Why Your Website Isn’t Ranking (And Exactly How to Fix It)

You put in the hours. You built a site that looks great, wrote what you thought was solid content, maybe even tried some SEO tools. Then you open Google, type in your business name or services… and nothing. Page 4? Maybe 5?

You're not the only one asking, “What am I doing wrong?”

We’ve worked with so many clients who’ve told us the same story: great website, professional photos, clean branding—and yet, zero visibility. It’s frustrating, but here's the truth: it’s rarely one big thing. Most of the time, it's a few key things that just need a little fixing.

Let’s break it down.

You’re Targeting the Wrong Keywords

Let’s start with one of the biggest missteps we see—you’re going after keywords that won’t work for you.

Here’s what happens:

You find a few keywords that sound fancy or get lots of searches. Maybe even terms your competitors are using. But those same keywords are either way too competitive—or no one in your actual customer base is searching for them.

We once helped a cabinet builder who wanted to rank for “luxury interiors.” Beautiful photos, high-end craftsmanship, but guess what? Their real customers were typing in “kitchen cabinet makers near me” or “custom wood cabinets [city].

The fix? Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find terms that match what people are actually typing in. Look for long-tail phrases—3–5 words that are specific. Not just “cabinet builder” but “affordable cabinet maker in Phoenix” or “custom pantry install near me.”

We dig deep on this kind of stuff in our SEO audits. It’s not just about keywords—it’s about the right ones for your business.

Your Website Looks Good, But Not on Mobile

We say it all the time: if your website doesn’t work on mobile, it doesn’t work at all.

Mobile traffic is over 60% now, and Google doesn’t even check your desktop version first anymore—they look at your mobile site before anything else.

We worked with a small wellness clinic once. Their site looked stunning on a laptop. But on mobile? Text overlapped. Buttons were tiny. Images didn’t load right. Within two weeks of rebuilding it mobile-first, their traffic jumped. By the second month, they hit page 1.

What to do:

• Run a Mobile-Friendly Test (just Google it—free tool).

• Make sure text is readable without zooming in.

• Don’t use full-screen popups or ads that block content.

• Keep loading speed fast—especially on slower phones.

We build mobile-first because it’s no longer optional. Google rewards it. Customers expect it.

Your Content Isn’t Saying Anything Useful

Here’s the thing: Google doesn’t rank fluff.

You could be putting out blog posts every week, but if they’re vague, thin, or don’t help anyone, they’re not going to work.

Think of it like this—your content should do at least one of the following:

✔ Answer a real question

✔ Solve a common problem

✔ Offer a unique perspective your competitors don’t

We helped a local electrician who had a 250-word “About” page. That was it. We rewrote it—added his services, credentials, client stories, and some location info. It became a 1,000-word piece, and within three months it was his top-performing page.

Want to write content that gets you found? Go deeper. Get specific. Don’t write for Google—write for the person Googling.

Your Site Is Just... Too Slow

This one’s huge. A slow site kills both your traffic and your conversion rate.

We’ve seen image-heavy homepages that took 10 seconds to load. People don’t wait. Neither does Google.

How to fix it:

• Compress your images with something like TinyPNG

• Use fewer plugins and keep your code clean

• Upgrade your hosting if needed

• Use caching and a CDN (don’t worry—we can help set that up)

Run your site through PageSpeed Insights. If you’re scoring under 70, it’s time to tune things up.

You Don’t Have Any Backlinks

Even if your content is amazing, Google needs other people to vouch for you.

That’s what backlinks are—recommendations from other websites saying, “Hey, this site’s legit.”

We had a roofing company who couldn’t break into the top 10 for months. All it took was a few local backlinks—from nearby businesses, a chamber of commerce site, and a home improvement blog. Boom—top 3 in less than 60 days.

Start small:

• Reach out to local blogs and offer guest posts

• Submit your site to online directories

• Ask happy clients to mention you in their own blog or site

• Share your content on social media with smart hashtags

Backlinks are still gold. And you don’t need hundreds—just a few good ones can make a real impact.

You Skipped the On-Page Basics

This is the SEO version of forgetting to label your file folders.

If your content doesn’t have proper structure, Google’s bots have no clue what it’s about. They don’t guess. They scan.

Checklist:

• Is your main keyword in the page title?

• Do your headings follow a clean H1 → H2 flow?

• Does every image have alt text that describes what’s in the image (and uses a keyword if relevant)?

• Is your meta description persuasive and keyword-rich?

• Are your URLs clean and readable?

These details aren’t just fluff—they’re signals that help your page get indexed properly. Don’t overlook them.

You Haven’t Claimed Your Google Business Profile

For local businesses, showing up in the Google Map Pack is everything.

If you’re not on there, you’re missing leads.

One therapist we worked with in San Diego wasn’t showing up anywhere—until we claimed and optimized her Google Business Profile. Within two weeks, her listing was showing up for local searches. Within a month, she started getting direct calls and appointment requests.

To do now:

• Claim your Google Business Profile

• Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent everywhere online

• Add real photos of your business or work

• Ask for reviews—and reply to them

• List out all your services clearly

Local SEO is its own game, and this one move can put you miles ahead.

You Gave Up Too Soon

This part is hard to hear, but important: SEO takes time.

You won’t see magic results in a week. It’s a long game—especially if your competitors have a head start.

But here’s what we know from experience: momentum builds. If you’re writing solid content, getting backlinks, and updating your pages with intention, it will pay off. Maybe not tomorrow, but in 60–90 days? Big changes.

We’ve had clients jump from page 7 to page 1—not from gimmicks, but by doing the right things, one step at a time.

Final Word: Let’s Get You Out of That SEO Rut

If you’ve made it this far, here’s the takeaway: Your website probably isn’t ranking because a few pieces of the puzzle are missing. Not all of them. Not a complete rebuild. Just a few key moves.

Go back over this list and start with the ones you know you can fix. Then build from there. Don’t try to fix it all at once—just keep moving forward.

And if you feel stuck?

That’s where we come in.

At Lead by Marketing, we don’t just build pretty websites. We build websites that rank. From strategy and content to audits and redesigns—we’re here to help you get seen, get leads, and grow.

Want a no-pressure audit? Contact us and let’s see what’s holding your site back.