Why Your Website Isn't Ranking on Google (And How to Fix It)

Kavisha Thakkar
4 days ago
7 min read

Introduction: The Frustration of the "Invisible" Website

You’ve invested time and money into building a beautiful website. You’ve launched it, shared it on social media, and... crickets.

You search for your services on Google, scrolling past page 1, page 2, page 3... but your business is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, your competitors are sitting comfortably at the top, soaking up all the traffic and leads.

It’s frustrating. It feels like you built a magnificent shop in the middle of a desert where no one passes by.

Here is the hard truth: Google doesn't owe you a ranking. Just having a website isn't enough. In 2026, Google’s algorithm uses over 200 factors to decide which websites deserve to be seen. If you aren't ranking, it’s not bad luck—it’s a specific issue (or a combination of issues) preventing Google from trusting your site.

At Jigsawkraft, we specialize in diagnosing these issues. Whether it's a technical glitch, a content gap, or a lack of authority, everything is fixable.

In this guide, we will break down the top 10 reasons why your website isn't ranking on Google and exactly how to fix them to start driving real traffic.

Why Your Website Isn't Ranking on Google (And How to Fix It)

Reason 1: Technical SEO Issues (Google Can't Read You)

Before looking at content or keywords, you must check the foundation. If Google can't crawl (read) your website, you will never rank. Period.

The Diagnosis:

Technical SEO errors are like locking the front door of your shop. You might have great products inside, but Google’s "bots" cannot get in to inventory them. Common culprits include:

NoIndex Tags: Code that accidentally tells Google "do not look at this page."
Robots.txt Errors: A file that blocks Google from specific sections of your site.
Broken Links (404s): Dead ends that frustrate users and bots.

How to Fix It:

Check Google Search Console: This is non-negotiable. If you haven't set this up, do it now. Look for "Coverage" errors.
Submit Your Sitemap: Ensure Google has a map of your site structure.
Audit Your Site: A professional audit can reveal hidden code issues.

Need Help? If technical jargon like "canonical tags" and "XML sitemaps" sounds overwhelming, our SEO Services handle the heavy lifting to ensure your foundation is rock solid.

Reason 2: You're Targeting the Wrong Keywords

Many small businesses try to rank for keywords that are either too broad (impossible to rank for) or irrelevant (nobody searches for them).

The Diagnosis:

Too Competitive: Trying to rank for "best shoes" instead of "handcrafted leather shoes in Ahmedabad."
Zero Search Volume: Optimizing for terms nobody actually types into Google.
Wrong Intent: Trying to rank a service page for a keyword where people just want information (like a blog post).

How to Fix It:

You need a proper keyword strategy. Stop guessing and start researching.

Use tools like Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner.
Focus on Long-Tail Keywords (e.g., "affordable website development in Ahmedabad" vs. "web design").
Align your keywords with the intent of the page.

Learn More: We cover keyword strategy in depth in our guide on SEO for Small Businesses in India: Complete 2026 Guide.

Reason 3: Your Content is "Thin" or Low Quality

Google’s #1 goal is to provide the best answer to a user's query. If your content is short, generic, or poorly written, Google has no reason to rank you above your competitors.

The Diagnosis:

Thin Content: Pages with less than 300 words that provide little value.
Duplicate Content: Copy-pasting the same text across multiple pages (or stealing it from other sites).
Outdated Information: Content that hasn't been updated in years.

How to Fix It:

You need to create authoritative, helpful content.

Go Deep: Write comprehensive guides (like this one!) that fully answer the user's questions.
Solve Problems: Don't just sell; educate.
Use AI Wisely: AI can help you draft content faster, but you must humanize it. Check out our guide on AI Content Creation: The Complete 2025 Guide to do this right.

If you don't have the time to write, our professional Content Creation services can keep your blog active and high-quality.

Reason 4: Your Website is Too Slow (Core Web Vitals)

In 2026, speed is a ranking factor. If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, users will bounce (leave), and Google will penalize you.

The Diagnosis:

Large, uncompressed images.
Too many plugins or heavy code.
Cheap, slow hosting servers.

How to Fix It:

Test Your Speed: Use Google PageSpeed Insights.
Compress Images: Never upload raw images directly from a camera.
Upgrade Hosting: Good hosting is an investment, not an expense.

If your website was built poorly from the start, it might be bloated with bad code. Learn more about the pitfalls of bad development in 10 Website Development Mistakes Small Businesses Make in India.

Reason 5: You're Ignoring Mobile Optimization

Google uses Mobile-First Indexing. This means Google looks at the mobile version of your site first to determine your ranking. If your desktop site looks great but your mobile site is broken, you won't rank.

