A step-by-step checklist to find out why Google isn’t showing your website, and what to do about it.
By Eniola Adeleke, Tech Researcher, AD Technologies · Updated September 2026
Short answer: a website usually doesn’t show on Google for one of two reasons. Either Google has not indexed it yet, which is common for new sites, sites never submitted to Google Search Console, and WordPress sites with “Discourage search engines” switched on. Or it is indexed but ranks too low to be seen, because competitors have better pages, more reviews or more links. The first takes minutes to check and days to fix. The second takes steady SEO work.
First: Is Your Website on Google at All?
Type this into Google, using your own domain: site:yourbusiness.com
- No results: Google has not indexed your website. Start with causes 1 to 5 below.
- Some pages appear: you are indexed, but not ranking for what customers search. Go to causes 6 to 10.
If Google Hasn’t Indexed Your Website
1. Your website is new
Google can take from a few days to several weeks to discover and index a new website, especially if no other site links to it. Fix: submit it to Google Search Console (next step) instead of waiting.
2. It was never submitted to Google Search Console
Google Search Console is Google’s free tool for website owners. Fix: verify your domain at search.google.com/search-console, submit your sitemap (on WordPress with Rank Math or Yoast it is usually /sitemap_index.xml), then use URL Inspection and click “Request indexing” on your homepage and key service pages. Do the same in Bing Webmaster Tools, which also feeds Microsoft Copilot.
3. WordPress is telling Google to stay away
Many developers tick “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” while building, and forget to untick it at launch. Fix: in WordPress, go to Settings → Reading and make sure that box is unticked. Also check your SEO plugin has not set key pages to “noindex”.
4. Your robots.txt blocks Google
A line such as Disallow: / in your robots.txt file blocks every search engine. Fix: open yourbusiness.com/robots.txt, or run our free AI Crawler Checker, which checks Googlebot and Bingbot as well as AI crawlers.
5. Technical errors stop Google reading your pages
Frequent downtime, expired SSL certificates, redirect loops, pages that return errors, or a hacked site can all keep you out of Google. Fix: check the Pages and Security issues reports in Search Console. Cheap hosting that often goes down is a common cause in Nigeria.
If You’re Indexed but Customers Can’t Find You
6. You’re searching your name, but customers search the service
Showing up for your business name is easy. Showing up for “caterer in Ikeja” or “solar installer Abuja” is the real test. Fix: Search Console’s Performance report shows the actual searches you appear for. Build pages around the services and cities customers type.
7. Your pages are too thin
A single homepage with a paragraph and a phone number rarely ranks. Google ranks pages that fully answer the searcher’s question. Fix: give each service its own page with what it is, who it is for, the area you serve, prices or price ranges, and FAQs.
8. You have no Google Business Profile
For local searches, Google shows a map with three businesses before the normal results. Without a profile, you cannot appear there. Fix: follow our step-by-step guide to create a Google Business Profile in Nigeria, and ask real customers for reviews.
9. No other websites link to you
Links from other trusted websites tell Google your business is real and relevant. New websites with no links struggle against competitors that have them. Fix: get listed on reputable directories, join your industry association’s member list and earn mentions in local publications. Avoid buying links, which breaks Google’s rules.
10. Your website is slow on mobile
Most Nigerians search on phones and mobile data. Slow pages lose visitors, and speed is part of how Google judges page experience. Fix: compress images (our free WebP Image Optimizer does this automatically on WordPress), use caching and remove unused plugins.
How Long Until My Website Shows on Google?
| Problem | Typical time to fix |
|---|---|
| Not submitted, noindex or robots.txt block | Days to a few weeks after fixing and requesting indexing |
| Brand-new website | A few days to several weeks to be indexed |
| Indexed but not ranking for services | Usually 3 to 6 months of consistent SEO work |
| Google Maps (local pack) | Weeks after verification, improving with reviews |
Being on Google also affects AI: Gemini and Google AI Overviews draw on Google’s index, so a website Google can’t see is usually invisible to Google’s AI too. Read why AI doesn’t mention your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to be listed on Google?
Yes. Appearing in Google’s normal results and on Google Maps is free. Paying for Google Ads puts you in the sponsored spots, but does not improve your normal ranking.
Why does my website show on my phone but not my customer’s?
Google personalises results by location and search history. You may see your site because you visit it often. Check in a private browser window, or use Search Console’s Performance report for the real picture.
My website disappeared from Google. What happened?
Check Search Console for a manual action or security issue, confirm your hosting and domain have not expired, and check that no recent update set your pages to noindex. A hacked website is a common cause.
Can I pay Google to rank higher?
No. Google does not sell normal rankings. You can buy ads, or earn rankings through SEO. See how much SEO costs in Nigeria.
Still Not on Google? We’ll Find Out Why
Our SEO + AI Visibility Audit checks every page of your website and gives you a prioritised fix list, for ₦180,000 one-off. Or start with a free check.
See our SEO services in Nigeria.