Search
Why doesn't my site show up for my own business name?
This one causes real alarm, and it is usually not what people fear. Work through these in order rather than guessing.
1. Is it indexed at all
First establish whether this is a ranking problem or an indexing problem, because they are unrelated.
Search your domain with the site: operator, or inspect the URL in Search Console. If nothing comes back, Google does not have the page, and no amount of optimisation matters until it does.
The usual fixes are submitting a sitemap and getting at least one other website to link to yours, which gives crawlers a route in.
2. Are you blocking yourself
A surprising number of sites launch with the settings that were used during development still in place, quietly telling search engines not to index anything.
Check robots.txt and check for noindex tags. This is the single most common cause of a site that has simply never appeared, and it is a two minute check.
3. Is the site brand new
New sites take time. Days to weeks is normal, and the clock does not start until something points a crawler at you.
If the site went live last week, some of this is patience rather than diagnosis.
4. Is another business shadowing your name
If a larger or older business has a similar name, you are competing for an ambiguous term against an established entity.
This is slow rather than hopeless. What separates you is a complete Google Business Profile, consistent listings across directories, and using your business name in exactly the same form everywhere. Variations split the evidence that you exist.
5. Do you have a Google Business Profile
For a local business this is frequently the actual answer. A branded search for a local business is heavily influenced by the profile, and without one there is nothing anchoring your name to your business.
It is free, it takes an afternoon, and it does more for branded search than any change to the website. Covered in why the profile matters more than the site.
One thing to stop doing
Do not judge this by searching from your own phone while logged in and standing in your own shop. Personalised results will show you a version nobody else sees.
Check in a private window, and ideally ask somebody in another city to search for you.
Common questions
Why can't I find my business on Google when I search its name?
The usual causes are that the site has not been indexed yet, that it is accidentally blocking crawlers, that another business has a similar name and more authority, that you have no Google Business Profile, or that the site is too new. They are checkable in that order.
How do I check if my website is indexed by Google?
Search for your domain directly using the site: operator, or use the URL inspection tool in Search Console. If nothing appears, the problem is indexing rather than ranking, and those need different fixes.
How long does it take for a new website to appear on Google?
Days to several weeks, and it is not guaranteed on its own. Submitting a sitemap in Search Console and having at least one other site link to yours both speed it up considerably.
What if another business has a similar name?
You are competing with an established entity for an ambiguous term, which takes time. A complete Google Business Profile, consistent listings, and the name used identically everywhere are what separate you.