Most small businesses aren't showing up on Google because they're missing one thing: a proper website. No tricks. No backlinks. Just the right foundation.
Common reasons
It's rarely bad luck. Most businesses fail to rank for the same four reasons — and every one of them is fixable.
Google ranks websites. If you don't have one, you simply don't exist in search results. A Facebook page is not a substitute — Google treats them very differently.
A site that loads but has no meta titles, no H1 tags, and no relevant content tells Google nothing. Without clear signals, Google won't rank you for anything meaningful.
Google uses mobile-first indexing. If your site looks broken on a phone, Google will rank it lower — or not at all. Over 60% of searches happen on mobile.
Page speed is a confirmed ranking factor. If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, Google penalises it — and 53% of mobile visitors will leave before it loads.
The foundation
Before backlinks, before social signals, before any technical SEO — Google needs a proper website with relevant content that clearly describes what you do and where you do it.
That means a page with your service name in the title. Your town or city mentioned naturally in the copy. A clear description of what makes your business different. Contact details that match your Google My Business listing.
Google's job is to match a searcher with the most relevant result. The more clearly your website communicates who you are and what you offer, the more confidently Google will surface you to the right people.
"A plumber in Manchester who has a website saying 'emergency plumber in Manchester' will always outrank a plumber with no website or a vague one-liner."
Your services, your location, your differentiators — written naturally for humans, not stuffed with keywords.
One H1 per page that names your service and location. H2s that break down your offerings clearly.
Title tags and meta descriptions are what appear in search results — they need to be compelling and keyword-relevant.
Speed and mobile experience are ranking signals. A fast, responsive site ranks higher and converts better.
Built-in SEO
Every site ChilledSites generates is built with Google in mind — not as an afterthought, but baked into the structure from the start.
Every page gets a single, keyword-focused H1 — your service and location clearly named. Section headings follow H2 hierarchy so Google can understand your page structure instantly.
AI writes a custom meta title (under 60 chars) and meta description (under 160 chars) for every page — optimised for clicks in search results, not just for rankings.
ChilledSites sites serve static HTML — no heavy JavaScript frameworks, no render-blocking scripts. Pages load in under a second, which Google rewards with better rankings.
Every ChilledSites layout is designed for phones first, then scales to desktop. Google's mobile-first indexing means this directly impacts where you rank.
LocalBusiness and Organization schema is added automatically, telling Google exactly what your business is, where it operates, and how to contact you. This powers rich results.
Connect your own domain and every page gets a canonical URL. This prevents duplicate content issues and tells Google exactly which version of your site to index.
Local search
Local search is the most valuable traffic for most small businesses. Someone searching "electrician in Leeds" is ready to book — not just browsing.
Google's local algorithm weighs three things: Relevance (does your site match the search?), Distance (how close are you?), and Prominence (how trusted is your business?).
You can't control distance — but you can absolutely control relevance and prominence. A well-structured website with clear local signals handles relevance. A complete Google My Business profile handles prominence.
Position 1 and 2 have websites with clear local signals. Position 3 has no website — just a Facebook page. Which one gets the call?
Maximum visibility
Google My Business gets you into the map pack. Your website gets you into organic results. Together, they can own two places on the same search results page.
With both GMB and a website, you can appear in the map pack AND the organic results for the same search — effectively doubling your chances of being clicked.
Google reviews on your GMB listing boost your local ranking and your click-through rate. Customers who find you via search are already half-sold — reviews close the deal.
Your business name, address and phone number must be identical on your website and your GMB profile. Any mismatch confuses Google and weakens your local ranking.
Use the GMB Q&A section to pre-answer common questions. And make sure your website has an FAQ section — Google pulls these into rich results directly.
Quick setup checklist
Realistic expectations
There's no magic switch — but here's what typically happens when you launch a properly built website with the right local signals.
Within days of launching, Google's crawlers will find and index your site — especially if you submit it via Google Search Console. You'll appear for branded searches almost immediately.
Days 1–7Google starts testing your site in search results. You'll begin appearing in lower positions for local terms. Your GMB listing (if set up) may appear in the map pack within 2–4 weeks.
Weeks 2–6With consistent signals (reviews coming in, GMB activity, relevant content), rankings solidify. Many local businesses reach page 1 for their core terms within 2–3 months.
Months 2–3Traffic begets clicks, clicks beget signals, signals beget higher rankings. A site that's been live for 6 months with good engagement consistently outranks newer, technically better-optimised competitors.
Month 6+What you control
What you don't control
ChilledSites generates a complete website with all the technical SEO foundations that Google needs to rank you — proper headings, meta tags, schema, fast loading, mobile-first. From £29/year. No agency required.
Common questions
Every day without a proper website is a day you're invisible on Google. ChilledSites builds your SEO-ready site in 60 seconds — with meta tags, mobile-first design, schema markup, and fast loading built in. From £29/year.