Your Website is Live—Now How Do You Get Found on Google?
Your new website is live—congratulations! 🎉
One of the most common questions I receive from clients after launching their website is: “How do I get my website to show up on Google?”
The short answer is that it can take time for a new website to gain visibility in Google Search, but there are several things you can do to help Google discover and better understand your website.
It’s also important to understand that launching a website and ranking highly in search results are two different things. Your website may be live and available to visitors while Google is still in the process of discovering, crawling, and evaluating its pages.
Below, I’ll explain what happens after your website launches, what has already been done to support search engine visibility, and the steps you can take to continue building your online presence over time.
Jump to:
What happens after your website launches?
When a new website goes live, Google first needs to discover the website, crawl its pages, understand what each page is about, and determine which searches the website may be relevant for.
In simple terms, the process looks something like this:
Google discovers your website
Google crawls and reads your site’s pages
Google may add eligible pages to its search index
Google determines which searches those pages may be relevant for and where they may appear in search results.
A new website also has less history and fewer established signals than a website that has been online for years. Because of this, it can take time for a new website’s search visibility to develop.
There is no universal timeline for this process. Some websites may begin appearing in search results relatively quickly, while gaining meaningful visibility for competitive searches can take much longer.
Being Indexed vs Ranking Highly:
Indexed means Google has discovered a page and may be able to show it in search results.
Ranking refers to where a page appears in search results for a particular search.
Ranking highly means appearing near the top of the search results.
If you search for one of your services and don’t immediately see your website on the first page, that does not necessarily mean your website has not been indexed or that something is wrong. Your website may simply be ranking below other established or highly relevant websites for that particular search.
Your first 3 steps after launch:
One of the first things I recommend doing after your website launches is setting up and verifying your free Google Business Profile and Google Search Console, connecting your website to them, and submitting your website’s sitemap through Google Search Console. These are important foundational steps that can help Google discover your website and better understand which pages are available to be crawled and indexed.
1. Set Up and Verify Your Google Business Profile
If you operate a local business or serve clients in a particular geographic area, your Google Business Profile is especially important.
Because your Business Profile may appear in Google Search and Google Maps when people search for businesses or services in your area, make sure it’s completed as thoroughly and accurately as possible and includes relevant information such as:
Your correct business name
Your business location or service area
Your website
Your phone number
Your business hours
Your services
Your business category
Photos and other relevant information
Be sure to keep this information updated if your services, location, hours, contact information, or other business details change.
It’s also a good idea to review the other places where your business appears online—such as professional directories, booking platforms, association profiles, and social media accounts—and update them with your new website and current business information. Keeping these profiles accurate helps potential clients find the correct information and creates a more consistent online presence.
Relevance, Distance, and Prominence: the factors primarily influencing Google’s search results
In practical terms, Google is trying to determine:
Relevance: How closely does your business match what someone searched for?
Distance: How close is your business to the person searching or to the location included in the search?
Prominence: How established or well-known does your business appear to be online?
For example, if someone searches for a specific type of therapist or wellness practitioner in their city, Google looks at information that may help determine which businesses are relevant to that search.
Having a complete Business Profile, a website that clearly explains your services and location, and accurate information across your online presence can all help Google better understand your business.
Keep in mind that local search results can vary depending on where someone is searching from. A person searching in one neighborhood may see different local results than someone searching from another part of the same city.
2. Set Up Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that allows website owners to monitor how their website appears in Google Search.
After verifying your website in Search Console, you can use it to view information such as:
Which search terms people are using to find your website
Which pages are appearing in Google Search
How often your website appears in search results
How often people click through to your website
Whether Google has identified any indexing or technical issues
You do not need to check Google Search Console every day. However, it can be a helpful tool for monitoring your website’s search visibility and identifying potential issues over time.
3. Submit Your Website’s Sitemap
A sitemap is a file that provides search engines with information about the pages on your website.
Submitting your sitemap through Google Search Console can help Google discover the pages available on your website. However, submitting a sitemap does not guarantee that every page will be crawled, indexed, or ranked. Google still determines which pages are eligible to appear in search results.
If your website was built on Squarespace, your sitemap is automatically generated and updated as you add or remove pages. You generally do not need to create or manually update the sitemap yourself.
The instructions for setting up your Google Business Profile, verifying Google Search Console, and submitting your sitemap are included in your Website Guide (for Heartleaf clients only).
Your website’s SEO foundation:
Search engine optimization, or SEO, if something I take into consideration throughout the website design and copywriting process.
Rather than simply adding a list of keywords to a website, the goal is to make it clear to both visitors and search engines:
What your business offers
Who you serve
Where you provide services
What makes your approach or services unique
Which topics and services are relevant to your practice
Your website also includes foundational SEO elements, including:
Clear website organization and page structure
SEO-minded website copy
Relevant page titles
Page descriptions
Descriptive image alt text
Clear headings
Mobile-responsive design
Search-engine-friendly website settings
Other behind-the-scenes technical SEO elements
These elements help search engines better understand the content and purpose of your website.
