How do I get my site indexed by search engines like Google so it ranks in search results?

[LeananSidhe]

[Note: The title of this thread has been updated by a moderator.]

So I published my site for the first time yesterday. I made sure to fill out the site description and meta keywords on my SEO section of the settings before I did so. 

  But, this morning when I searched for the keywords that I put in on google, my site isn't showing up AT ALL. I went through 10+ pages of results and was unable to find my site. 

 Is there a processing period before the site shows up in search engines like Google and Bing?

[WeebleWobble]

YMMV but it seems like for me it's always a day or so

[rsomething · Accepted solution]

Yes indeed, there is a bit of a processing period. It can take a couple of weeks (though usually not that long) before your site shows up in the search results for Google and Bing. 

It's also important to note that simply entering keywords in your SEO settings will not make your site show up in a search for those keywords. If it were that easy it'd allow scammers to game the system by entering false keywords in their settings so that they show up in searches for those words.

I'd recommend taking a look at the ultimate guide to SEO. It's a great starting point for improving your site's search rank! You also may want to take a look at this Square post on how to get more traffic to your website.

If you have the newer Square Online editor, I would also look at the additions to the ultimate SEO guide for Square Online post in the Square Seller Community.

[GBA]

I have the same issue, and this has never been a problem before (I manage three pages). Of course I understand competition, but googling very specific keywords (like the name of our band and our city) should immediately return us. Try "9Ts On Buffalo" super specific..and yet...

Nope.

Our Facebook page is at the top of the page. Then our You Tube channel. Even our scanty instagram! But no website. I added SEOs to every single page. It's been 2 weeks.

Weebly customer service plays nice music to me forever but never picks up.

I'm at a loss. Any suggestions?

[Adam7]

How long ago did you publish the site, @GBA? Google is a very different beast than social networks, and it can take a while to get indexed and ranked there.

[GBA]

Hi @Adam,

Over 3 weeks ago. My other two Weebly websites showed up within 2 days.

Thanks for your help

G

[Adam7]

What's the address of the new site?

Ranking is one thing, but just being indexed usually doesn't take that long.

[AlanBiBullion]

Hi Adam. 

So on the google search console I manually requested google to index all my articles, of which I have 16. Here is the url below: 

bullioninvestingguide.weebly.com

When I go on google and type: "site:bullioninvestingguide.weebly.com" I always see 14 results, my homepage and 13 out of my 16 articles. The three articles that google isn't indexing is below:

https://bullioninvestingguide.weebly.com/is-platinum-a-good-buy

https://bullioninvestingguide.weebly.com/where-can-i-buy-and-sell-bullion

https://bullioninvestingguide.weebly.com/how-to-predict-bullion-prices

I sent in a request for google to verify these sub-urls and index them long before my other ones, and the google console told me that they were indexable with no issues. Do you know why these three articles in particular are not being indexed by Google?

[Adam7]

That's a really good question, @AlanBiBullion, and don't know why they are not in search results when Google is telling you it has no problems indexing them. Interestingly, I just did a site search with Google and I get 15 results. It looks like they started including the third post you mention:

My guess is it might just take a little more time?

[#10]

It can take a number of weeks for new websites to get "indexed" in the search engine listings and even longer for a site to show up in the results for specific keywords. Keep in mind that a typical Google search will return millions of websites, the majority of which have undoubtedly been online a lot longer than a few weeks.  Your site is competing against all of these sites for page ranking. 

Here are some steps that you can take to increase your page ranking:

Spread the Word - Tell your customers, family & friends about your site.

Optimize your site for Search Engines - http://hc.weebly.com/hc/en-us/articles/201672817-Improve-Your-Search-Ranking

Update Regularly - keeping your website content fresh gives visitors a reason to come back.

Use Your Social Network - post your site to Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn whenever you update your content.

Start a Blog - http://hc.weebly.com/hc/en-us/articles/202015808-Start-a-Blog - a blog is an easy way to regularly add new content to your site and attract and build repeat visits.

Add a Facebook Like Button - http://hc.weebly.com/hc/en-us/articles/202081836-Add-a-Facebook-Like-Button-to-Your-Site - so your visitors can easily share your website with their friends.

Promote Your Site - add a link to your email signature, include a link to your site when you post to forums or comment on articles.

Start an Email Newsletter - http://hc.weebly.com/hc/en-us/articles/201740203-Create-a-Newsletter-Sign-up-or-Autoresponder-Form - use it as a tool to bring visitors back to your website.

