Why Your Business Isn't Showing Up on Google (And How to Fix It)
Introduction
You search for your business on Google and… nothing. You're not on the first page. You're not even on the second page. Meanwhile, your competitors are right there at the top, and you're left wondering: why isn't my business showing up on Google?
You're not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations small business owners face, and it's especially painful when you know you offer excellent services but can't seem to get in front of potential customers who are actively searching for what you do.
Here's why this matters: 93% of online experiences start with a search engine. If you're not showing up when people search for businesses like yours in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or wherever you're located, you're essentially invisible to the customers who need you most.
The good news? There are specific, fixable reasons why businesses don't show up on Google, and in this article, I'll walk you through the 8 most common ones. Some of these fixes take 10 minutes. Others require more time and effort. But all of them are worth it if you want to stop losing customers to competitors who figured this out before you did.
Want us to diagnose exactly what's wrong with your site? Schedule a free 30-minute call, and we'll show you the specific issues holding your business back.
Before We Troubleshoot: Check If You're Indexed
Before we dive into why you're not ranking well, let's make sure you're actually in Google's database at all. Many business owners assume they're ranking poorly when the real problem is that Google doesn't know their website exists yet.
What the results mean:
If pages from your site show up: You're indexed by Google. Your issue is ranking (covered below).
If nothing shows up: You're not indexed at all. This is a bigger problem, but it's fixable (see Reason #1).
Indexing is the process where Google's crawlers discover your website, analyze it, and add it to their massive database of web pages. Until you're indexed, you can't rank for anything.
If you found your site in the search results, great — let's figure out why you're not ranking higher. If you didn't find anything, start with Reason #1 below.
Reason #1: Your Website Isn't Indexed by Google
The problem: Google doesn't know your site exists, so it can't show you in search results.
This is more common than you'd think, especially for newer websites. If Google's crawlers haven't discovered and indexed your site yet, you won't appear in any searches — not even for your own business name.
Common causes:
Your website is brand new (Google hasn't found it yet)
Your robots.txt file is blocking Google's crawlers
You have a "noindex" tag telling Google not to index your pages
You haven't submitted your site to Google Search Console
Technical errors are preventing Google from crawling your site
Your website platform is blocking search engines by default
How to fix it:
Set up Google Search Console if you haven't already. This free tool from Google lets you submit your website and monitor how Google sees it. Go to search.google.com/search-console and add your property.
Submit your sitemap. In Google Search Console, go to "Sitemaps" and submit your sitemap URL (usually yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). Most website platforms generate this automatically.
Request indexing. In Search Console, use the "URL Inspection" tool at the top. Enter your homepage URL and click "Request Indexing." Do this for your most important pages.
Check your robots.txt file. Go to yourdomain.com/robots.txt in your browser. If you see "Disallow: /" this means you're blocking all crawlers. Remove this line or contact your web developer.
Look for noindex tags. Right-click on your homepage, select "View Page Source," and search for "noindex." If you find it, this tag needs to be removed.
Timeline: Once you fix these issues and submit your site, it typically takes 1-2 weeks for Google to index a new website. Established sites can get indexed much faster — sometimes within days.
Reason #2: You Don't Have a Google Business Profile (Or It's Not Optimized)
The problem: Without a Google Business Profile, you're missing from Google Maps and local search results.
If you're a local business serving customers in a specific area (Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or anywhere else), your Google Business Profile (formerly "Google My Business") is absolutely critical. This is what makes you appear in:
Google Maps when people search for businesses like yours
The "Map Pack" (those top 3 businesses with map pins)
The knowledge panel on the right side of search results
Even if you have a Google Business Profile, it might not be fully optimized, which means you're not getting the visibility you could be.
How to fix it:
Claim your Google Business Profile. Go to business.google.com and search for your business. If it exists, claim it. If not, create a new listing.
Verify your business. Google no longer sends a postcard with a verification code to your business address. Instead, more efficient methods will be used, like video, phone, or email verification. Verification can take a couple of days.
Complete every single field. Don't skip anything:
Business name (exactly as it appears in real life)
Address, phone number (keep this consistent everywhere online)
Business hours (including holiday hours)
Business category (be specific: choose "Personal Injury Attorney" not just "Lawyer," or "Residential Real Estate Agency" not just "Real Estate")
Business description (include what you do and where you serve — naturally mention Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or your area)
Services or products you offer
Website URL
Attributes (women-owned, veteran-owned, wheelchair accessible, etc.)
