If your website is not showing on Google, first search site:yourdomain.com. No results means Google has not indexed it: check that WordPress is not set to discourage search engines, that no page has a noindex tag, verify the site in Google Search Console, submit your sitemap and request indexing for the homepage. If pages are indexed but you cannot find them for your service, the problem is ranking, which needs better targeted pages, local SEO, speed and trust signals.
- Indexing and ranking are different problems with different fixes.
- The WordPress “discourage search engines” box is a common culprit after launch.
- Search Console’s URL Inspection shows exactly why a page is not indexed.
- New sites can take days to weeks to appear.
- Ranking for services needs a dedicated page per service and location.
Is your site not indexed, or just not ranking?
| Test | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
site:yourdomain.com on Google | No results | Not indexed |
| Search your exact business name | Not found | Not indexed or very new |
| Business name found, service search not found | Indexed | Ranking problem |
| URL Inspection in Search Console | “URL is not on Google” | Shows the reason |
Why is my site not indexed?
- Discourage search engines is ticked in WordPress, Settings, Reading.
- Noindex tags set in Yoast, Rank Math or the theme.
- robots.txt blocking the whole site, often left from development.
- No sitemap submitted and few links pointing to the site.
- The site is brand new and Google has not discovered it yet.
- Technical errors: server errors, redirect loops, pages requiring login.
- Duplicate or thin content Google chose not to index.
How do you get indexed, step by step?
- Untick “Discourage search engines” and save.
- Check SEO plugin settings so pages and posts are indexable.
- Open yourdomain.com/robots.txt and make sure it does not say Disallow: /.
- Verify the domain in Google Search Console.
- Submit the sitemap (for Yoast: /sitemap_index.xml).
- Use URL Inspection on the homepage and key service pages, then Request indexing.
- Link the site from your Google Business Profile and social profiles.
- Check the Page indexing report after a week for any errors.
Technical SEO, on-page optimisation, schema and content plans for WordPress sites, from $300. Run the free SEO audit first if you like.
Why is my site indexed but not ranking?
Picture an electrician whose site has one page that says “We do all electrical work”. Competitors have separate pages for rewiring, panel upgrades, EV chargers and emergency callouts, each naming the city, showing prices, photos and reviews. Google matches searches to pages that answer them best, so the competitors win. The fixes are: one strong page per service and area, clear titles, helpful content, fast mobile pages, a complete Google Business Profile with reviews, and links or mentions from local sites. Google’s local ranking help names relevance, distance and prominence as the main factors.
How long does it take to appear on Google?
After submitting a sitemap, a new site often appears for its brand name within days to a couple of weeks. Ranking for competitive service searches takes months. Run the free SEO audit to catch blocking issues, and see SEO for a new website: the first 90 days for a plan.
Want me to find out why?
I check indexing, Search Console, technical settings and on-page SEO, then fix what is holding the site back. SEO work starts from $300. Ask for an SEO check.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my website not showing up on Google?
Either it is not indexed (blocked by settings, noindex, robots.txt or too new) or it is indexed but not ranking because other pages answer searches better.
How do I get my website on Google?
Allow indexing, verify Google Search Console, submit your sitemap, request indexing for key pages and link the site from your Google Business Profile.
How long does it take for Google to index a new website?
Often days to a couple of weeks after submitting a sitemap, though it varies.
How do I check if my site is indexed?
Search site:yourdomain.com on Google or use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console.
Sources
Technical SEO, on-page optimisation, schema and content plans for WordPress sites, from $300. Run the free SEO audit first if you like.
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Tanvir H is a Bangladesh-based WordPress and Elementor web designer with 7+ years of experience, 650+ projects and a 4.9 client rating. New websites, redesigns, fixes, speed, security and SEO, handled by one expert who explains everything in plain English and works with clients worldwide.
