You launched the site, typed your name into Google and nothing came up. Do not panic: a new site appearing in search results takes days, and often weeks, and nobody can tell you exactly how long. This article lists what is in your control during that time and states plainly what you should not expect.
First: has Google seen the site?
Search Google for site:yourdomain.com. If your pages are listed, Google knows about your site. If nothing appears, it has not been indexed yet. Both are normal for a new site; what matters is the next steps.
Week one: introduce yourself to Google
- Open Search Console. It is free. There are several ways to verify ownership (an HTML tag, a DNS record). Without verification you cannot access the reports Google offers you.
- Submit your sitemap. Giving Search Console the address of your sitemap (usually
/sitemap.xml) makes your pages easier to find. It does not guarantee indexing, but it can speed the process up. - Request indexing for key pages. You can submit your home page and service pages through Search Console's URL inspection tool. The tool has a daily usage limit; do not try to submit every page.
- Make sure nothing is blocking you. Check that your robots.txt file or page tags (noindex) are not closing pages by accident. A "discourage search engines" setting left over from the testing period is a common cause on new sites.
First month: have something to show
If your site has only five pages, the number of searches Google can show you for is limited too. People do not search for your company name; they search for the problem they want solved: "how much does a website cost", "custom or off-the-shelf software". Articles that answer these questions honestly multiply the doors through which your site can be found. Speed is part of this; see our article on website speed and your Google ranking.
Business profile and outside sources
If you are a local business, a Google Business Profile is how you appear on the map; we covered the steps in how to set up a Google Business Profile in Bursa. Having your name appear in directories in your field and on the sites of organisations you know also builds trust over time. Buying links or joining bulk link lists can do the opposite; stay away.
What not to expect
- First page within a few days. For competitive searches it takes much longer and nobody can give an exact time.
- A ranking guarantee from an expert. Google decides rankings. Anyone who guarantees one is promising something they do not control.
- A one-off job. Visibility accumulates: content, speed, accurate information and time.
If you would like us to look at where your site stands now, write to us through the free quote form. We will tell you plainly what is missing and how much work it is.
