Has your website escaped from the first page of Google? Here's how to get it back!

Hello? Has anyone seen my website?

Imagine this scenario: You wake up in the morning, make yourself a cup of coffee and sit down in front of your computer. You start your day as usual, checking how your business is doing online. You type the name of your service into Google - but your website isn't there. Confused, you type in other phrases, keep looking. The first page of Google, the second, the third... finally, resignedly, you wonder if your website has taken a sudden vacation.

Before you panic and start writing an email to Google, let me tell you one thing: you are not alone. Hundreds of entrepreneurs face the same surprise every day. As an IT expert and someone who has been designing websites and helping small business owners get back to the first page of Google for more than 10 years, I know exactly what it's like when your site suddenly "escapes" from the sight of customers.

In this article, I'll show you how to find your site, get your customer traffic back, and start enjoying the benefits of being visible on the first page of Google again. Let's start with the most common culprit -slow page loading.

Is your website loading slower than your coffee is brewing? Google doesn't like it!

I'll confess something to you - a few years ago, when I launched one of my first websites for a client (a great local bicycle sales business), we focused on beautiful graphics and polished details. The site looked impressive. But we had a problem: it loaded so slowly that the client joked that you could easily make yourself a cup of coffee before it even opened.

The result? Our beautiful, modern website was quickly losing its position in Google. Potential customers were getting discouraged, and sales, instead of increasing, were going down. Why?

Because page load speed is one of the key things for Google that determines position. The rule is simple:The longer a customer waits, the faster Google pushes you down the search results.

What can you do if you are in a similar situation?

Quick rescue operations - no panic and no IT specialist:

• Use Google's PageSpeed Insights tool: This free and easy tool will show you exactly where your site is slowing down and what you can improve.
• Reduce the size of the images: You don't need a super-quality full-width screen photo that weighs as much as a movie on Netflix. Simple tools like TinyPNG will allow you to quickly reduce the size of your photos without losing quality.
• Enable cache: If you're using WordPress, for example, free plug-ins such as WP Fastest Cache can dramatically improve page load speed, which Google likes a lot.

When I applied these methods to my client's site, the results were visible almost immediately. The site returned to the top positions of Google, and business began to spread its wings again.

So you see - a problem that initially seemed like a disaster was easy to fix. Your site, too, can quickly regain its position - just by following a few simple steps.

Ready? Then let's get to work - let's get your site back together!

When was the last time you dusted off your site? Google loves fresh content!

You run a traditional store, say a bakery. On the first day you put out fresh buns, fragrant cakes and aromatic breads. Customers are delighted, traffic is huge. But now imagine that for the next month you don't change the assortment - the bread goes stale, the cakes dry out. How many customers will be left?

The situation is similar with your website. Google loves freshness - new, up-to-date content sends a signal that the site is alive, the business is growing, and you are actively taking care of your customers. A site that stagnates for months begins to look abandoned, causing the search engine to direct its attention to competitors who regularly publish new content.

I remember well the story of the owner of a small company producing handmade candles. Ms. Marta had great products, but traffic to the site began to decline rapidly over time. When she asked me for help, all it took was one look at her blog - the last article was almost two years old!

What have we done to get back to the first page of Google?

• Regularly publish content
  We created a simple publication calendar (one short piece of advice or trivia once every two weeks). This allowed the site to "come back to life" on a regular basis.
• Refresh older articles
  Google appreciates when you go back to older posts, update them and add new information. We have updated the most important posts, added new product images and links to the store.
• Expand content with key phrases
  The content that was created focused on key topics of interest to customers: for example, "how to burn a soy candle?", "best gift for mom", "scented candle trends 2025". Such phrases were searched for on Google and quickly attracted new customers.

The effect? After one month, we saw a significant increase in organic traffic. After three months, the site returned to the first page of Google for key phrases, and candle sales increased significantly.

How can YOU start refreshing your content?

• Create a list of 5-10 topics related to your industry that customers are interested in.
• Publish regularly - Even one text per month can make a big difference.
• Update old content - Show Google that your site is still up to date.

Optimize on-page text for SEO (no technical language!)

Many entrepreneurs when hearing "SEO" immediately think of complicated, technical tasks that require advanced knowledge. Nothing could be further from the truth! As someone who has advised small businesses for years, I know that a few simple actions can bring huge benefits - especially when it comes to the texts on your site.

