How to Get Your Website on Google: 9 Essential Steps for UK Businesses

Building a website is an exciting milestone — but if no one can find it, it won’t deliver the results you need. Whether your goal is generating leads, selling products, or sharing information, the real key to success lies in making your site discoverable. And that means learning how to get your website on Google.

With over 90% of the global search market, Google is the starting point for almost every online journey. The good news? Appearing on Google isn’t luck — it’s the result of following the right steps. This guide will walk you through nine practical ways to get your website on Google, improve your visibility, and set yourself up for long-term growth.

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Key Takeaways

• Start with strong foundations – A fast, mobile-friendly, and secure site is essential.
• Content is king – High-quality, relevant content makes your site worth ranking.
• SEO is critical – From title tags to internal links, on-page optimisation tells Google what your site is about.
• Google tools help – Search Console and Analytics give you direct feedback from Google.
• Backlinks build trust – Links from reputable websites boost your site’s authority.
• Ongoing effort wins – SEO is not a one-off task; it requires monitoring and improvement.

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Step 1: Build a Google-Friendly Website

Before worrying about rankings, you need a website that Google can crawl and users love to visit. A poorly structured site won’t perform no matter how much content or SEO you throw at it.

• Choose the right platform – WordPress remains the most popular choice, powering over 40% of all websites. Pair it with a flexible builder like Elementor for a powerful, user-friendly solution.
• Prioritise user experience – Make sure your navigation is simple, your fonts readable, and your pages easy to browse.
• Ensure mobile-friendliness – Google uses mobile-first indexing, so your site must work seamlessly on smartphones.
• Focus on speed – Use lightweight themes (like Hello Theme), compress images, and choose quality hosting. A fast site keeps visitors engaged and signals trust to Google.

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Step 2: Create Valuable Content

Google rewards websites that provide helpful, relevant answers to user questions. To succeed, your content strategy should focus on search intent.

• Informational – “How to get your website on Google” (guides like this one).
• Navigational – “BBC News homepage”.
• Transactional – “Buy office chairs online”.
• Commercial investigation – “Best laptops under £1,000 UK”.

Use keyword research tools like Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner to find what your audience is searching for. Prioritise long-tail keywords such as “how to get my small business website on Google UK”. These bring in highly targeted traffic.

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Step 3: Optimise On-Page SEO

On-page SEO helps Google understand your content. Key areas include:

• Title tags & meta descriptions – Keep them short, keyword-rich, and compelling.
• Header tags (H1, H2, H3) – Structure content logically and include your focus keyword.
• Image optimisation – Use descriptive file names and alt text.
• Internal links – Link to related pages within your site, such as your services or blog posts (for example, check out our affordable website design service).

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Step 4: Set Up Google Search Console

Google Search Console is your direct line to Google. It shows whether your website is being indexed, highlights errors, and reveals what people are searching to find you.

Steps to set up:

1. Sign in with your Google account.
2. Add your website property.
3. Verify ownership (via DNS, HTML file, or Google Analytics).
4. Access performance and coverage reports.

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Step 5: Submit Your Sitemap

A sitemap helps Google understand the structure of your site. If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Rank Math or Yoast SEO generate one automatically.

Submit it via Search Console under Index → Sitemaps. This ensures Google knows about all your important pages quickly.

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Step 6: Use Google Business Profile (Local SEO)

If you run a local business, your Google Business Profile is essential for visibility in Google Maps and local searches.

Set up at google.com/business and:

• Add your business name, address, phone, and website.
• Upload quality photos.
• Collect and respond to customer reviews.

This can dramatically improve local visibility when people search for services “near me”.

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Step 7: Build High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks are like votes of confidence from other websites. The more high-quality, relevant links you earn, the more credible your site appears to Google.

Ways to build backlinks:

• Create shareable resources (guides, tools, infographics).
• Guest post on reputable blogs.
• Reach out to industry publications.

Avoid spammy link-building tactics — they can do more harm than good.

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Step 8: Improve Technical SEO

Technical SEO ensures your site runs smoothly for users and search engines. Key factors:

• HTTPS – Secure your site with SSL.
• Core Web Vitals – Measure speed, interactivity, and stability.
• Structured data (schema) – Help Google understand your content (e.g., recipes, reviews, FAQs).
• Accessibility – Ensure your site works for all users, including those with disabilities.

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Step 9: Monitor and Improve

SEO isn’t a one-time job. Use Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track:

• Which keywords bring in visitors.
• What content performs best.
• Where users drop off.

Refine your content and strategy regularly. SEO rewards consistency and patience.

Learning how to get your website on Google is about more than just being indexed — it’s about building authority, trust, and visibility. By following these nine steps, UK businesses can create strong foundations for long-term success in search.