Lets fix it 

A troubleshooting guide from TheDenn to help you boost your SEO and get seen online!

So, you’ve got a website, and you’ve put in the effort but it’s just not ranking on Google. Annoying, right? You’re not alone. 

Many business owners and marketers struggle to get their websites to show up where they should, leaving them scratching their heads while competitors dominate search results.

The good news? SEO isn’t magic, it’s strategy. If your site isn’t ranking, there’s usually a reason (or a few), and once you pinpoint what’s wrong, you can fix it and start climbing the rankings.

At TheDenn, we help businesses like yours improve their SEO and get noticed. In this blog, we’ll cover the most common reasons your website isn’t ranking and how to fix them. Let’s dive in! 🚀

Your Website Is Too New (SEO Takes Time!)

The Problem:

If you’ve just launched your website, don’t expect to rank overnight. Google needs time to crawl, index, and evaluate your site, which can take weeks or even months.

The Fix:

Submit your website to Google Search Console. This helps Google crawl and index your site faster, giving you insights into your website’s performance, search traffic, and any technical issues that might be affecting your rankings.

Ensure your site is fully optimised from the start (meta tags, structured data, fast load times). Focus on content creation and backlink building to speed up indexing.

Google search console –

💡 Pro Tip: Google values consistency so the sooner you start publishing valuable content, the faster you’ll build credibility.

You’re Not Using the Right Keywords

The Problem:

If you’re not ranking, you might be targeting the wrong keywords either they’re too competitive or they don’t match what people are actually searching for.

The Fix:

Do proper keyword research using tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush. Identifying high-volume, low-competition keywords ensures you’re targeting the right audience and increasing your chances of ranking higher in search results.

Focus on long-tail keywords (e.g., instead of “shoes,” go for “best running shoes for beginners”).

Check search intent: are people looking for information, products, or local services? Match your content accordingly.

💡 Pro Tip: Google loves user intent make sure your content answers questions and provides real value.

Your Content Isn’t Optimised for SEO

The Problem:

You might be publishing great content, but if it’s not optimised, Google won’t rank it highly.

The Fix:

Use your target keyword naturally in the title, headings, and throughout the content. Avoid keyword stuffing and instead focus on contextual relevance, using synonyms and related phrases to make the content flow naturally while still being SEO friendly.

Optimise meta descriptions and URLs keep them short, descriptive, and keyword rich. A well crafted meta description improves click-through rates (CTR), while a clean, readable URL helps both users and search engines understand the page’s content quickly.

Use internal linking to connect relevant pages and improve navigation. This helps distribute link equity, keeps visitors engaged longer, and makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site efficiently.

💡 Pro Tip: Make sure your content is formatted properly use headers (H1, H2, H3), bullet points, and images to improve readability.

4. Your Website Is Too Slow

The Problem:

Google prioritises fast loading websites. If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, you’re losing rankings and customers .

The Fix:

Optimise images by compressing them with tools like Squoosh. Reducing file sizes improves page load speed, enhances user experience, and prevents slow-loading pages from negatively impacting your SEO rankings.

Enable browser caching and use a content delivery network (CDN). This reduces server load and latency, ensuring faster page load times, improved user experience, and better SEO performance across global audiences.

Minimise plugins and use fast, reliable hosting. Too many plugins can slow down your site, create security vulnerabilities, and cause compatibility issues, while a high quality hosting provider ensures consistent uptime and optimal performance.

Squoosh –

💡 Pro Tip: Check your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix and fix any performance issues.

You’re Not Mobile Friendly

The Problem:

More than 60% of searches happen on mobile, and Google ranks mobile first. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re hurting your rankings.

The Fix:

Use responsive design so your site adapts to all screen sizes. A mobile friendly layout improves user experience, reduces bounce rates, and boosts rankings, as Google prioritises mobile first indexing.

Make buttons and links easy to tap (no tiny text!). Ensure there is enough spacing between clickable elements to prevent accidental clicks and create a seamless browsing experience, especially on mobile devices.

Improve mobile load times, reduce unnecessary scripts and pop ups. Streamlining code, enabling lazy loading for images, and using lightweight themes can further enhance speed and prevent frustrating delays for users.

💡 Pro Tip: Test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to spot and fix issues.

You Have No Backlinks Or Low Quality Ones

The Problem:

Backlinks are like votes of confidence for your site. If no other websites are linking to you, Google doesn’t see you as authoritative.

