Why Isn’t My Website Showing Up on Google? Understanding Indexing & How to Fix It

Imagine this…You’re a therapist, and you’ve just begun offering a new service for clients. You create a service page with all the essential information and publish it on your website, excited to reach your ideal clients. But when you search for it on Google, it’s nowhere to be found.

That’s when you discover that your page hasn’t been indexed, meaning Google hasn’t added it to its database of search results. Without indexing, your page is practically invisible online, making it impossible for potential clients to find you.

So, why isn’t your website or new pages showing up on Google, and how can you fix it? Let’s break it down.

What Does It Mean for a Website to Be Indexed?

Before Google can display a page in search results, it first needs to crawl and index it. Crawling is when Google’s bots (also known as spiders) scan your website’s pages, following links to discover new content. If Google determines that a page is valuable and meets its criteria, it indexes the page, meaning it stores it in its database to be retrieved for search queries.

If a page isn’t indexed, it means Google either hasn’t found it yet or has chosen not to include it in search results for some reason. Understanding why this happens is the first step toward getting your pages indexed.

Common Reasons Your Website (or Pages) Aren’t Indexing

1. Google Hasn’t Crawled Your Site Yet

If your website or a new page was recently created, Google may simply not have crawled it yet. This is especially common for brand-new websites or pages that aren’t linked from anywhere else on your site.

How to Fix It:

• Go to Google Search Console (GSC) and use the URL Inspection Tool to check if the page is indexed.
• If it’s not indexed, click “Request Indexing” to prompt Google to crawl it.
• Ensure your site has a properly configured XML sitemap, which helps Google discover all of your pages faster.

Reminder: Anytime you update a page—whether you add an image, change a paragraph, or optimize content—you should request re-indexing in Google Search Console to speed up the process.

2. Your Page Has a ‘Noindex’ Tag

Sometimes, a website’s settings may accidentally tell Google not to index a page. This happens when a “noindex” tag is added to the page’s code.

How to Fix It:

• Use Google Search Console’s URL Inspection Tool to check if a page is marked as “noindex.”
• If you find a “noindex” tag in the meta code, remove it from the page settings in your website’s backend.
• Once removed, request indexing again in Google Search Console.

3. Crawl Errors Preventing Indexing

Google may have tried to crawl your page but encountered an issue, like a 404 error (page not found) or a server issue (5xx error).

How to Fix It:

• Check Google Search Console’s Coverage Report to see if there are crawl errors.
• If pages are returning 404 errors, make sure the URL is correct and hasn’t been deleted.
• Fix any server errors (5xx) by checking with your web hosting provider.

Reminder: If you delete a page and replace it with a new one, make sure to set up a 301 redirect to help Google (and visitors) find the new page.

4. Duplicate or Low-Quality Content

Google prioritizes unique, high-quality content, so if your page is too similar to another one (on your site or elsewhere), it may not be indexed.

How to Fix It:

• Use unique, original content on each page.
• If you have similar pages, use canonical tags to tell Google which version to prioritize.
• Ensure each page adds value by providing useful, well-written information.

5. Your Page Has No Internal or External Links

Google discovers new pages by following links. If no other pages on your website link to your new content, it may not get crawled.

How to Fix It:

• Add internal links to the new page from your homepage, relevant blog posts, or service pages.
• Get backlinks from trusted external websites (like directories, blogs, or referral sources) to boost visibility.

Reminder: When you make any major updates to a page (such as adding links or restructuring content), always request re-indexing to ensure Google registers the changes quickly.

How to Check Indexing Status in Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC) is your best tool for tracking indexing issues. Here’s how to check if your page is indexed:

1. Go to Google Search Console.
2. Enter the page URL in the URL Inspection Tool.
3. If it says “URL is not on Google”, click “Request Indexing.”
4. If there are errors, follow GSC’s recommendations to fix them.

Additional Tips to Get Indexed Faster

• Update your sitemap and submit it in Google Search Console after adding new pages.
• Improve website speed and performance to ensure Google can crawl your pages efficiently.
• Use social media and backlinks to help Google discover your content faster.
• Regularly audit your site to fix broken links, duplicate content, and crawl errors.

Final Reminder: Every time you add, edit or update content, you should request re-indexing in Google Search Console. This ensures Google registers your changes and updates search results accordingly.

Getting Your Website Seen by the Right Audience

If your website or a specific page isn’t showing up on Google, don’t panic! It’s often due to one of the common indexing issues we covered. By using Google Search Console, fixing crawl errors, improving content, and ensuring proper linking, you can help your pages get indexed and start appearing in search results. 

If you’re still struggling with indexing, reach out to an SEO specialist for deeper analysis and technical SEO support. Your website deserves to be seen by the clients who need your services the most!

Strengthen Your Therapy Practice’s Online Presence with Simplified SEO Consulting

Looking to attract more of your ideal clients and enhance your website’s search rankings? Simplified SEO Consulting specializes in helping therapists and private practice owners improve their digital visibility. Getting started is simple:

1. Book a free SEO consultation
2. Work with an experienced SEO expert
3. Optimize your website and connect with the right clients!

Additional Services Offered at Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team of SEO professionals offers a variety of services to help you refine your website and improve your reach. Whether you prefer a hands-off approach or want to take charge of your SEO, we have options for you. Our Done-For-You SEO Services handle everything from keyword research to content optimization, while our DIY SEO Online Courses empower you to build your own SEO skills.

For a more customized strategy, our SEO Strategy Package provides a tailored action plan, and our SEO Consulting Package offers expert guidance on specific SEO roadblocks. We also provide Technical SEO support to enhance your website’s functionality, Local SEO optimization to improve rankings in your area, and Stand-Alone Copywriting for compelling, search-optimized content.

Plus, don’t forget to explore our blog, where we share valuable SEO insights and practical tips to help therapists succeed online!

About The Author

Brianna is one of our skilled Mental Health SEO specialists who thrives on enhancing client websites and working closely with them to achieve their private practice SEO goals. She takes pride in simplifying the SEO process, offering step-by-step guidance to make it more approachable. Brianna’s ultimate aim is to create a positive SEO experience, equipping clients with the knowledge and confidence to improve their website rankings effectively.

If you’re looking for expert SEO support, book a consultation with our team to explore how we can assist you!