10 Reasons Why Websites Don’t Rank on Google and How to Fix It

Google’s ranking systems now focus heavily on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) and understanding user intent. If your website isn’t ranking, it’s usually due to common issues that affect visibility and performance. Below, we explain the main reasons and practical ways to fix them.

Websites Don’t Rank on Google

Websites often fail to rank on Google because they don’t meet what users and search engines expect. Many pages target keywords without understanding user intent, so visitors don’t find the answers they want. Content that is thin, shallow, or poorly structured also struggles.

Pages lacking author credibility, expertise, or trust signals are less likely to rank. Technical problems like slow loading, poor mobile design, broken links, or indexing issues can block Google from properly crawling a site.

At SEO Services BD, we help clients fix these issues by providing expert SEO services, creating valuable, well-organized content, and building trust and authority online. Our goal is to ensure your website delivers a fast, seamless, user-focused experience and ranks where it deserves.




1. Intent Mismatch

Reason:

Targeting keywords without understanding user intent hurts rankings. For example, people searching for best project management tool expect a comparison list. If you offer a single sales page, Google won’t rank you.

Fix:

Search your target keyword first. If top results are guides, write a guide. If they are product pages, create a landing page that fits the intent. Matching content to intent is crucial for 2026 SEO.

2. Failure to Meet 2026 Core Web Vitals

Reason:

Google now uses real-world performance metrics as tie-breakers. Sites that fail thresholds for LCP (under 2.5s), INP (under 200ms), and CLS (under 0.1) are de-prioritized.

Fix:

Use Google PageSpeed Insights to find bottlenecks. Compress images to WebP/AVIF, reduce render-blocking JavaScript, and improve server response times. Fast, smooth sites rank better.

3. Weak E-E-A-T Signals

Reason:

Content without first-hand experience or credibility struggles. Pages without author bios, credentials, or verifiable business details are less likely to rank, especially in health or finance niches.

Fix:

Add detailed author bios with links to LinkedIn or social profiles. Include reviews, case studies, and trust signals like clear contact info. This boosts your authority in Google’s eyes.

4. Technical Indexing Blocks

Reason:

Even a small mistake, like Disallow: / in robots.txt or a forgotten noindex tag, can prevent Google from indexing your site.

Fix:

Check your URLs in Google Search Console using the URL Inspection Tool. Ensure robots.txt allows crawling and no accidental settings block search engines.

5. Thin or Low-Value Content

Reason:

Shallow content that barely answers questions is flagged as “thin.” Google rewards comprehensive content that provides insights users cannot find elsewhere.

Fix:

Expand pages to 500+ words and blog posts to 1,000+ words. Include original data, FAQs, and expert quotes. Make your content more valuable than AI-generated text.

6. Poor Internal Linking (Orphan Pages)

Reason:

Pages not linked from other parts of your site (orphan pages) may never get crawled or ranked.

Fix:

Build a logical site hierarchy. Ensure every important page is reachable within three clicks from the homepage. Use descriptive anchor text to link related pages.




7. Over-Optimization and Keyword Stuffing

Reason:

Keyword stuffing makes content unreadable. Modern NLP understands context and punishes unnatural repetition.

Fix:

Write naturally for humans. Use your main keyword 1–2 times, and rely on synonyms and LSI terms to show relevance. This improves readability and rankings.

8. Lack of High-Quality Backlinks

Reason:

Quality beats quantity in 2026. Thousands of low-quality links can harm your site, while one link from a reputable source carries more weight.

Fix:

Focus on earned links. Guest post on authoritative sites, run digital PR campaigns, or create linkable assets like original research, tools, or guides.

9. Neglecting Mobile-First Indexing

Reason:

Google primarily evaluates your mobile site. If it’s cluttered, with tiny fonts or hard-to-tap buttons, rankings drop—even on desktop.

Fix:

Test your site using Google Mobile-Friendly Test. Use responsive design, at least 16px fonts, and ensure touch-friendly navigation.

10. Targeting Overly Competitive Keywords

Reason:

New or low-authority sites often target broad keywords like “shoes” or “insurance”, dominated by big brands.

Fix:

Pivot to long-tail keywords (e.g., “best waterproof hiking boots for wide feet”) or geo-specific terms (e.g., “plumber in Boston”). These are easier to rank for and have better conversions.


Final Thoughts

At SEO Services BD, we help businesses rank on Google by matching user intent, demonstrating authority, and providing valuable, user-focused content. We also fix technical issues, improve site performance, and focus on credibility and relevance to ensure every client’s business grows and succeeds online.

Comments