Why Your Website Isn’t Ranking
Posted on
- 8 January 2026
This is Why Your Website Isn’t Ranking - And How to Fix It!
Based on the top mistakes SEO agencies make
Dont think you have a bad web design. In fact, most of the time your website is not ranking is really because your SEO is not great. Not your fault, your agency or freelancer or whoever is doing your SEO simply does not have the expertise which we have noticed in 9 out 10 agencies we have observed. SEO can be a headache as there are many factors to look for when it comes to why your website is not found on search, and because everyone has their own way of doing SEO, things tend to get overlooked.
Let’s go through some of the things that may have been missed when it comes to your search engine optimsiation which you can bring up with your current SEO company.
1. Weak or Misaligned Search Intent
This is the top reason sites don’t rank.
What to look for:
- Pages targeting keywords that don’t match user intent.
- Informational content trying to rank for commercial keywords.
- Service pages that read like blog posts.
- Blog posts trying to rank for service or location based terms.
- 100% AI generated content
How to explain it: “Google doesn’t rank the best page — it ranks the most relevant page.”
How to fix it:
- Match page type to intent (service page vs blog) and create content accordingly.
- Rewrite headers and copy to answer the searcher’s actual goal.
- Split pages instead of stuffing multiple services or topics into one.
- Remove AI generated content to improve your SEO rankings and have a human write it out properly!
2. Poor On-Page SEO - Especially Headings & Titles
This is incredibly common and is where you can make some quick wins when done correctly
What to look for:
- Generic page titles that are simply the name of the page such as Home, Services, and so on.
- Multiple main heading H1 tags or none.
- Headings that don’t include the main search terms.
- Abuse of secondary H2 headings.
- Very little content or messy repetitive content. Creating content just for the sake of creating content.
How to fix it:
- One main H1 aligned with the main keyword.
- Break up content with structured secondary H2 headings or sub H3 headings.
- Rewrite titles for clicks and relevance based on user search.
- Expand content to fully cover the topic of the page or product or service.
3. Weak Internal Linking
Most sites lack internal SEO authority and do not share page value accordingly.
What to look for:
- Important pages with few or no internal links that pass value around to other pages.
- Blog posts not linking to service pages or other relevant pages
- Overuse of “click here” or “find out more” anchor text
- Orphaned pages. Pages that are on their own and are unable to be found on the website linked from other pages or the main navigation.
How to fix it:
- Link from high traffic pages to pages where you want to sell your product or service.
- Use relevant anchor text
- Cluster your content and service pages accordingly.
- Add breadcrumbs and contextual links to assist with navigation and sharing value across other pages.
4. Low Authority or Toxic Backlink Profile
Backlinks still matter. It is like a good word of mouth. However, if you are being mentioned on bad websites, then no positive value will flow onto your website.
What to look for:
- No backlinks or very few backlinks.
- Spammy links from irrelevant sites.
- Over optimised anchor text.
- Reliance on cheap link packages.
How to fix it:
- Hire a reputable outreach team, such as a digital marketing company like Digital Debut!
- Earn real links from relevant websites
- Use digital PR, partnerships, citations.
- Disavow toxic links if necessary.
- Focus on authority, not so much volume.
5. Technical SEO Problems Holding the Site Back
These silently kill rankings.
What to look for:
- Slow site speed
- Poor mobile usability
- Indexing issues
- Templates creating duplicate content
- Broken pages or redirects
- JavaScript blocking content
How to fix it:
- Improve Core Web Vitals.
- Fix crawl & index issues in Google Search Console.
- Clean URL structures.
- Compress images & scripts
- Make sure everything is mobile first! Mobile over desktop! Very important!
6. Not tracking the right metrics
This is more of a bad habit if anything.
What to look for:
- Obsession over rankings or just focusing one keyword, not seeing the big picture.
- No conversion tracking.
- No revenue attribution.
- Not knowing which pages are driving your leads or sales.
How to fix it:
- Track organic conversions.
- Compare SEO revenue with other channels.
- Optimise pages that already get traffic.
- Compare seasonaly data and not only month on month.
If you are serious about your business, which we hope you are, simply get in touch with us today.
Questions on how to fix a website that is not ranking on Google
Why Isn’t My Website on Google?
Many websites don’t rank because the fundamentals of SEO are broken. Usually search intent, on-page structure, internal links, backlinks, or technical errors. Google does not rank the “best-looking” page. It ranks the most relevant, trustworthy, and accessible page for a specific search. In my view, pages that do not meet these criteria will not rank at the top.
Sometimes a website technically offers the right goods, services, or content, but what is shown on the page does not match what users expect when they search on Google. When that happens, Google selects another page that provides a better experience.
What Is The Most Likely Reason My Site Is Not Ranking?