Get Reciprocal Links - swap links with other websites that have a similar audience to drive free qualified traffic.

Try Pay-Per-Click Advertising - drive targeted traffic to your website through Google Adwords.

[dg5]

Some good ideas, but avoide reciprocal links. Google does not like them.

[mvky]

This is a fantastic response and list of actions to take to improve search ranking - thank you. 

[nobelpeaceprize]

It does take a few weeks. I have always had trouble getting my weebly sites to show up on Google. The only way I could even get them to be seen at the top was by making an account with Google Webmaster tools, and then adding the site. Link: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools. Even now my friends have told me they have trouble finding my site on Google. I wish Weebly would provide a little more info on how to optimize the sites.

[missyz]

I'd appreciate that information, too. It's so frustrating to work so hard and have Google ignore you!

[Robin12]

 Hey, nobelpeaceprize,

Check out my reply to LeananSidhe. Note that while your site may be indexed. It can take much longer for a site to be searchable via keywords. This is something that all webmasters have to deal with. If it's been a while (months or longer) and still your site is not appearing with keywords. Then rework your keywords, descriptions and content. Add the same keywords into your site's content. Look at your competitor's. What are their keywords? You can also use phrases such as new video games, vintage games, etc in your keyword section.Just don't be too specific. Because in order for that phrase to be displayed. The searcher would have to enter it exactly as you typed it.
Start back at the beginning look at your current keywords, think about how you would search for your own site. After adding the new SEO publish the site and request a site crawl from Google to speed things up.

Robin

Community Specialist

[mary896]

I totally agree!!!!!!!  I've brought my 15 year internet company to Weebly, rebuilt my ecommerce website and then watched my sales take a dive.  In fact, over the past 1 1/2 months...my sales have dropped like a ROCK...I'm down to virtually ZERO sales!!!!!!!!!!   I use the SEO, I am on Google Analytics, Webmaster, etc.  I'm spending hundreds of hours trying to optimize.  I've contacted Weebly and get zero help.  

I don't think this is MY fault!!!  It seems to come back to Weebly somehow....but they keep assuring me that everything's fine, just FINE.  Maybe for them!  But they'll lose my money when I have to close my business!

So, please Weebly, HELP your clients!  Please?

[Robin12]

Hello, LeananSidhe!

It does take time for your site to appear in any search index. This is perfectly normal. However, there are some steps you can take to help speed the process up. 

The first is to join Google Webmaster Tools. This is a free service from Google that will allow you to request a site crawl.

The following article on our help site shows the exact steps you should take in order to get verified with Google Webmaster tools.

Sign up and Get Verified on Google Webmaster Tools

Once you get the verification completed, visit this site to request the crawl or fetch as Google likes to call it.

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1352276

You can also be verified by Yahoo and Bing if you'd like to take those extra steps:

Click to sign up for Bing /Yahoo Webmaster Tools

The verification steps are pretty much the same. If you run into any trouble let us know.

Bing is now offering a free $100 in ad credits on their marketing network for all new signups. 

Which means you can advertise your site on Bing to help increase traffic early on. 

P.S. Always remember to add SEO content to each page on your site. This will help the rank of your individual pages once you're indexed. To do that go to the 'Pages' tab. Click the first page and select the advanced link. The information you add to this area should only be relevant to that page and not the entire site. Repeat this for every page in your site and republish to activate those changes.

Good luck! 

Robin

Community Specialist

[kmaxham]

I am also having trouble showing up on Google searches. I've been with Weebly (paid site) since October. I'm the only hypnosis practitioner in Coos Bay, but I'm on the third page of Google results, and even that is not my home page. I have keywords set up for my site and each individual page.

I tried working with Google Webmaster tools. They say I need to verify my site with Register.com. I called Register.com and they say they have a business relationship with Weebly, but that Weebly is who I need to talk to. I called Weebly and they say everything's hunky dory. That I'm on google and my keywords look great. 

What the heck do I need to do? And how do I verify my site so I can make the most out of Google Webmaster tools? 

[Queso]

Hey there kmaxham! Can you tell us a bit more about what's not matching up for you in the Webmaster tools?

[Jerry822]

You can also go to this link and add in your URL for Google. This will help Google to find your site quicker but for me the first time I showed up on about page 20 and then moved up as time went on.

When I make changes to the SEO or add Pages I go to this link and submit my URL again so that Google's Web Crawlers will update my information sooner.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=en&mesd=AB9YKzKgJ_4LTDgI12mjZrcZvPk4GIKIsgdL2e...

[goldensun]

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