The Fix:

Get backlinks from reputable sites in your industry. High quality backlinks boost your website’s authority, improve search rankings, and drive targeted traffic from relevant and trusted sources.

Use guest posting, outreach, and PR strategies to earn high quality links. Building relationships with industry influencers, bloggers, and news sites can help secure authoritative backlinks that strengthen your website’s credibility and SEO performance.

Avoid spammy, low quality backlinks Google penalises shady link building tactics. Focus on organic, natural link building strategies, as links from irrelevant or suspicious sites can harm your rankings and even lead to manual penalties.

💡 Pro Tip: Tools like Ahrefs can help you analyse your backlinks and find new link building opportunities.

You’re Ignoring Technical SEO

The Problem:

Even if your content is great, technical SEO issues can prevent Google from properly indexing and ranking your site.

The Fix:

Fix broken links and redirect errors use 301 redirects for moved pages. Broken links create a poor user experience, increase bounce rates, and signal to search engines that your site may be outdated or poorly maintained, negatively impacting rankings.

Ensure your site has a clear XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console. This helps search engines crawl and index your pages more efficiently, ensuring that all important content is discoverable and ranked properly.

Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content better.

💡 Pro Tip: Run a site audit with tools like Screaming Frog or SEMrush to spot hidden issues.

Your Competition is Beating You

The Problem:

If your competitors have stronger SEO strategies, they’ll outrank you even if your content is good.

The Fix:

Analyse your competitors using tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs. Identifying their top ranking keywords, backlink sources, and content strategies allows you to refine your own approach and uncover opportunities to outrank them.

💡 Pro Tip: Check competitors’ top ranking pages and improve on them offer more detail, better formatting, and updated info.

Ahrefs –

You’re Not Using Local SEO (If You’re a Local Business)

The Problem:

If you’re a local business, you need to optimise for local searches otherwise, your competitors will show up instead.

The Fix:

Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). Keeping your business name, address, phone number, and hours updated improves local search visibility and helps potential customers find and trust your business more easily.

Encourage customer reviews the more 5-star ratings, the better! Positive reviews boost credibility, improve local SEO rankings, and influence potential customers to choose your business over competitors.

Use local keywords (e.g., “best plumber in Birmingham”) in your content. Including geo-specific terms in titles, meta descriptions, and headings helps your business appear in local search results and attract nearby customers.

Google Business profile –

💡 Pro Tip: Add your business address, phone number, and opening hours across your site for consistency.

You’re Not Consistently Publishing Content

The Problem:

Google loves fresh content if your site isn’t updated regularly, it can lose relevance.

The Fix:

Publish blogs, guides, and case studies regularly. Consistently updating your site with fresh, relevant content signals to search engines that your website is active, improving rankings and keeping your audience engaged.

Update old content to keep it relevant and optimised. Refreshing outdated information, adding new keywords, and improving readability can help maintain or even boost your search rankings over time.

Answer trending industry questions to stay ahead of competitors. By addressing hot topics and emerging trends, you can attract more organic traffic, establish thought leadership, and position your brand as an industry authority.

Regular Blog Publishing – TheDenn Blogs

💡 Pro Tip: Aim for at least one new blog post per week to keep Google interested in your site.

How TheDenn Can Help You Rank Higher

If your website isn’t ranking, you don’t have to figure it out alone. At TheDenn, we specialise in SEO strategies that actually work with no jargon, no gimmicks, just results.

Full SEO Audits We identify what’s holding your site back.

Keyword & Content Strategy Get a plan tailored to your industry.

Technical SEO Fixes We handle site speed, mobile optimisation, and indexing issues.

Link Building & Authority Growth Earn high quality backlinks that boost rankings.

Ongoing SEO Management Stay on top of Google’s algorithm updates.

🚀 Want to see real SEO improvements? Let’s talk! Get in touch with TheDenn today and start ranking where you deserve.

FAQs

1. How long does SEO take to work?
SEO takes time! Most sites start seeing improvements in 3-6 months, but ongoing efforts yield the best results.

2. Can I do SEO myself?
Yes, but it requires constant learning and effort. A professional SEO team can save you time and ensure long-term success.

3. How much does SEO cost?
It varies! At TheDenn, we offer custom SEO plans to fit different budgets and goals.

4. Is SEO still worth it in 2025?
Absolutely! SEO drives organic traffic, improves visibility, and builds long-term brand authority.

🚀 Need help ranking your website? Contact TheDenn today!