John Mueller explains why a site may not rank despite good SEO

Imagine this scenario: You’ve meticulously fine-tuned your website’s SEO strategy, leaving no stone unturned. From website design to user experience and from metadata to high-quality content, you have covered everything in your quest to rank higher.

Yet, when you search for your prized creation on Google, it’s nowhere to be found, lost among a sea of competitors.

Frustrating, right?

Well, hold onto your seat because John Mueller, the voice of reason from Google, has some intriguing insights.

The conundrum of “good SEO” and ranking woes

Before we dive into Mueller’s revelations, let’s clarify one thing: the definition of “good SEO” isn’t etched in stone. It’s more like a judgment call, influenced by a blend of experience, expertise, and intuition. Many self-proclaimed SEO experts, armed with a wealth of online guides, may still find themselves missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

It’s similar to that humbling moment when you realize you’re not quite the SEO maestro you thought you were, a realization that only dawns after a bout of less-than-stellar results.

Think of it as a wake-up call that exposes the gaps in your knowledge.

With that out of the way, let’s delve into John Mueller’s intriguing response to the timeless query:

“Why is my site not ranking despite low competition and good SEO? I have a sitemap, indexed pages, updated content, backlinks, and on-page optimization. But my site is still not in the top 200 results for my keywords.”

Site promotion x SEO?

Mueller’s reply is like a breath of fresh air in a room filled with stale theories. He points out a subtle flaw in Google’s advice, which tends to lean heavily towards the technical aspects of SEO – think structured data, lightning-fast page loads, and top-notch content. But there’s an aspect often overlooked: site promotion.

In Mueller’s words:

“I see this kind of question often. Google tends to focus on various technical aspects when it comes to talking about SEO, but you need to do more.”

Here, Mueller redirects our focus to an underappreciated facet of the SEO landscape – the art of promoting your site.

He draws a simple yet profound parallel with the real world we inhabit. Consider a book: does an eye-catching cover, concise writing, impeccable grammar, and an engaging theme guarantee it a spot on the bestseller list? Similarly, in the culinary realm, using top-quality ingredients and maintaining pristine kitchen conditions – is that enough to draw a steady stream of customers?

Absolutely, the technical groundwork is vital, a foundation that can’t be neglected. But, to truly succeed, your scope must widen to embrace a broader horizon.

The uncharted territory of site promotion

Balancing the demands of optimizing your digital domain and thrusting it into the digital spotlight might feel like a juggling act. But take heart – site promotion is the beacon that guides your creation to the audience it deserves.

It’s the sum of podcast appearances that amplify your voice, conferences where you share your insights, building connections in the press and industry, making a splash on the airwaves, creating captivating YouTube content, and orchestrating strategic advertising campaigns.

Each move adds to the symphony of site promotion.

Still, if your website remains an undiscovered gem even in the realm of low-competition keywords, consider it a subtle signal. Perhaps, just perhaps, there are nuances of SEO waiting to be unraveled in your journey.

So, let Mueller’s wisdom sink in: embrace the dynamic nature of SEO. Don’t assume you’ve cracked the code. With over two decades of intricate nuances, SEO is a realm that thrives on curiosity and an open mind.

In the grand arena of digital conquests, where SEO reigns supreme, remember – the road to triumph isn’t solely paved with algorithms but also with the resounding echoes of your digital battle cry.

And, even after all that, if you’re still struggling, then give us a call. We live and breathe SEO and have helped hundreds of clients find success on the Google SERPs. Let’s connect and see how we can help you.