Add high-quality photos. Upload at least 10 photos:
Exterior of your business
Interior shots
Your team
Your work (properties sold, courtroom, client meetings)
Your logo
Start getting reviews. Reviews are a major ranking factor. Ask happy clients to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. Make it easy by sending them a direct link.
Post regular updates. Google Business Profile lets you publish posts (like mini social media updates). Post about recent closings, case wins, tax tips, or helpful advice at least once a week.
Timeline: Once your profile is verified and optimized, you can start appearing in local search results within 1-2 weeks. Getting into the top 3 Map Pack positions takes longer and depends on competition, reviews, and other factors.
Reason #3: Google Doesn't Know Where You're Located
The problem: Your website doesn't give Google clear signals about where you do business.
If you're a CPA in Tulsa but your website never mentions "Tulsa," Google has no idea you're a local business. Your website might look professional, but if the content could belong to a business anywhere in the country, you won't rank for local searches.
Common mistakes:
Generic homepage content: "We provide excellent legal representation"
No city or region mentioned anywhere on the site
Address buried in tiny footer text or on a separate contact page only
Service area not specified
No local content or references
How to fix it:
Add location to your homepage title tag. This is what appears in browser tabs and search results. Instead of "Smith & Associates Law Firm," use "Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyer | Smith & Associates."
Include location in your H1 heading. Your main homepage headline should mention where you serve. Example: "Trusted Family Law Attorney Serving Tulsa and Broken Arrow."
Write a location-rich homepage. Naturally mention your city, region, and service areas throughout your content. Don't just say "we serve local families" — say "we've helped families throughout Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, and the surrounding metro area for over 15 years."
Create a clear NAP (Name, Address, Phone) in your footer. This should appear on every page of your site, ideally in the footer. Make sure it's text, not an image, so Google can read it.
Add a service areas section. List the specific cities, neighborhoods, or regions you serve.
Create location-specific content. Blog posts about local market conditions, new laws affecting your area, or neighborhood guides help Google understand your geographic relevance.
Ensure NAP consistency. Your business name, address, and phone number should be identical everywhere online: your website, Google Business Profile, Facebook, legal directories, everywhere. Even small differences (like "St." vs. "Street") can confuse Google.
Example transformation:
Before: "We're a CPA firm specializing in small business accounting. Our experienced team provides comprehensive tax services."
After: "We're a CPA firm serving small businesses throughout Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and Owasso. Our experienced Oklahoma CPAs have helped local business owners navigate tax season and year-round accounting for over 20 years."
Timeline: You can make these changes today. Google typically recognizes these signals and adjusts your rankings within 2-4 weeks.
Reason #4: Your Competitors Have Better SEO
The problem: You're showing up in Google, but your competitors are outranking you.
This is actually the most common reason businesses don't appear on page 1. You're not invisible — you're on page 2, 3, or 4. The issue is that your competitors have invested time and resources into SEO, and they're beating you.
When you search for "real estate agent Oklahoma City" or "CPA Tulsa" or "divorce attorney Edmond," the businesses on page 1 didn't get there by accident. They earned those spots through better optimization, more content, stronger backlinks, and consistent effort.
How to fix it:
Do competitor research. Google your target keywords and look at who ranks in the top 5. Ask yourself:
What content do they have that you don't?
How long and in-depth are their pages?
Do they have more reviews than you?
Are they mentioned on local news sites or in directories?
How active is their blog?
Create better content than your competitors. If their practice area page has 500 words, write 1,500 words with more helpful information, examples, and answers to common questions. If competing real estate agents have basic "About" pages, create a comprehensive guide to your local neighborhoods.
Build your domain authority over time. Domain authority is a measure of how trustworthy and credible Google considers your website. It's built through:
Getting backlinks from other reputable websites
Being mentioned in local news or industry publications
Listings in quality directories
Consistent publishing of helpful content
Age of your domain (older domains tend to have more authority)
Get listed in local directories and associations. Submit your business to:
Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, Facebook
Your local Chamber of Commerce
Industry-specific directories (Avvo for lawyers, Zillow for real estate, better business bureau)
Oklahoma Bar Association (for attorneys)
Oklahoma Association of Realtors
Oklahoma Society of CPAs
Earn backlinks from local organizations. Reach out to local organizations you're involved with, sponsor local events, write guest posts for local publications, or get featured in local news stories. Every quality link back to your site helps.
