SEO and search
Google rankings, indexing, redirects and local search.
6 answers · Updated 2026-10-17
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the work of making your website easy for Google to find, understand and trust, so that it shows up when someone searches for what you sell. Most of the questions we hear fall into five buckets: why a page is missing, how to read the numbers, how to word what appears in the results, what happens to rankings when a site changes, and how long any of it takes.
Google works in three stages: finding a page, storing it, and choosing where to show it. A page can fail at any stage, and the fix differs, so the useful first question is which stage you are stuck at. The full explanation is in how search engines work and crawlability and indexation. If a page is missing, start with why a page is not on Google.
The free tool that shows you what Google sees is Search Console. It tells you which pages are indexed, which search terms brought impressions and clicks, and which pages have problems. Learning to read it, and to avoid its common traps, is the best single skill a site owner can build. We cover it in Search Console basics.
Some things are in your hands and quick: the title and description of a page, a correct redirect plan when addresses change, and a complete Google Business Profile if you serve a local area. Other things are slow and nobody controls them. Before you judge any month of results, read how long SEO takes.
If you are a Webtec client and something looks wrong, send it through the support form with the page address and what you expected. If you want ongoing work rather than one answer, see our SEO service.
All answers in seo and search
- Why isn't my page on Google?A page is missing from Google: what to check first, what each Search Console message means for your site, and what to send us.
- Search Console basicsSet it up, read the Performance and Pages reports correctly, and avoid the common misreadings.
- Page titles and descriptionsWhat Google says about title links and snippets, why length is about width, and how to write both for people.
- Redirects after a redesignWhich situation you are in, the redirect list to fill in, what only you can tell us, and what to check after launch.
- Google Business Profile basicsWhat it is, who is eligible, how to set it up well, verification, review rules and why profiles get suspended.
- How long does SEO take?What to check each month, what slows things down on your side, and when to raise a concern.
Questions about seo and search
What is the difference between crawling, indexing and ranking?
Crawling is Google finding a page, indexing is storing it, and ranking is choosing where to show it. Each stage can fail separately and each needs a different fix. The definitions and the controls behind each are in crawlability and indexation. If a page of yours is missing, our step-by-step check tells you which stage it failed at.
Can anyone guarantee that my site will rank first on Google?
No, and be wary of anyone who promises a specific position or date, from us or from anyone else. Good work improves your chances and can be measured, but rankings depend on competitors, the searcher and Google's own systems. For how to judge progress without a promise, read how long SEO takes. What your plan includes is written in your proposal.
How do I check whether a page is on Google?
The most reliable way is the URL Inspection tool in Search Console. Paste the page address and it tells you whether the URL is on Google, when it was last crawled and which issues were found. Searching for the page title in quotes, or typing site: followed by the address into Google, is a quick check but is not a complete or official method, so trust Search Console when the two disagree.
Do I need to resubmit my site to Google after I change it?
Usually not. Google finds changes on its own, and a submitted sitemap helps it find new pages. You can ask for a recrawl of a handful of important URLs with the URL Inspection tool, but there is a quota, repeat requests do not speed anything up, and Google says crawling can take a few days to a few weeks. Resubmitting the whole site is not a thing you need to do.
Do I need a Google Business Profile if I have a website?
If customers visit you or you travel to them, yes, it is worth having. It is a separate free listing that can appear in Google Maps and local results, and it works alongside your website rather than replacing it. If you only sell online with no physical location or service area, you are generally not eligible for one. Google limits profiles to real businesses that deal with customers in person.
Who do I contact at Webtec about an SEO question?
Send it through the support form at /support/request/ and choose the SEO or search question category. Include the page address, what you searched, what you expected, and a screenshot as a link if it helps. If your question is about the scope of your SEO plan or what you are paying for, your proposal and your project manager are the right starting point.
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