You have a website, but when you search for “roofer near me” or “electrician in [your town]”, you cannot see it. It is tempting to assume Google has ignored your business. First, separate two very different problems: Google has not included your page in its index, or the page is indexed but is not visible for the search you tried.
The fix depends on which problem you have. Here is a sensible order to check, without paying for a rebuild before you know what is wrong.
First, check whether Google knows the page exists
If you have access to Google Search Console, paste your home page URL into its URL Inspection tool. It will show whether Google has indexed that URL and, if it has not, give information about the reason. Check an important service page in the same way. A quick site:yourdomain.co.uk Google search can give you a rough clue, but Search Console is the more reliable diagnostic tool.
If your website has only just launched, allow time for discovery and crawling. You can submit a sitemap in Search Console and request indexing for an individual important page. A request asks Google to check it; it does not guarantee that the page will appear immediately or rank for your chosen search.
If Search Console says the page is excluded, give the reason to your web developer. A page may have a noindex instruction, a redirect, a technical error or a different page selected as the main version. Those need different fixes. Do not simply press “request indexing” again and hope the underlying issue disappears.
If it is indexed, check what the page actually says
Suppose you fit kitchens in Chichester. If your home page only says “reliable local tradespeople” and your services page says “all types of work”, a customer cannot tell what you specialise in. Google also has little clear information to connect that page with a specific kitchen fitting search.
Read the page as someone who has never heard of you. Does the main heading name your trade? Do you list the jobs you take on? Is your working area clear? Can someone see examples of relevant work? You do not need to repeat “kitchen fitter Chichester” in every paragraph. Explain the service naturally and give enough detail to answer a real customer’s question.
For different types of work, a useful dedicated service page can help. A kitchen installation page might cover what you install, whether you handle related work, the areas you cover, recent project photos and how to arrange a quote. It should say more than a two-line list on the home page.
Check your local business information
Many local searches show map listings as well as websites. If you are missing from the map results, that is a separate question from whether your website appears in the ordinary search results. Claim and check your Google Business Profile, make sure the contact details and service information are accurate, and add the correct website link. Our Google Business Profile guide for trades walks through the setup.
Your website and profile should give customers a consistent picture of the business. A customer who clicks through should be able to confirm that you cover their area and do the job they need.
Check that the site works properly on a phone
Open the page on your own phone using mobile data. Can you read it without pinching or zooming? Does it load, and do the navigation, call button and quote form work? A slow or broken page can lose the enquiry even if a search result sends someone to it.
If you have changed domains or had the site rebuilt, check that old useful URLs lead to the right new pages. A broken old link may send visitors to an error page. That is worth fixing before you spend time writing more copy.
What should you do next?
- Not indexed: use Search Console to identify the specific reason and fix it.
- Indexed, but absent for the service: improve the page’s explanation of the job and location, and check whether a dedicated service page would genuinely help.
- Website visible, map listing missing: review your Google Business Profile separately.
- Visitors arrive, but nobody contacts you: test the enquiry route and review the page’s clarity and proof.
No one can promise a particular Google position. You can, however, make sure the site is accessible, says clearly what you do and makes it simple for a customer to contact you. If you want help working through the problem, tell Websites for Trades what you are seeing.
