You had your website built, it looks good, but the phone does not ring. "We don't show up on Google," you say. Most of the time the reason is not the content or your competitors; it is a small problem that is easy to miss: the site loads slowly, breaks on phones, or Google has never added its pages to its listings.
You can check the 12 points below in about 30 minutes without technical knowledge. For each point I explain what it is, why it matters, how you can look at it yourself, and who to turn to if there is a problem. Think of it as a website checklist: write down the results and take them to the person who maintains your site.
First, what you need
You need a phone, a computer and Google's free tools. Mark each point "fine", "not sure" or "problem". At the end you will have a clear list, and it also makes talking to a specialist easier: "there seems to be a problem here" gets a faster fix than "something isn't working". What I see most often with my clients is a problem that runs for months unnoticed, because the owner only ever views the site on a computer with fast internet.
Security and access
1. Does the site open with a secure connection?
The address bar should show a small padlock, and the address should start with https. This means the connection between your site and the visitor is encrypted. Without it the browser shows a "not secure" warning and the customer closes the page. Check yourself: open the site and look at the padlock. If there is a problem: whoever set up or hosts your site.
2. Do the different spellings of your address go to the same place?
Typing the address with and without "www" should open the same site. Otherwise Google may treat them as two separate sites. Check yourself: try both. If there is a problem: your web developer.
3. Does the site look right on a phone?
Most of your customers find you on their phone. Is the text readable, are buttons easy to tap, do you have to scroll sideways? Check yourself: open it on your own phone and go through the home page and contact page. If there is a problem: designer or developer.
Speed
4. Does the site open quickly?
If a page is slow, visitors do not wait. Google's threshold for a "good" main content loading time is 2.5 seconds. Check yourself: paste your address into PageSpeed Insights, a free Google tool, and look at the mobile result. If there is a problem: the developer, often by shrinking images and removing unnecessary code.
5. Are large photos slowing the site?
Uploading a phone photo as it is, at full size, is a very common cause of slowness. Check yourself: see whether the speed tool's suggestions say something like "resize images". If there is a problem: whoever edits the photos, or the developer.
Visibility on Google
6. Has Google listed your site?
Your pages need to be findable in Google's search results. Check yourself: type "site:yourdomain.com" into Google (no space after "site:"). Your pages should appear. If nothing appears, there is a serious problem. If there is a problem: an SEO specialist.
7. Is Google Search Console set up?
This is Google's free tool. It tells you how your site appears on Google and which problems it has found. Check yourself: go to search.google.com/search-console, add your site and verify it. If there is a problem: an SEO specialist or developer does the verification.
8. Has a sitemap been submitted?
A sitemap is a file that tells Google, "here is the list of my pages". Check yourself: look at the "Sitemaps" section in Search Console. If there is a problem: an SEO specialist.
Page content
9. Are there broken pages?
If clicking a link shows "page not found", customers lose trust, and Google sees your site as careless. Check yourself: click the links in your menu and on your home page one by one. If there is a problem: the developer fixes the links or sets up a redirect.
10. Does every page have a different title?
The title shown on the browser tab and in Google results should be different on each page and describe that page. If every page says "Home" or the company name, Google cannot tell them apart. Check yourself: open a few pages and read the tab title. If there is a problem: an SEO specialist or content editor. Using the service and the city your customer searches for, for example "dental clinic Istanbul", is a good habit.
11. Is your contact information the same everywhere?
Address, phone number and business name should match on your site, your Google Business Profile and your social media. If they differ, both customers and Google become doubtful. Check yourself: put them side by side and compare. If there is a problem: you correct it, together with whoever updates the site.
12. Do the contact form and phone button work?
When a customer fills in the form, does the message reach you? Check yourself: fill in the form under your own name and wait for the message. Tap the phone number from your phone. If there is a problem: the developer.
How to read the results
| Result | What to do |
|---|---|
| Points 1, 6 or 12 have problems | Deal with them now; customers are being lost directly |
| Points 3, 4 or 5 have problems | Pass them to the developer this week |
| Anything else | Add to a monthly maintenance list |
You can finish the list in 30 minutes. If problems came up, you do not need to solve them all at once; put them in order. First the places where customers cannot reach you or do not trust you, then visibility on Google, and finally the fine-tuning. After fixing something you only need to re-check that one point, not the whole list.
Also remember: "no problem" here does not mean everything is perfect, only that the most common customer-losing obstacles are absent.
What to ask the person doing the work
- What is the cause of this problem, and how long will it take to fix?
- How will we check before and after the fix?
- What do you do so the same problem does not come back?
Simple problems (a broken link, a title) are usually solved within days; speed and structural work takes longer.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I run this check?
A few times a year, and once more whenever you change the site or add a new page.
If everything is fine, will I appear on Google?
This list makes sure your site has no obstacles. Rankings depend on content, competitors and time, and cannot be guaranteed.
Can I fix these myself?
Some, yes (contact details, titles), from your admin panel. Leave technical work such as speed and security to a specialist.
Is Search Console paid?
No, it is a free Google tool.
Conclusion
This list is a diagnosis, not a treatment. Noting the problems and talking to someone who knows the work saves you time. Let's look at your site together and decide where to start; I describe how I approach it on the SEO services page.