Publish helpful content consistently. Start a blog and publish articles that answer questions your clients ask. This builds authority and gives you more opportunities to rank for different keywords.
Reality check: This isn't a quick fix. SEO is a long-term strategy. Most businesses start seeing meaningful improvements around the 3-6 month mark. But here's the payoff: once you rank, you get consistent traffic without paying for every click like you do with ads.
Want to see where you stand compared to competitors? Get a free competitive analysis, and we'll show you exactly what's working for them (and what's not).
Reason #5: Your Website Has Technical Problems
The problem: Technical issues are preventing Google from properly crawling, indexing, or ranking your site.
You might have great information about your services and an attractive design, but if the technical foundation of your website is shaky, you won't rank well. Google's crawlers need to be able to access your site easily, understand its structure, and determine that it provides a good user experience.
Common technical issues:
Slow page speed: If your site takes 3+ seconds to load, Google penalizes you (and visitors leave)
Not mobile-friendly: Over 60% of searches happen on mobile devices, and Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing
Broken links: 404 errors and broken internal links hurt user experience and SEO
Duplicate content: Multiple pages with the same or very similar content confuse Google
Missing or poor meta descriptions: Every page needs a unique, compelling meta description
No HTTPS (not secure): Google gives preference to secure sites with SSL certificates
Poor site structure: Confusing navigation and poorly organized content make crawling difficult
How to fix it:
Check your page speed. Go to pagespeed.web.dev, enter your URL, and see how fast your site loads. Google provides specific recommendations for improvement. Aim for a load time under 3 seconds.
Test mobile-friendliness. Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test. If your site isn't mobile-friendly, work with your developer or website platform to make it responsive.
Find and fix broken links. Use a tool like Semrush Site Audit, Screaming Frog, or even free broken link checkers. Fix any 404 errors and broken internal links.
Get an SSL certificate. If your site URL starts with "http://" instead of "https://", you need an SSL certificate. Most hosting providers offer these for free or very cheap. This makes your site secure and gives you a ranking boost.
Write unique meta descriptions. Every page on your site should have a unique meta description (the snippet that appears under your page title in search results). Make them compelling and include relevant keywords naturally.
Address duplicate content. If you have multiple pages with the same content, consolidate them or use canonical tags to tell Google which version is the primary one.
Improve site structure. Make sure your navigation is clear, your important pages are easy to find, and you're using a logical hierarchy with proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3).
Timeline: Some fixes are immediate (adding HTTPS gives you the ranking boost right away), while others (improving site speed) can take a few weeks to fully impact your rankings once implemented.
Reason #6: You're Missing Reviews (Especially on Google)
The problem: Businesses with reviews rank higher than businesses without them, especially in local search.
Reviews aren't just about reputation — they're a direct ranking factor for local SEO. Google's algorithm factors in the quantity, quality, and recency of your reviews when deciding where to rank you in local search results and the Map Pack.
Think about it from Google's perspective: if they're going to recommend a business to someone searching for "estate planning attorney in Edmond," they want to recommend a business that other people have vouched for.
The data: According to research, businesses with 20+ reviews on Google rank significantly better than businesses with 0-5 reviews. The difference between having 5 reviews and having 50 reviews can literally be the difference between page 1 and page 3.
How to fix it:
Start asking for reviews. After every successful closing, case resolution, or satisfied client, ask for a Google review. The best time to ask is right after you've delivered value — when the client is most satisfied.
Make it easy. Don't just say "leave us a review on Google." Send them a direct link to your Google review page. Here's how to get your link:
Go to your Google Business Profile
Click "Get more reviews"
Copy the short URL
Use this link in emails, texts, or on printed materials
Be specific in your request. Instead of a generic "please review us," try: "We'd love to hear about your experience working with us! Would you mind taking 2 minutes to leave us a Google review? Here's the link: [URL]"
Respond to every review. When someone takes the time to leave a review (positive or negative), respond thoughtfully. This shows you care about client feedback and it signals to Google that you're actively managing your profile.
Don't buy fake reviews. Google is good at detecting fake reviews, and the penalty isn't worth it. Focus on getting authentic reviews from real clients.
Ask consistently, not just once. Make review requests part of your normal business process. Set up automated email sequences, train your staff to ask, or add it to your closing documents.
Timeline: Start requesting reviews this week. You should be able to get 5-10 reviews within the first month if you're actively asking. Ranking impact typically shows within 1-2 months as reviews accumulate.
