10 Things You Can Do to Get Your Brand-New Website Into Google (Without Waiting on Your Developer)
So your new website is live—congrats! Whether it’s a redesign or your very first online home, launching a site is a big step for any business. But going live doesn’t automatically mean showing up on Google. Getting indexed (and eventually ranked) takes a little effort. And the good news? You don’t need to wait on your web developer to make it happen.
At Traverse City Web Design, we work with clients all over Michigan—from Traverse City to Petoskey to Cadillac—who want their site to start working right away. If you’re one of those proactive business owners, here are ten real, actionable things you can do to get your new website into Google faster.
1. Set Up Google Search Console
Search Console is your direct connection to how Google sees your website. It’s free, powerful, and every site owner should have access to it.
- Go to Google Search Console.
- Log in with your Google account.
- Add your website as a “property.”
- Verify ownership using one of the methods (HTML tag, DNS, etc.).
Once verified, you’ll be able to submit your sitemap, track how your site appears in search, and get alerts for errors or issues.
Tip: If your developer already set this up for you, ask them to give you access so you’re not locked out.
2. Submit Your Sitemap
Your sitemap is a roadmap that tells Google about the structure of your site and what pages you want indexed.
- Most WordPress websites generate a sitemap automatically (especially if you’re using plugins like Rank Math or Yoast).
- Your sitemap URL is usually something like
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml - Once you have it, go back to Google Search Console → Sitemaps → and submit it.
This is one of the fastest ways to encourage Google to crawl your entire site.
3. Create a Google Business Profile
If your business has a physical location or serves a local area, this is essential. A Google Business Profile is how you show up on Google Maps, local search results, and the “local pack.”
- Go to google.com/business
- Set up your profile with accurate NAP info (Name, Address, Phone).
- Add your website URL.
- Add photos, your hours, a business description, and services.
Your website will often start to get indexed just by being linked in your Google Business listing.
4. Link to Your Website from Your Social Media Profiles
Google finds and indexes content by crawling links. One of the easiest ways to get your site crawled fast is to link to it from existing social media accounts:
- Add your website URL to your Facebook page.
- Add it to your Instagram bio.
- Update your LinkedIn company page or personal profile with your URL.
- Post about your launch and include the link.
Social platforms are constantly crawled by Google. A few good links from high-traffic sites can help get you indexed quickly.
5. Post a Blog Article or Update
Fresh content sends a signal to Google that your site is active and worth paying attention to.
- Write a simple blog post: “We’ve launched our new website!” or “Here’s what’s new in our business this summer.”
- Share that blog post to your social media pages.
- Internal link to other pages (your services, contact form, etc.).
Even a short, 300-word article can help jumpstart indexing if it’s useful and keyword-focused.
6. Ask a Partner or Local Business to Link to You
This is the old-fashioned kind of SEO—link building—and it still works.
- Ask a vendor, referral partner, or local directory to include a link to your new website.
- If you’re a member of a Chamber of Commerce or networking group (like TCYP or Petoskey Regional Chamber), make sure your website is listed in their member directory.
- Submit to niche directories in your industry or region.
The goal is to create real-world connections between your business and the web—and Google will follow those links.
7. Start Getting Reviews Online (and Include Your URL)
When people leave reviews of your business, it creates new content for search engines to pick up.
- Encourage Google Reviews through your Business Profile.
- Ask happy customers to leave Facebook or Yelp reviews.
- On platforms that allow it, customers can mention your website or link to it.
These reviews can help build your online presence even if you’re not publishing blog content regularly.
8. Check for Basic On-Page SEO
If your website was professionally built, your developer should have handled this—but it doesn’t hurt to double-check:
- Make sure each page has a unique title and meta description.
- Check for H1 headlines and clear page structure.
- Ensure your home page talks about who you are, what you do, and where you’re located.
Tools like Yoast or Rank Math make this easy to spot—and correct—if anything is missing.
9. Install Google Analytics (and Monitor Traffic)
While not directly tied to indexing, Analytics helps you understand when your site starts getting traffic—and where it’s coming from.
- Set up a Google Analytics account (GA4 is the latest version).
- Connect it to your site (via your CMS or tag manager).
- Watch for visits from Google Organic traffic.
This data tells you when Google starts sending you visitors—and which pages they’re finding.
10. Be Patient, But Stay Active
Google indexing isn’t instant. Sometimes it happens in hours, sometimes days. But if you follow the steps above, you’ll usually start to see your pages show up in search within a week or two.
In the meantime:
- Keep publishing useful content.
- Share pages on social.
- Keep your business info consistent across the web.
The more active your website is, the more likely Google is to revisit, re-crawl, and eventually rank your content where your customers can find it.
