“How do I get my website on Google?” is one of the first questions new business owners ask us, usually a week or two after launch when they search for their own name and find nothing. The good news is that Google finds most new websites on its own in time. The steps below make sure it finds yours sooner, understands what you do and where, and has no technical reason to leave you out.
First, check whether Google already knows about your site
Type site:yourdomain.co.uk into Google, using your own address. If pages appear, Google has already found you and the job is to rank better, not to get listed. If nothing appears, work through the checklist below in order.
It also helps to know what you are searching for. Your business name should show up fairly quickly once you are indexed. A phrase like “electrician in Luton” is a different matter: lots of businesses compete for it, and that takes longer.
How to get my website on Google: the setup checklist
1. Make sure the site is not hidden from search engines
Many website builders and WordPress have a setting that asks search engines not to index the site. It is often switched on while a site is being built and then forgotten at launch. In WordPress it sits under Settings, then Reading. Check it first, because none of the other steps help while it is on.
2. Add your site to Google Search Console
Google Search Console is Google’s free tool for website owners. Once you have proved you own the site, it shows which pages Google has indexed, which searches you appear for and any problems it has found. It is the closest thing to a direct line to Google you will get, so set it up on day one.
3. Submit your sitemap
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages on your site. Most website platforms and SEO plugins create one for you. Add its address in Search Console so Google has a full list of pages to look at rather than relying on finding them through links.
4. Ask Google to look at your most important pages
Search Console’s URL Inspection tool lets you check a single page and request indexing. Use it for your homepage and your main service pages. Requesting indexing does not guarantee a page will be included, and there is no benefit in requesting the same page over and over.
5. Set up your Google Business Profile
For a local business, the Business Profile is often the first thing a customer sees: the map listing with your phone number, hours and reviews. It is separate from your website, so set it up as well and link it to your site. Our guide to Google Business Profile for Luton trades walks through it.
Help Google understand what you do and where
Being indexed only gets you into the library. To come up for useful searches, each page needs to make its subject obvious:
- One page per main service. A single page that lists everything rarely ranks for anything.
- Clear page titles. “Boiler Repairs in Luton | Your Business Name” tells Google and the customer exactly what the page is. “Home” does not.
- Your towns in plain sentences. Say where you work, the way you would on the phone.
- Your business details on every page. Name, phone number and area served, the same everywhere they appear online.
- Real words. A page that is all images gives Google very little to read.
Showing who is behind the business also builds trust with customers. Our study of Luton and Bedford trade websites looked at how many sites leave those details out.
Get a few genuine links and mentions
Google discovers pages by following links, and links from relevant, real websites also count as a vote of confidence. For a new local business, the easiest ones are often your trade body or supplier directory, a local business network, a partner firm you work alongside, and your own social media profiles. Avoid anyone selling hundreds of links for a small fee; that kind of link does more harm than good.
Why your site still is not showing
If you have done all of the above and still cannot see your site, check Search Console’s page indexing report. It lists pages Google has found but not indexed, with a reason. Common ones for new sites:
- The page has a “noindex” tag, often left over from the build.
- The page is very thin or almost the same as another page on the site.
- Google has found the page but not visited it yet. This usually sorts itself out with time.
- The page redirects somewhere else, or returns an error.
Patience matters too. New websites usually take time to build up visibility, and competitive searches take longer than your business name. We explain the timescales in how long SEO takes.
Getting a Luton business website on Google
For most businesses in Luton, Dunstable and Bedford, getting on Google means three things working together: the site is indexed in Search Console, the Google Business Profile is verified and linked to the site, and the pages mention the towns you actually serve. Missing any one of these slows everything down.
Be wary of anyone promising first-page rankings in a few days. New local sites usually take months, and the timing depends on competition in your trade and town.
The three sites we run in this area, PrimeGuard Removals in Dunstable, ST HECS in Luton and PaveLocal in Milton Keynes, were each set up the same way: Search Console, a verified Google Business Profile and pages for the towns they serve.
Want it done for you?
Every Ivy Hive New Business Launch website is built to be found: £497 fixed, live in 7 days, with the words written for you, and a free Google Business Profile setup for new businesses. If you already have a site that Google seems to ignore, get in touch and we will tell you what is stopping it.
