If you search for your business on Google and can't find it or find it buried on page 4, you're not alone. Most small South African businesses have this problem and don't know why.
The most common reasons
Step 1: Check if Google can find you
Type site:yourwebsite.co.za into Google. If nothing comes back, Google hasn't indexed your site yet. This is fixable, you need to set up Google Search Console and submit your sitemap.
Step 2: Set up Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that shows you exactly what people search for when they find you, which pages are indexed, and what's stopping others from being found. Every business should have this set up.
Step 3: Fix your page titles and descriptions
Every page on your site should have a clear title and description that tells Google and potential customers exactly what that page is about. "Home" is not a good page title. "Plumber Cape Town - 24hr emergency call-outs" is.
Step 4: Speed up your site
Google uses page speed as a ranking factor. Run your site through Google's PageSpeed Insights tool and fix the issues it flags. The most common culprits are uncompressed images and too many plugins.
Step 5: Get your first external links
Links from other websites to yours tell Google your site is worth visiting. Start simple, get listed on Google Business Profile, HelloPeter, and any industry directories relevant to your business.
How long does it take
Most businesses see meaningful improvement within 3 to 6 months of fixing the fundamentals. SEO is not instant but the results compound over time and, unlike paid ads, don't stop when you stop paying.
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