I was once approached by the owner of a small law firm. The site looked professional, but the phrases used in the texts were very general, such as "professional legal services." As a result, Google completely failed to understand who the site was for, and the law firm disappeared into the far pages of search results.

After a few minor changes we made together, the law firm began to appear high on specific, valuable phrases. What exactly did we do?

Here are some simple content optimization steps you can implement today:

1. simple and clear page titles and headings (H1, H2)

• Each sub-page should have one main heading (H1), such as "Legal assistance in divorce cases Warsaw", instead of the generic "Our services".
• Divide text into readable sections with headings (H2), e.g. "How is the divorce going?", "Why choose our law firm?". - Google loves this.

2. friendly URLs

• Avoid hard-to-remember and unreadable type addresses:
• • ❌ yourfirma.pl/?pageid=23
• Instead, use simple and logical addresses, such as:
• • ✓ yourfirma.co.uk/legal-assistance-divorce

This is important for both Google and users.

3. image optimization (ALT tags)

• Many business owners skip this step, and it's a simple way to improve SEO.
• Each image should have an alternative description (ALT) that describes the image, such as:
• • ✓ "lawyer Warsaw divorce consultation", instead of the default file name "photo123.jpg".

4. use key phrases naturally

• Use specific phrases that your potential customers use. Instead of writing in general terms: "We offer good legal services," write:
• • ✓ "We offer professional legal assistance in Warsaw, specializing in divorce and family cases."

These small changes will allow Google to quickly understand what your business does and what customers might find it attractive. In my experience, content optimization, even without deep technical knowledge, is often enough to quickly see positive results.

Get external links - naturally and effectively

Looking for a professional to renovate your apartment. Who are you quicker to trust - someone recommended by friends, or someone completely anonymous? For Google, such a "referral" is an external link, i.e. a link to your site that appears elsewhere on the Internet. The more valuable referrals, the more Google trusts your site, moving it higher in search results.

However, I know from experience that for many small business owners the subject of external links can sometimes be problematic. Running my own business myself, I used to wonder: where do I actually get these links from? Do I have to pay for them? Is it complicated?

The truth is that external links can be acquired effectively, naturally and - importantly for any business - often completely free.

Here are some proven, simple methods that I have used successfully with clients:

1. local business directories

• Why is it worth it? Google loves local links, especially if you're running a business targeting customers in your area.
• Examples of places:
• • free entry in Google My Company,
  • Directories of local businesses, such as a city or municipality,
  • Industry and local portals, such as those related to your region.

2. guest posts on industry blogs

• If you have knowledge in your field, use it!
• Find industry (or related topic) blogs and offer a short, practical how-to article. In return, ask for a backlink to your site.
• Google especially appreciates this type of valuable content.

3. links from business partners

• If you work with other companies (e.g., suppliers, manufacturers, partners), ask about the possibility of exchanging links.
• Such a link is natural, valuable, and Google will consider it a signal that your company is trustworthy.

4. social media - although links don't always convey "SEO power," they can generate valuable traffic

• Regularly share content from your site on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
• Additional traffic to your site improves user metrics, which Google takes into account in its rankings.

A few months ago I helped the owner of an auto repair shop get valuable links. The result? Just a few local directory entries and one guest post on an automotive blog brought him a noticeable increase in positions for specific key phrases that were important to him. And most importantly, these actions didn't cost him a penny - just some time.

You too can easily apply these methods and improve your site's visibility on Google.

Invest in local SEO - get customers in your area!

I often encounter situations where small business owners think that effective SEO is the domain of big companies with massive budgets. However, the truth is different - especially if you run a local business. In practice, it turns out that local SEO can be the most effective and also the easiest way for customers in your area to find you online.

I remember the story of the owner of a small florist shop in Warsaw whom I helped build online visibility. Initially, she tried to compete with generic phrases such as "online flowers" or "florist." The problem was that she was then competing with the giants of the market, losing money and time.

I suggested to her a simple change of strategy: let's focus on local phrases - "florist Warsaw Mokotow", "wedding bouquets Warsaw", "custom flowers Mokotow".

The result exceeded our expectations. In a short time, the florist began to appear high on the first page of Google, and new customers from the area regularly came to the company.

What can YOU do to quickly improve your company's local SEO?

