You’ve just launched your new website, but now you’re asking the most important question: how to get your website to show up on Google? It’s a common and frustrating situation when your new site is nowhere to be found, but it is fixable.
Getting your website visible on Google isn’t automatic, but it isn’t magic either. It’s a process. This guide will walk you through the four essential first steps to get you started.
Step 1: Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
The very first thing you must do is directly tell Google that your website exists and give it a map.
- What to do: Set up a free account with Google Search Console. This is Google’s own tool that allows you to monitor your site’s performance. Inside the tool, you will find an option to submit a “sitemap,” which is a file that lists all the pages on your website.
- Why it matters: This is the most direct way to tell Google, “Hey, my new website is here, please come and look at it.”
Step 2: Create a Google Business Profile
For any business that serves local customers, this is the fastest way to get prominent visibility. Your Google Business Profile is the listing that appears in Google Maps and the “local pack” in search results.
- What to do: Go to Google Maps and create or claim your free Google Business Profile. Fill out every single section completely: your address, phone number, hours, services, and add high quality photos.
- Why it matters: This profile often shows up before the regular website results, especially for “near me” searches. It is the most critical step for getting found by local customers.
Step 3: On-Page SEO to Help Your Website Show Up on Google
Once Google finds your site, it needs to be able to understand what each page is about. This is called on-page SEO.
- Page Titles: Make sure the title of each page (the text in the browser tab) is clear and descriptive. For a page about your plumbing services, the title should be something like “Professional Plumbing Services in Cape Town,” not just “Our Services.”
- Headings: Use a clear main heading (H1) on each page that accurately describes the page’s topic.
- Content: Writing helpful, clear text that answers your customers’ questions is a fundamental part of how to get your website to show up on Google.
Step 4: Get Your First High Quality Backlinks
A backlink is simply a link from another website to yours. Think of them as roads leading to your new website. If there are no roads, it’s very hard for Google’s crawlers to find you.
- What to do: The easiest way to get your first, high quality links is to list your business in reputable online directories. Think of your local chamber of commerce, industry specific directories, or other trusted local business sites.
- Why it matters: Backlinks are a signal of trust. When other websites link to you, it tells Google that your site is a legitimate and valuable resource, which helps it to show up faster and rank higher over time.
From Showing Up to Growing Your Business
Following these four steps is the essential foundation for how to get your website to show up on Google. This is the starting point for any successful online presence.
But showing up is just the first step. The real goal is to show up on the first page, ahead of your competition, when customers are ready to buy. This is where a long term, professional SEO strategy comes in.
If you’ve completed these foundational steps and are ready to start climbing the rankings, our team can help. Let’s talk about a plan to turn your new visibility into real profit.