How long does it take to show up on Google?

A brand new site can take a few days to a few weeks before Google indexes it, meaning it adds your pages to the list it can show in results. Ranking well for competitive searches takes longer, often months of having the right content and a complete Google Business Profile.

Is a Google Business Profile free?

Yes, completely free. For a local business it is one of the highest-value things you can do. It puts you on Google Maps and in the local results, often above the regular website listings.

Why does my competitor rank above me?

Usually they have more relevant content, a more complete Business Profile, and more reviews and other websites linking to them. You can build all of that up with steady work over time.

Tips

Why Isn't My Business Showing Up on Google?

Short answer

It is usually one of a few things: the site is brand new and not indexed yet, you have no Google Business Profile, your pages do not use the words people search for, or a technical setting is blocking Google. Most are fixable, and some take only minutes.

Match what you see to the likely cause

"Not showing up on Google" can mean several different problems. Start with the case below that sounds most like yours.

Your site launched in the last few weeks

Google may not have indexed it yet. Submit your sitemap, a file that lists your pages, in Google Search Console, Google's free tool for site owners. Then give it a couple of weeks.

You have no Google Business Profile

For local searches this is usually the biggest miss. Claim and fully fill out your free profile before anything else.

You search your exact business name and still find nothing

Something may be blocking Google, like a leftover setting that tells search engines to stay away. These are often added while a site is being built and never removed. Have someone technical check.

You rank for your name but nothing else

Your pages probably do not use the words customers type into Google. Add content aimed at those searches, like a page for each service you offer.

You used to show up and now you don't

A recent redesign, a change of web address, or a move to a new host may have broken something. Check what changed around the time it dropped.

Most of these fixes cost nothing but time. A Google Business Profile and Google Search Console are both free.

For a local business, start local

If you serve a specific area, your Google Business Profile and a consistent name, address, and phone number across the web matter as much as the site itself. Get those right first, then build website content around the things your customers search for. That order gets you visible fastest.

Common questions

How long does it take to show up on Google?: A brand new site can take a few days to a few weeks before Google indexes it, meaning it adds your pages to the list it can show in results. Ranking well for competitive searches takes longer, often months of having the right content and a complete Google Business Profile.
Is a Google Business Profile free?: Yes, completely free. For a local business it is one of the highest-value things you can do. It puts you on Google Maps and in the local results, often above the regular website listings.
Why does my competitor rank above me?: Usually they have more relevant content, a more complete Business Profile, and more reviews and other websites linking to them. You can build all of that up with steady work over time.