Why Your Website’s SEO Isn’t Working — and How to Fix It

If your business isn’t showing up on the first page of Google, it might as well be invisible. People rarely go past the first few results, let alone the second page. But don’t worry—getting to #1 on Google isn’t just for big brands with massive budgets. You can do it too, with smart SEO strategies and consistent effort.

This guide will break down how to rank #1 on Google, without drowning you in tech jargon. Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways:

  • SEO isn’t just about keywords — poor UX, slow speed, and unclear messaging all hurt rankings.
  • Common signs of bad SEO: no traffic growth, poor conversions, technical issues, and outdated content.
  • An expert SEO audit can uncover issues and create a clear action plan for growth.
  • DIY not working? Book an SEO Power Hour for expert guidance.

Table of Contents

Why Isn’t My Website’s SEO Working?

If your website looks beautiful but you’re still buried on page 4 of Google, it’s a sign something’s broken behind the scenes. SEO success isn’t instant, but if you’ve been working at it for months with little to no progress, there’s likely a deeper issue.

Let’s walk through what might be holding your website back — and how to fix it.

Signs Your SEO Strategy Is Broken

1. Your Website Isn’t Ranking for Anything

If your site doesn’t show up for even low-competition keywords, chances are:

  • Your content isn’t targeting the right terms.
  • There’s no clear keyword strategy.
  • You’re not using on-page SEO best practices.

Fix it: Do a keyword gap analysis, optimize your page titles and meta descriptions, and structure your content around search intent.

2. Traffic Has Plateaued (or Dropped)

Seeing a flatline in your analytics? This usually means:

  • Google doesn’t trust your site
  • Competitors are outranking you
  • Your content is outdated or thin

Fix it: Refresh old posts, improve site speed, and update your internal linking strategy.

3. High Bounce Rate + Low Time on Site

If users are landing and leaving within seconds, the issue may not be SEO — it could be your messaging, design, or CTA placement.

Fix it: Improve UX, add headings that match search intent, and guide visitors to take the next step.

4. You’re Getting Traffic But No Leads

Ranking doesn’t always mean revenue. If your site isn’t converting:

  • The right audience isn’t finding you
  • Your CTAs are unclear or missing
  • Your offer isn’t compelling enough

     

Fix it: Rewrite CTAs, clarify your offer, and create landing pages that solve real problems.

5. You Haven’t Touched Technical SEO

Even great content won’t rank if your site:

  • Loads slowly
  • Has broken links
  • Isn’t mobile-friendly

     

Fix it: Run a technical SEO audit and fix crawl errors, sitemap issues, or poor mobile performance.

6. Your SEO Strategy Is “One-and-Done”

SEO is not a set-it-and-forget-it game. If you haven’t updated your content or analyzed performance in the past 3–6 months, you’re already behind.

Fix it: Set up monthly SEO reviews and use Google Search Console data to guide content tweaks.

7. You're Relying on Outdated Tactics

Keyword stuffing, spammy backlinks, and irrelevant directories? These tactics can hurt more than help.

Fix it: Focus on user-first content, E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authority, trust), and natural internal linking.

What to Do When SEO Fails

  • Audit Your Site: Identify issues across content, technical SEO, backlinks, and UX.
  • Get a Second Opinion: Book an SEO Power Hour for expert eyes on your site.
  • Create a New Plan: Focus on 3–5 primary pages, fix low-hanging fruit, and build from there.

How to Know if Your SEO Is Actually Working

Here’s how to track real progress:

Metric

What It Means

Organic traffic

More visibility in search

Keyword rankings

Higher position = more clicks

Conversions

SEO is bringing the right traffic

Time on page

Your content is engaging

How In-Page SEO Can Help

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels, In-Page SEO offers:

  • Personalized audits that cut the fluff and find real issues
  • Strategic keyword research that actually aligns with your services
  • A Power Hour session to map out your next 30–90 days
  • Ongoing support if you want more hands-on help

FAQs

How do I know if my SEO is working?

If your traffic, rankings, and conversions are improving month over month, your SEO is working. Check Google Search Console and Google Analytics to confirm.

How do you check if a page is SEO optimized?

Use tools like SEOptimer or Screaming Frog to audit your title tags, headings, links, mobile performance, and keyword usage.

What are the 3 main criteria to improve SEO?

  1. Technical SEO – Fix errors, improve speed, mobile-friendliness.
  2. Content – Align with search intent, add value, use proper structure.
  3. Backlinks & UX – Build authority, ensure good site design, clear CTAs.

Need Help With Your Website?

Your SEO isn’t failing because your business isn’t good — it’s failing because Google hasn’t figured that out yet. Let’s change that.

Book your SEO Power Hour today and walk away with a clear action plan to get unstuck and grow.

share this post:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Facebook

Give Your Website a Health Check

Your Free Audit will uncover what’s working, what’s not, and how to get your site in top shape. Let’s get started!