Reason #7: Your Website Doesn't Have Enough Quality Content
The problem: Your website has minimal content, and what's there is generic or thin.
If your website is just a homepage, an about page, and a contact page with a paragraph or two on each, you're not giving Google much to work with. Google needs content to understand what you do, who you serve, and why you're relevant for specific searches.
"Thin content" (pages with 100-200 words of generic text) won't rank, especially in competitive markets. And if your content sounds like it could belong to any attorney, realtor, or accountant anywhere, it's not helping you stand out.
Common content mistakes:
Homepage has 3 sentences and a photo
One generic "Services" page listing everything you do
No blog or resources section
Pages with duplicate content copied from competitors
Content written for search engines, not humans
No answers to questions clients actually ask
How to fix it:
Create dedicated pages for each service or practice area. If you offer multiple services, create a separate, in-depth page for each one. Instead of one "Practice Areas" page, create:
For attorneys: Separate pages for "Personal Injury," "Family Law," "Estate Planning" (1,000+ words each)
For real estate agents: Pages for "Buyer Representation," "Seller Services," "First-Time Homebuyers" (1,000+ words each)
For CPAs: Pages for "Tax Preparation," "Business Accounting," "Bookkeeping Services" (1,000+ words each)
Write in-depth content. Aim for at least 1,000 words on your main service pages. This isn't about hitting a word count — it's about being thorough and helpful. Answer questions, provide examples, explain your process, and address common concerns.
Start a blog. Publishing helpful articles regularly gives you more opportunities to rank for different keywords and positions you as an expert. Write about:
Questions clients ask you
Common problems in your industry
How-to guides and tips (e.g., "How to Prepare for Your First Home Purchase")
Local market updates (real estate trends, new Oklahoma laws, tax changes)
Answer real questions. Think about what your clients ask before they hire you. Create content that answers those questions thoroughly. For example:
Real estate: "How Much Are Closing Costs in Oklahoma?"
Law firms: "How Long Does a Divorce Take in Oklahoma?"
CPAs: "What Can I Deduct as a Small Business Owner?"
Add local context. Don't just write generic advice — include examples, references, and information specific to Oklahoma, your city, or your service area. A realtor might write about specific Oklahoma City neighborhoods. An attorney might discuss Oklahoma-specific laws.
Update old content. If you have pages that were written years ago, refresh them with current information, new examples, and more depth.
Example:
Weak content: "We offer family law services. Contact us today for help with your case."
Strong content: "We help families throughout Tulsa navigate divorce, child custody, and family law matters. Our process begins with a free consultation where we listen to your situation and explain your options under Oklahoma law. Whether you're facing a contested divorce in Tulsa County or need to modify a custody arrangement in Broken Arrow, we guide you through every step. Most custody cases in Oklahoma take 3-6 months to resolve, though contested cases can take longer. Here's what you can expect when working with us…" [continue with 1,500+ more words of helpful, specific information]
Timeline: New content can start ranking within 4-8 weeks, depending on competition. The more content you publish consistently, the faster you build topical authority.
Reason #8: You're Targeting the Wrong Keywords
The problem: You're optimizing for keywords nobody searches for, or keywords you can't realistically rank for.
Keyword targeting is both an art and a science. You might be putting in the effort to optimize your site, but if you're targeting the wrong keywords, you won't get results.
Common keyword mistakes:
Targeting keywords with zero search volume (nobody actually searches for them)
Targeting extremely competitive keywords you can't rank for (like "attorney" or "realtor")
Using industry jargon that clients don't use
Focusing on keywords that don't match buyer intent
Ignoring local keywords altogether
How to fix it:
Do keyword research. Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or paid tools like Semrush or Ahrefs to find:
Keywords people actually search for
Keywords with reasonable search volume (10+ searches per month for local terms)
Keywords with achievable competition levels
Focus on local keywords. Instead of trying to rank for "personal injury lawyer" nationally, target "personal injury lawyer Oklahoma City" or "car accident attorney Tulsa." Local keywords have less competition and higher conversion rates.