The number one reason is misaligned search intent. If your page does not match what the searcher is trying to do such as buy, book, compare, learn, or find a local provider Google will rank another page instead.
What Does “Search Intent” Mean in SEO?
Search intent is the goal behind a search.
Examples:
- “How to” = Informational intent
- “Best / top / compare” = Commercial investigation
- “Near me / price / service + location” = Transactional intent
Your page must reflect that intent in its format, content, and structure.
How Do I Fix Misaligned Search Intent?
Match the page type to the intent, whether that is a service page, blog post, or landing page. Rewrite headings and copy to communicate exactly what the searcher wants. Split mixed pages instead of combining multiple services or topics into one.
Can Blog Posts Rank for Service Keywords?
Sometimes, but it is often difficult.
For example, when someone searches “Emergency Plumber Melbourne”, Google returns service pages, not blog posts.
Blog content is better suited to informational searches such as:
- “How much does an emergency plumber cost?”
- “What is a plumbing emergency”
Which On-Page SEO Mistakes Hurt Rankings the Most?
The most common mistakes include:
- Generic page titles like Home, Services, or About
- Multiple H1 tags (or no H1 at all)
- Headings that do not include the main topic or keyword
- Thin or repetitive content created just for the sake of it
- Messy structure with no clear sections
What Heading Structure Works Best for SEO?
A simple and effective structure:
- One H1 aligned with the main topic or keyword
- H2s for key subtopics
- H3s for supporting details under each section
This helps Google understand the page and allows users to scan it quickly
Why Do Page Titles Matter So Much?
Page titles influence:
- Relevance — does Google understand what the page is about?
- Click-through rate — do users choose your result?
Better titles lead to more clicks and stronger ranking signals over time.
Why Is Internal Linking Important for SEO?
Internal linking spreads authority across your site and signals to Google which pages matter most. Even strong content can underperform if important service pages have very few internal links pointing to them.
What Are the Most Common Internal Linking Errors?
Common errors include:
- No links pointing to service pages
- Blog posts that do not link to money pages
- Overuse of “click here” anchor text
- Orphan pages that are not in navigation and not linked anywhere
How Do I Fix Weak Internal Linking?
Link from high traffic pages to pages that generate leads or sales. Use descriptive anchor text, such as “SEO audit for trades” instead of “click here.” Build content clusters with a main topic page supported by related posts. Add breadcrumbs and contextual links to improve navigation and value flow.
Do Backlinks Still Matter?
Yes. Backlinks remain one of the strongest trust signals, similar to online word-of-mouth. Quality is far more important than quantity.
What Is a Toxic Backlink Profile?
A toxic backlink profile may include:
- Spam links from irrelevant websites
- Cheap link packages
- Over-optimised anchor text
- Links from obvious networks or low-quality directories
These links do not help and can actively hold your site back.
How Do I Safely Improve My Backlink Profile?
Earn links from relevant websites in your industry. Use digital PR, partnerships, local citations, and genuine outreach. Focus on authority and credibility rather than volume. Only disavow links when it is absolutely necessary and clearly harmful.
Which Technical SEO Issues Quietly Kill Rankings?
Common technical problems include:
- Slow site speed and poor Core Web Vitals
- Mobile usability issues
- Crawl and indexing problems
- Duplicate content from templates
- Broken pages and messy redirects
- JavaScript blocking important content
How Can I Fix Technical SEO Issues Quickly and at Scale?
Improve Core Web Vitals through image compression, caching, and reducing JavaScript and CSS bloat. Use Google Search Console to identify crawl and index issues. Crawl the site with Screaming Frog to uncover duplicates, broken pages, and redirect chains. Clean URL structures and prioritise a mobile-first approach.
Why Is Mobile First SEO So Important?
Google primarily evaluates your site as a mobile user. If the mobile experience is slow, broken, or cluttered, rankings often drop even if the desktop version looks fine.
Which SEO Metrics Actually Matter?
Instead of focusing on a single keyword, track:
- Organic conversions (calls, forms, purchases)
- Leads and sales by landing page
- Revenue attribution compared to other channels
- Pages that receive traffic but do not convert
Why Do Rankings Improve but Leads Do Not Increase?
Traffic without intent does not convert. This usually happens when a site ranks mainly for informational keywords, has weak calls to action, poorly optimised service pages, or weak internal linking to money pages. These issues are typically resolved by fixing search intent and improving conversion tracking.
What Are the Fastest SEO Wins on an Underperforming Website?
The fastest wins usually come from fixing search intent mismatches, rewriting page titles and correcting H1 and H2 structure, strengthening internal links to key service pages, and resolving indexing and technical blockers. Once the foundation is solid, you can scale content and authority effectively.
