Why Your Optimized Page Isn't Ranking: 10 Possible Reasons

What could be the matter if your perfectly optimized post isn't ranking? Is the problem that your site is not on Google at all, or is something else going wrong? What is keeping your content from reaching that coveted #1 position? In this post, we'll discuss ten possible reasons why your page is not ranking, even though it's optimized.

We've divided the possible issues you might be having into four sections:

Indexing and Crawl Issues:
How to check if your site is on Google and why your site/page might not be on Google.

Technical Issues with Your Website:
Is Google disregarding your site because it's not set up correctly?

Linking Issues:
Is your internal linking structure and lack of quality backlinks limiting your success?

Content and Keyword Issues:
Is your content high quality and aligned with the right search intent? Are your keywords just too competitive?

If you're not sure where the issue lies, you can also run a quick SEO audit to see if you've missed something. Remember, if you want your pages to rank and keep ranking, your site will need to be SEO fit!

Indexing and Crawl Issues

The first few points on the list deal with indexing and crawl issues. Put simply, you can't rank if your page or site is not on Google in the first place. If you find these topics confusing, you might want to read up on how Google works and how to start with SEO.

1. Your site/page is not on Google:
   If you're unsure whether your site is on Google or not, you can check using the site: search operator in Google. Type site:yourwebsite.com, and you'll see a list of pages found on that domain. If you see your pages, this means that Google does know about your site and has put at least some of it in its index. You might want to dig deeper if your page is in the index but not performing well.

2. Your site/page is still too new:
   If your site or page is new, it might simply be a matter of waiting for Google to finish its discovery process. Sometimes, it takes days or even weeks for Google to crawl, index, and rank your content.

3. Your content is noindexed:
   One common reason for Google not indexing your site or a specific page is that it has inadvertently been set to noindex. This tells search engine crawlers not to add the content to the index. You can check if your page is noindexed by viewing the source code and looking for the <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag.

4. Your site/page is blocking Google with robots.txt:
   If you've blocked Google from crawling your website using the robots.txt file, it will prevent your content from being indexed. Ensure that your robots.txt file is not blocking Google and that your site is easily crawlable.

Technical Issues Affecting Ranking

Is your page/website indexed but not ranking? Then technical problems might be the issue. Loading speed, security, and other technical factors play a role in ranking. Check if your technical SEO is up to scratch.

5. You're not ranking because your site has technical issues:
   Technical benchmarks, such as loading speed and security, are essential for ranking on Google. If your site has technical issues, it may prevent your content from appearing in the search results. Check your Yoast plugin settings, loading times, security certificates, and ensure that your plugins or theme are not causing any problems.

6. You're being penalized for breaking SEO rules:
   If you engage in shady SEO techniques that violate Google's guidelines, such as buying links or keyword stuffing, your page or site can be penalized. Ensure that you are following ethical SEO practices and avoid any techniques that Google does not allow.

Linking Issues That Affect Ranking

Having a good internal linking structure and quality backlinks are important for ranking. If your links are lacking, it can hinder your ranking performance.

7. Your site doesn't have a proper internal linking structure: A poor internal linking structure can affect your rankings. Ensure that your important posts and pages have sufficient internal links pointing to them. These links should be relevant and add value to the user experience.

8. There are few backlinks to your site: Backlinks from other websites are crucial for ranking. If your website is new, you may need to work on acquiring high-quality backlinks. Create exceptional content that attracts links naturally and consider reaching out to other websites in your niche for collaborations or mentions.

Content and Keyword Issues Affecting Ranking

If everything else is optimized correctly, the reason your page or site is not ranking might be related to your content or keywords.

9. Your page is great, but there's too much competition: Highly competitive keywords can be challenging to rank for, especially if your website is relatively new and lacks authority. Consider targeting long-tail keywords and phrases before tackling the more competitive ones. Building authority and attracting backlinks through quality content can help you rank for more competitive terms over time.

10. Low-quality content or wrong search intent: If your content doesn't match users' search intent, it may not rank well. Search engines consider user intent when delivering search results. Analyze the search results for your target keyword and ensure that your content aligns with the dominant intent. Adapt your content strategy accordingly to provide what users are searching for.

Remember, SEO is a long-term strategy thatrequires continuous efforts to improve and maintain your rankings. Focus on all aspects of website optimization, address technical issues, build quality backlinks, and create valuable, user-centric content. By following best practices and staying patient, your pages will have a better chance of ranking higher in the search results.

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