1. free Google My Business profile (Google Business Profile)

• This is an absolute must for any local business.
• Fill out the profile accurately:
• • Full contact information: address, phone number, website.
  • Current photos of your company or products.
  • A brief description of what you do.
• Add entries and special offers regularly.

This way, when someone types in, for example, "hairdresser Krakow center," your business will appear not only in search results, but also on Google maps.

2. encourage customers to leave reviews on Google

• Google greatly values authentic feedback from local customers. Simple advice:
• • After each service rendered or product sold, remind the customer to give a short review.
  • Respond to feedback - both positive and negative. Google appreciates the activity of business owners.

3. local key phrases on the page

• Include key phrases related to the location of your business, such as "plumbing services Poznan Wilda", "gluten-free patisserie Krakow".
• This will allow Google to display your site more effectively to the residents of your city or neighborhood.

Many of the business owners I've worked with have been positively surprised at how quickly these simple measures produce results - an increase in the number of customers, better brand recognition in the area and a real increase in revenue.

Take care of regularity - SEO requires patience and regularity

Many of the entrepreneurs I've supported in improving their companies' positions on Google make the same mistake: they quickly give up when they don't see immediate results. SEO, however, is more like regular watering of the garden than a spectacular fireworks display. It requires patience and systematic efforts to produce results.

Let me tell you a short story about the owner of a small transportation company who tried for several months to promote his site through various SEO techniques. After his initial enthusiasm, he published blog articles irregularly, quickly lost motivation and almost completely forgot about the site.

When he came to me with the question: "Why is my site still in distant positions?", I quickly realized that he had not made a mistake in the strategy itself, but in its implementation - there was a lack of regularity. Once he would add several posts at once, and then he would not publish anything for months. Google noticed this lack of consistency, treating the site as less relevant to users.

We have introduced a simple schedule of SEO activities:

• Publication of one blog article per month - short and useful.
• Regular updates to your Google My Business profile - At least once every two weeks.
• Once a month - check the site for loading speed (just to make sure everything works perfectly).

The result? After 3 months of systematic efforts, the company appeared in the top ten Google results for relevant local phrases, and organic traffic to the site more than doubled.

How can YOU easily keep your SEO efforts regular, even if you have little time?

• Prepare a simple calendar of activities - Just one activity per week or even month, for example:
• • First week of the month: publication of a short blog post.
  • Second week: update Google My Business or add photos.
  • Third week: a quick audit of the site, such as checking the loading speed.
  • Fourth week: getting one simple link (e.g., local directory).
• Plan activities in advance - When you know what you are supposed to do, it is easier to maintain regularity.
• Measure the effects - Even small increases in positions motivate you to keep going!

Use data - measure the results of your actions

Let's face it: no one likes to operate in the dark. Especially you - an entrepreneur who values your time, energy and money. In business, especially with SEO activities, it is extremely important not to guess, but to rely on concrete, measurable data. In practice, this means that you should know exactly what is working and what needs tweaking.

I remember well a client - the owner of a small renovation company - whom I helped a few years ago. When we met, his only method of "measuring" the effectiveness of the site was a subjective feeling - "I think more customers are calling," he said. The problem was that he wasn't sure what was working well and what was a waste of time and money.

We introduced simple, free analytical tools - Google Analytics and Google Search Console. After a few weeks, we already had a concrete picture of the situation. We knew exactly what content was attracting customers, where users were coming from, and which phrases they were typing into Google to get to his site.

The effects were surprising - it turned out that a lot of people were accessing the site through phrases that had not been used at all in the service descriptions until now! After implementing this new information, the company noticed a significant increase in inquiries from customers.

What simple steps can you take right now to better understand the effectiveness of your SEO?

1. Google Analytics - check where your customers are coming from

• You will learn which sites are popular and which need attention.
• You will see how long users stay on the site, which content interests them, and which they leave quickly.
• Setting up an account is free and intuitive - no complex technical skills are required.

2. Google Search Console - monitor positions in Google

• You will check which phrases your site appears for in the search engine.
• You'll find out if Google has detected any technical problems worth correcting.
• You will see which content attracts customers directly from the search engine.

3. key indicators to watch (even once a month!):

• Organic movement: How many people come to the site directly from Google results.
• Phrase position: Are your most important key phrases improving their positions.
• Bounce rate: Whether users stay on the site or leave it quickly.

Using this data gives you an incredible advantage - you save time, energy, and most importantly - money. You make decisions based on facts, not assumptions.