Think like your client. What would someone type into Google when they need your services? Not what your industry calls it — what your clients call it. For example:
Clients search: "realtor near me" or "homes for sale Edmond"
Not: "residential real estate transaction services"
Target keywords with commercial intent. Focus on keywords that indicate someone is ready to hire or buy:
"divorce lawyer Tulsa" (ready to hire)
"homes for sale in Nichols Hills" (ready to buy)
"CPA for small business Oklahoma City" (ready to hire)
NOT "what does a CPA do" (just researching, not ready to hire)
Use long-tail keywords. These are longer, more specific phrases. They have lower search volume but much less competition and higher conversion rates. Examples:
Instead of "lawyer": "child custody lawyer for fathers in Oklahoma City"
Instead of "realtor": "luxury home specialist in Nichols Hills"
Instead of "accountant": "small business tax accountant for restaurants in Tulsa"
Match keywords to specific pages. Each page should target 1-2 primary keywords and several related terms. Don't try to rank one page for 20 different keywords.
Example:
Wrong approach: Trying to rank your homepage for "real estate" (impossibly competitive, vague, not local)
Right approach: Targeting "real estate agent Oklahoma City" on your homepage and "homes for sale in Edmond" on a specific neighborhood page (local, specific, achievable)
Timeline: Once you identify the right keywords and re-optimize your pages accordingly, you can start seeing ranking improvements within 2-4 weeks for low-competition terms, 2-3 months for moderate competition.
How to Get Your Business Showing Up on Google (Your Action Plan)
If you've read this far, you probably recognize 2-3 of these issues affecting your business. That's normal — most businesses face multiple challenges, not just one.
The key is prioritizing your fixes based on impact and difficulty.
Immediate Fixes (Do Today)
These take less than an hour and can have a big impact:
Check if you're indexed (do the site:yourdomain.com search)
Claim your Google Business Profile (if you haven't)
Add your city/region to your homepage title tag
Fix any obvious broken links on your site
This Week
These take a few hours but are worth the effort:
Complete and optimize your entire Google Business Profile
Ensure your NAP (name, address, phone) is consistent everywhere online
Add location signals throughout your website content
Start requesting reviews from recent happy clients
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console
This Month
These are longer-term projects:
Fix technical issues (site speed, mobile-friendliness, HTTPS)
Create or expand content on your main service pages (1,000+ words each)
Do keyword research and re-optimize your pages for the right terms
Start a blog and publish your first 2-3 helpful articles
Ongoing (Every Month)
SEO isn't a one-time project:
Publish new blog content regularly (1-2 articles per month minimum)
Continue requesting and responding to reviews
Monitor your rankings and traffic in Google Search Console
Build relationships that lead to backlinks (local organizations, partnerships)
Update and improve existing content
Realistic Timeline
If you start implementing these fixes today:
Weeks 1-2: You'll see technical improvements (indexing, GBP updates)
Weeks 4-8: You'll start ranking for easier, low-competition keywords
Months 3-6: You'll see significant improvement in visibility and traffic
Months 6-12: You'll establish consistent rankings and regular leads
It's not instant, but it's worth it. Businesses that invest in SEO consistently see long-term returns without paying for every click like you do with ads.
DIY vs. Hiring Help
Some of these fixes are DIY-friendly if you have the time:
Setting up and optimizing Google Business Profile
Adding location signals to your website
Requesting reviews
Writing basic content
Others require expertise or significant time investment:
Technical SEO fixes
Comprehensive keyword research and strategy
Content creation and optimization
Link building
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments
Be honest with yourself: Do you have the time to learn and implement all of this? Or would your time be better spent serving your clients while someone else handles your online visibility?
If this feels overwhelming, that's exactly why we help Oklahoma businesses with their SEO and online marketing. We do this every day for law firms, real estate professionals, CPAs, and other local businesses just like yours.
Start Getting Found on Google Today
Don't let another week go by with potential clients unable to find you online. Your competitors are showing up in Google searches, getting calls, booking consultations, and growing their businesses. It's time you do the same.
Whether you decide to tackle this yourself or bring in professional help, the important thing is to start. Every day you wait is another day of lost opportunities.
The business owners who take action — who fix their indexing, optimize their Google Business Profile, create quality content, and build their local presence — are the ones who end up on page 1. They're the ones answering the phone when someone searches for what you offer.
You can be one of them.
Ready to Get Started?
Want to skip the guesswork? Let’s talk through your situation and get you some actionable advice. We help Oklahoma law firms, real estate professionals, accounting firms, and other local businesses get found online.
BMo Ventures helps law firms, real estate professionals, CPAs, and other small businesses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and throughout Oklahoma improve their online visibility through SEO and paid advertising. If you're tired of watching competitors show up on Google while you stay invisible, let's talk.