For example, a therapist’s website may naturally include information about:
The therapist’s location
The populations they work with
The types of therapy they provide
Their areas of specialization
The concerns or challenges they help clients address
The goal is not to repeat the same keyword or phrase throughout every page. Instead, the website should provide clear, helpful, and natural information that accurately reflects the practice.
Your website provides an important SEO foundation, but SEO is not a one-time setting that can guarantee a particular position in Google. Search visibility can continue developing as your business establishes a stronger and more consistent online presence.
Build relevant connections + links
Another way a website can built authority and visibility over time is through links from other websites.
When another website includes a link to your website, that link is sometimes called a “backlink.”
For example, if a professional organization, local business, podcast publication, or another reputable website includes a link to your website, Google may use that link as one of many signals when discovering and evaluating your website.
Some examples could include:
Being listed on a professional organization or association website
Having your practice included in a relevant local or regional business directory
Being featured in an article, podcast, or interview
Participating in a professional event that includes speaker or presenter information online
Writing a guest article for a relevant website
Partnering with another reputable professional or community organization
The quality and relevance of the website linking to you generally matter more than simply collecting as many links as possible.
There is no need to purchase large numbers of links or look for unrelated websites that will add your business to a directory. Focus instead on genuine professional connections, relevant organizations, and opportunities that make sense for your business.
Create helpful content over time.
Another way to gradually expand your website’s visibility is by creating helpful content that answers questions your ideal clients may actually be searching for. This could include blog posts, articles, guides, or other resources related to topics you regularly discuss with clients.
For example, a therapist might eventually create content around topics such as:
What is relational therapy?
What is EMDR therapy, and who can it help?
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
What is the difference between anxiety and stress?
How can therapy help with relationship patterns?
What should I expect from my first therapy session?
A massage therapist might create resources about:
What should I expect during my first massage?
How often should I schedule a massage?
What is the difference between Swedish and deep tissue massage?
What is lymphatic drainage massage?
How can massage support recovery and mobility?
You do not need to write about every possible topic or publish new content every week.
The most useful content is content that genuinely answers questions your potential clients have and provides information they may find helpful.
You also do not need to create content solely to include keywords. The goal should be to create clear, reliable, people-first content—not content designed primarily to manipulate search rankings.
If you are unsure what to write about, consider the questions you regularly receive from potential or current clients. Those questions may provide helpful ideas for future website content.
What might you see first in search results?
I would not expect a new website to immediately rank highly for broad, competitive searches simply because the website is now live.
For example, a new therapy practice may not immediately appear near the top of search results for a broad search such as:
“therapist in Austin.”
That search will include many established practices, directories, and websites that have been online for years.
However, you may begin appearing sooner for more specific searches that are closely related to your business, such as searches involving:
Your name
Your business or practice name
A specific service you provide
A particular specialty
A combination of your location and service type
For example, a website may have a better opportunity to appear for a more specific search such as:
“EMDR therapist for young adults in Austin”
than for a broad search such as:
“therapist”
This does not mean that every specific search will immediately produce your website. Search visibility depends on many factors, including the search itself, the competition, the location of the person searching, and the information Google has available about your business.
Over time, a clear website, an accurate Google Business Profile, relevant online connections, and helpful content can all contribute to a stronger online presence.
What you don’t need to worry about
After launching a new website, it can be tempting to search for your business repeatedly and become concerned if you don’t immediately see it popping up near the top of results.
Try not to worry if:
Your website does not immediately appear on the first page for a service-related search
Your website appears for some searches but not others
Your search position changes over time
You see different results when searching from different locations
An established competitor appears above your website
Your website takes time to gain visibility for broad or competitive searches
Search results are not static. They can change based on the search being performed, the location of the person searching, the websites competing for that search, and updates to Google’s search systems.
The fact that your website is not immediately at the top of a search result does not mean that your website is unsuccessful or that the SEO foundation is not working.
What you can do after launch
Here’s my simple checklist to help you get started off on the right foot with your new website.
Shortly After Launch:
Set up and verify your Google Business Profile
Complete your Business Profile with accurate and relevant information
Set up and verify Google Search Console
Submit your website’s sitemap through Google Search Console
Confirm that your website address is correct on your existing online profiles
Update professional directories, booking platforms, and social media profiles with your new website
Over Time:
Keep your website and online business information accurate and up to date
Look for relevant opportunities to be listed, featured, or linked to by reputable websites
Create helpful website content when you have useful topics to share
Continue building genuine professional and community connections
Review your Google Search Console data periodically to better understand how people are finding your website
The biggest things to remember:
Consistency and patience.
Your website provides an important foundation for your online presence, but search visibility typically develops over time. A new website needs time to be discovered, understood, and evaluated, and broad or competitive searches may take longer to gain visibility.
The steps in your Website Guide—setting up your Google Business Profile, verifying Google Search Console, and submitting your sitemap—are the best place to start.
After that, continuing to keep your online information accurate, building relevant professional connections, and creating genuinely helpful content can all contribute to improving your website’s visibility over time.
There is no single action that guarantees a top position in Google Search. However, consistently providing clear, accurate, and helpful information gives both potential clients and search engines a better understanding of your business.
And of course, if you have questions about any of these steps or would like assistance with your website after launch, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Until next time,
Ashley
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