be showing

  •  The Website has just been launched and is too new, as Google may not have indexed it yet. You need to submit a new sitemap to Google to let them know that you have launched a new website or added new pages
  •   The metatags are set to No index or No follow – check-in Yoast advanced settings, to ensure that your website is not blocking Google from indexing and ranking the pages
  •   Your site is too small, perhaps a one-page website of some sort or it is on some small page builder or content management platform
  •   The website is not ‘mobile-friendly and Google expects this at a minimum in 2025
  •   Your website is delivering too slowly, which could be a content or a hosting issue – check the speed.
  •   Google had a look and determined that you have a poor website structure
  •   Google had a look and determined that you have low-quality content
  •   Google had a look and determined that you have poor domain authority DA so your site is not to be trusted
  •   Google does not see your robots.txt file which tells its search engine crawlers which URLs the crawler can access on your website
  •   Google does not see your XML sitemap, which is a file that lists a website’s important pages, making sure Google can find and crawl them all
  •   Google Search Console domain property is not configured or configured correctly
  •   Google thinks you have too many broken links as in 404 errors
  •   Google thinks you have too many ‘orphan’ pages as in pages that are buried within the site without any obvious navigation to get to them
  •   Google thinks you have duplicated a website or its content
  •   Google thinks you have used outdated code
  •   Google thinks you have used image files or photos that are way too big, possibly with a poor naming convention, maybe even huge video files
  •   Google thinks you have failed Core Web Vitals numbers, so it may rank the site poorly when it does show it
  •   Google thinks you have some spammy backlinks or maybe not enough backlinks
  •   Google had a look and determined that you have failed some qualifications in one of its many algorithms, so you need to check Google’s Quality Raters Guideline

Issues such as missing robots.txt or XML sitemap files, broken links, orphan pages, duplicated content, outdated code, large image or video files, and failing Core Web Vitals can affect search visibility. Google’s assessment of spammy backlinks or not enough backlinks, along with failing to meet specific algorithm qualifications, can impact a website’s ranking. Referencing Google’s Quality Raters Guideline can provide insights into addressing these issues effectively.

How well did your web developers optimise your website?

Obviously, you want to turn up at the top of page 1 when someone searches your business name. And, much more importantly, you want to turn up on page 1 when someone does a search for a firm that offers the services you offer.

If this is not happening then your website does not sound like it is well-optimised. It does not matter how well it looks if it is never seen. And every page should be indexed, ranking, and therefore visible.

Google may be a robot, using multiple hundreds of algorithms to assess websites and individual pages, however, it will still not want to over-exert itself. It will attempt to use the lowest number of resources. So if it deems your website to be poor, it might move on and come back later. Or it might only crawl a bit of the website at a time, so it takes longer for some pages to get crawled, indexed, and then ranked in SERPs. Even when it crawls and indexes the pages, it may not actually rank them for some time.

To request a crawl of individual URLs, use the URL Inspection tool. You must be an owner or full user of the Google Search Console property to be able to request indexing in the URL Inspection tool. Then wait a week or so before submitting again, if there is still no site/page.

Troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check Google Search Console: Configure Google Search Console for your website to monitor indexing status, identify errors, and request indexing of specific URLs if needed.
  2. Technical SEO audit: Conduct a technical SEO audit to identify and fix any technical issues impacting crawling, indexing, and ranking.
  3. Content review: Analyse the website’s content for quality, relevance, and user engagement. Consider creating informative and valuable content optimised for relevant keywords or key phrases.

If you need help with SEO you can read our guides here in the blog or check out our SEO services.

 

Tablet with website search bar to show not indexing or showing in Google Search

Exploring Advanced Tactics for Enhanced Indexing

Beyond the basics of SEO, there are advanced tactics that can significantly boost your website’s indexing and visibility on Google. One such strategy is improving your site’s internal linking structure, which not only helps with SEO but also enhances user experience by making information easier to find. Additionally, engaging in regular content audits can reveal outdated information or underperforming pages that could benefit from updates or consolidation. These practices not only keep your content fresh and relevant but also signal to Google that your website is a valuable, up-to-date resource for users. Moreover, leveraging the power of influencer collaborations and guest posts can extend your reach and bring high-quality backlinks, further establishing your domain’s authority and trustworthiness in your niche. Implementing these advanced techniques ensures that your website stays competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of search engine algorithms, helping you maintain visibility in Google’s search results.

FAQS on why my website is not indexing or showing in Google Search

How can structured data help my site's visibility?

Implementing structured data (schema markup) on your website can help Google understand the content of your pages better. This can enhance your appearance in search results through rich snippets, which can improve click-through rates.

What role does social media play in SEO?

While social media signals do not directly influence search rankings, they can help increase brand exposure and drive traffic to your site. More importantly, social engagement can lead to more backlinks, as people discover and reference your content.

How can I improve the crawlability of my website?

Ensure that your website has a clear link structure, every page is accessible through at least one static text link, and use a breadcrumbs list. Avoid deep nesting of pages and ensure all important content is linked appropriately.

What is the impact of HTTPS on SEO?

Google has confirmed that securing your website with HTTPS (SSL/TLS) is a ranking signal. HTTPS not only helps improve your site’s security but also builds trust with visitors.

How often should I update my website's content?

Regular updates to your website signal to Google that your site is active. The frequency of updates should depend on your industry, but even periodic updates to existing content or adding new pages can help maintain or improve your SEO standing.

Do you want more ideal Clients?

We help 34 ‘Professional Services Firms‘ to be effective online annually. Will your business be one of the 34 in 2025?
MEANit-Web-Design-Agency-Michael-MacGinty

Written by Michael MacGinty

Michael is a well known speaker, author and coach on SEO and how to use the web to grow a business. He is also WP Elevation certified as a Digital Business Consultant.
Blog Categories
Website Design
Search Engine Optimisation
Website Support Info
FAQs
Website Tips
Digital Marketing
News
Business Tips

Get ‘loved’ by

MEANit Web Design SEO Google Logo

About The Author

You May Also Like…