Why New Websites Can Take Time to Rank on Google
When a new website goes live, it takes time for both people and search engines to discover it. Search engines naturally give priority to long-standing, trusted websites, so one of the main goals for any new site is to build trust over time.
Think of it from a customer’s point of view. If you were searching for an electrician to work in your home, would you want Google to recommend a brand-new business with no reviews, or an established company with lots of positive feedback? It aims to recommend credible, reliable businesses that users can trust. When people receive a good service, they trust Google to guide their future searches.
Search engine rankings depend on hundreds of factors, but these can usually be grouped into three main categories:
- Website Setup
- Website Content
- Business Trust and Authority
1. Website Setup
Website setup covers how your website is built and how well it performs technically. This includes ensuring your site is mobile friendly, fast loading, secure (HTTPS), follows best practices and is properly optimised for search engines.
This is not something you need to worry about. We take care of all the technical foundations for you. Your website already scores highly for both Best Practices and SEO when analysed using Google’s tools.
2. Website Content
The content on your website is one of the most important parts of SEO. If you want to rank for a particular search phrase but that phrase never appears anywhere on your website, search engines will not see your site as relevant.
It is worth reviewing your content to make sure it includes the key phrases and topics your customers are likely to search for. You know your business and audience better than anyone, so you are best placed to identify the right keywords and the questions your customers may ask.
The more relevant and informative content you include, the better your site will perform.
A great way to add valuable content and keywords is to introduce a Blog or News section. Here you can answer common questions your customers may have. For example, if you search “What is a Blog Section” on Google, our article appears on the first page among major global businesses. Blog content can significantly increase your website traffic while helping your customers at the same time.
Remember, your package includes free unlimited content updates, so make full use of this whenever you can. If you need help or guidance, we are always happy to assist.
3. Business Trust and Authority
Search engines prefer businesses they trust. They want to see companies that have been established for a while, have consistent information online and have collected positive reviews. Building trust and authority is the most important part of long-term SEO growth.
Fundamental steps
Set up Google My Business
Make sure your Google My Business profile is visible and fully up to date. All details, including your name, address, phone number and website address, should match exactly with the details on your website. Consistency is essential. Once your listing is live, let us know and we will link it correctly to your website.
Start gathering Google reviews
Reviews are among the strongest trust signals for both search engines and potential customers. Share your review link with past clients and kindly remind future customers after completing a job.
Highly recommended steps
Create social media profiles
Set up accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Link them to your website and link your website back to them. This creates valuable backlinks and helps build credibility.
Posting regularly helps to increase your visibility online. You can even use AI tools such as ChatGPT for quick content ideas. Make sure to link your posts back to your website whenever you publish a new blog, update or product. This strengthens your SEO and drives more traffic.
You can also read our helpful article on using social media effectively: How to Use Social Media to Market Your Business Online.
Create business listings on trusted platforms
Listings on sites like Yell, Bark or Checkatrade can provide free advertising, additional traffic and strong backlinks. These platforms help build authority and improve your search rankings.
For more detail, read our article on backlinks and why they matter: The Importance of Backlinks.
In Summary
SEO takes time and consistency, but by following the steps above you will steadily improve your visibility and credibility online. Maintain your Google listing, collect reviews, post updates and grow your website content. Over time your rankings will naturally rise and traffic will increase.
The more traffic your website receives, the more it gets noticed. The more it is noticed, the higher it begins to appear in search results. The higher it ranks, the more visitors it attracts. Once this cycle starts, it builds momentum like a snowball effect.
If you would like help with any of these steps or want more information, simply let us know and we will guide you through it.