The Diagnosis:

Text is too small to read on phones.
Buttons are too close together.
Content runs off the side of the screen.
Pop-ups cover the entire mobile screen.

How to Fix It:

You need a responsive design that adapts perfectly to any screen size. This is a standard standard in modern web development.

If your site isn't mobile-friendly, it might be time for a redesign. Check out our guide on How to Build a Business Website: The Complete 2026 Guide to understand the modern standards.

Need a pro to handle it? Our Website Development team builds mobile-first by default.

Reason 6: You Have No Authority (Backlinks)

This is often the hardest pill to swallow. You can have great content and a fast site, but if no other websites link to you, Google sees you as "unverified." Backlinks are like votes of confidence from other sites.

The Diagnosis:

New Domain: New websites start with Domain Authority (DA) of 0.
Isolation: You exist in a vacuum with no references from industry blogs, news sites, or partners.

How to Fix It:

Create Linkable Assets: Write content so good (like original research or free tools) that people want to link to it.
Guest Posting: Write articles for other reputable sites in your niche.
Digital PR: Get featured in local news or industry roundups.

Building authority takes time and effort. Understanding the investment required is key—read our breakdown of SEO Services Cost in India to see how link building fits into a budget.

Reason 7: You're Neglecting Local SEO

If you are a local business (like a café, clinic, or boutique in Ahmedabad) and you aren't ranking, it's likely because you haven't optimized for Local Search.

The Diagnosis:

You don't have a Google Business Profile (GBP).
Your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) are inconsistent across the web.
You have no Google Reviews.

How to Fix It:

Claim & Optimize GMB: This is the #1 factor for local ranking.
Get Reviews: actively ask happy customers for feedback.
Local Keywords: Use city names in your content (e.g., "Best [Service] in [City]").

We have a specific guide for this: Google My Business Optimization: Complete Guide for 2026.

Also, be sure to avoid common errors listed in 10 Google My Business Mistakes That Kill Your Local Rankings.

For hands-on help, explore our Google My Business management service.

Reason 8: Poor User Experience (High Bounce Rate)

Google tracks how users interact with your site. If someone clicks your link, hates what they see, and immediately clicks "back," that's a "bounce." High bounce rates tell Google your site isn't a good result.

The Diagnosis:

Confusing Navigation: Users can't find what they need.
Ugly Design: The site looks unprofessional or outdated.
Intrusive Ads: Pop-ups that annoy users immediately.

How to Fix It:

Your website needs to be intuitive.

Simplify your menu.
Use plenty of white space.
Ensure your content is easy to read (good font size, headings).

Good design builds trust. If you're struggling to choose a partner to fix this, read How to Choose a Website Development Company in India.

Reason 9: Your Website is Too New (The Sandbox Effect)

Sometimes, you haven't done anything wrong—you just haven't waited long enough.

The Diagnosis:

New websites often sit in the "Google Sandbox" for 3-6 months. Google is testing your site to see if it's legitimate and trustworthy before ranking it for competitive keywords.

How to Fix It:

Patience and Consistency.

Keep publishing content.
Keep building links.
Drive traffic through other channels like social media while you wait for SEO to kick in.

Use this time to build your brand on social channels. Our Social Media Management services can help you get traffic now while your SEO builds up later.

Reason 10: You’ve Been Penalized by Google

This is rare but serious. If you tried to "trick" Google with black-hat tactics, you might have received a manual action penalty.

The Diagnosis:

Buying backlinks.
Keyword stuffing (hiding text on the page).
Automatically generated spam content.

How to Fix It:

Check the "Manual Actions" tab in Google Search Console. If you have a penalty, you must fix the issue and submit a reconsideration request.

Lesson: Never try to cheat the system. Stick to white-hat strategies.

FAQs About Website Rankings

How long does it take to rank on Google?

For a new website, it typically takes 3 to 6 months to start seeing significant organic traction. For competitive keywords, it can take 6-12 months of consistent effort. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.

Why is my competitor ranking higher than me?

They likely have higher Domain Authority (more backlinks), older domain age, or more comprehensive content. Analyze their site to see what they are doing differently.

Does social media help SEO ranking?

Indirectly, yes. Social media drives traffic to your site, which signals popularity to Google. It also increases the chance of people linking to your content. To maximize this, ensure your social strategy aligns with your SEO. Check out our Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses Guide.

Should I hire an agency or do SEO myself?

You can do basic SEO yourself, but technical SEO and link building are time-consuming and complex. If you have the budget, hiring an expert delivers faster, safer results. Read our guide on Should You Hire a Content Marketing Agency? to help you decide.