Why Your Pages Aren’t Ranking (And What to Do About It)

You’ve put in the effort—created content, optimized titles, even installed an SEO plugin—but your website still isn’t showing up in search results. If you’re wondering why your pages aren’t ranking, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common (and frustrating) challenges for site owners and marketers alike.

The good news? Most ranking issues are fixable. The key is identifying the problem and taking targeted action.

1. You’re Targeting the Wrong Keywords

Many websites try to rank for keywords that are either too competitive or have no real search intent.

Fix It:

Use tools like Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, or Google Keyword Planner
Focus on long-tail, low-competition keywords
Match keyword type to page purpose (informational, transactional, navigational)

Example: Instead of targeting “CRM,” aim for “best CRM for real estate startups.”

2. Your Content Lacks Depth or Relevance

Google prioritizes content that is helpful, detailed, and satisfies the user’s query. Thin or generic content won’t cut it.

Fix It:

Write 1000+ word articles that fully answer the searcher’s intent
Include examples, stats, FAQs, and visuals
Use semantic keywords (LSI) and internal links to boost topic authority

Audit low-performing pages and expand or combine them with fresh updates.

3. Poor On-Page SEO

Even great content won’t rank if your on-page SEO is broken.

Fix It:

Use only one H1 tag per page
Include focus keyword in URL, title tag, meta description, and first paragraph
Use optimized image alt text, internal linking, and proper heading hierarchy

Install Rank Math SEO or Yoast to guide on-page improvements.

4. Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly

Google indexes mobile versions of websites first. If your mobile UX is broken, you’ll rank lower.

Fix It:

Use responsive design and test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Tool
Ensure text is readable, CTAs are tappable, and layout is clean
Optimize for speed and eliminate intrusive popups

5. Your Page Load Time Is Too Slow

Site speed is a ranking factor—and a conversion killer.

Fix It:

Compress images using WebP
Use caching plugins like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache
Host on fast servers or VPS platforms like Hetzner, Cloudways
Minify CSS/JS with Autoptimize

Test speed using GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights.

6. You Don’t Have Backlinks

Google treats backlinks as a vote of trust. Without them, your page authority stays low.

Fix It:

Create high-quality content worth linking to
Reach out for guest posts, podcast appearances, and resource mentions
Submit your best content to industry directories or communities

Use Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze competitors’ backlinks and outreach accordingly.

7. Your Pages Are Competing With Each Other

Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages target the same keyword, confusing search engines.

Fix It:

Use a content map to assign one main keyword per page
Merge overlapping articles
Use canonical tags or redirects where necessary

8. You’re Not Indexed Properly

Even perfectly optimized pages won’t rank if Google hasn’t indexed them.

Fix It:

Inspect pages in Google Search Console
Submit missing URLs via URL Inspection
Check robots.txt and meta tags (noindex errors)

If your sitemap is outdated, update it and resubmit.

9. Your Site Lacks Topical Authority

Google prefers sites that are authorities on a subject—not generalists.

Fix It:

Create content clusters (pillar + supporting articles)
Target related subtopics and link them together
Use internal links to guide users and bots through your knowledge graph

10. You’re Relying on Automation or AI-Only Content

Thin, AI-generated content without human insight or originality often performs poorly.

Fix It:

Add your expertise, experience, and perspective
Use AI for drafts or research, but always humanize it
Follow Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust)

Final Thoughts: Fix, Don’t Fret

It’s easy to feel discouraged when your hard work doesn’t result in rankings. But now you know why your pages aren’t ranking—and more importantly, what to do about it.

SEO is a long game. Every fix you implement brings you closer to visibility, traffic, and sustainable growth.