Have a WordPress Website with No Rankings?
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The Truth About Getting Organic Search Engine Rankings
So many gurus, packages, and quick fixes — which one is to believe? I read somewhere, and I don’t remember where, something like: “Believe that getting great rankings is within your reach if you are willing to earn them.”
Very true. However, “earn” is an understatement. I’ve seen many credible businesses with excellent websites get hammered by Google for doing nothing wrong other than what worked the day before.
I’m not talking about folks trying to game Google. I am referring to those who try to play by the rules and on the game board that the search engines created.
Then, the rules change without notice…
Because the rules and algorithms can change at any time, leaving the average small business unable to recover quickly.
That’s why I chose the brand-building methodology many years ago. As a result, the approach has enabled my sites to generate strong referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations.
This approach helps minimize (not eliminate) my need to worry or fret about search engine rankings. I have this luxury because I’ve worked hard to build my brands over the past two decades.
There is No Secret Formula
Say it out loud — “there is no secret formula.” You have to be prepared to work hard for the long term. As with anything, there is nothing you cannot do yourself if you want to roll up your sleeves.
But first, you must wrap your head around what it takes to position your website for potential organic (free) rankings. It won’t just “happen.” Submitting to directories and search engines will not have an impact.
Who doesn’t want to be in the top 5, 10, and top pages for organic listings? Everyone.
Every. Site. Owner. Out. There.
As of 2026, there are approximately 1.2 billion websites globally. This number reflects the growth of the internet, with around 252,000 new websites created daily. So, how do search engines decide who gets listed and where? Let alone the coveted handful of above-the-fold or top-of-page spots on any search engine?
Hundreds of Ranking Factors
Your organic (free) listings are determined by how your website ranks based on a combination of each search site’s unique variables (algorithm). Google has oodles of variables.
Things like relevancy to the searched term(s), popularity, responsiveness, social signals, trust, and site speed/performance. Don’t forget a healthy dash of “no one knows for sure what else” will determine your site’s ranks.
Then, to muddy things up further, these algorithms evolve without notice and are rarely transparent, combined with the addition of AI. Are we having fun yet?
Shuffling or adding keywords in your Meta keyword tag won’t do it — search engines ignore that tag. Likewise, keyword stuffing your content is also a no-go. Stuffing your content with keywords just for search engines makes your content unreadable to your website visitors.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t the be-all and end-all either. First, you have to have a well-rounded, intelligent, long-term marketing plan for your site that includes certain basics such as:
So, are you ready to get your head in the right place and understand the reality of organic rankings?
Here’s what you need to wrap your head around.
Knowing up front that it will take time (years)…
…and more effort than you can probably imagine. Only time will make you more relevant than the sites already online. Especially those in the organic positions you seek. You are going to have to work on it.
Putting a plan together by doing keyphrase research …
Check out various search engines to understand the competition. Do some solid research. Note the number of sites that rank successfully for your target terms.
This gives you a real-world understanding of the level of competition you will face. You are starting at the bottom of the barrel. Only the cream rises to the top. (So Google says.)
Knowing what your target visitors are searching for…
What do they need to know about? What problems do they want to solve? That’s what you write about. Several free tools can help you identify which keyword phrases your target market uses. Use these tools to your advantage.
FREE: Find new keywords for your market…
To “top” the sites already out there…
You have to do just that. Top the “top websites”.
If you do not have anything unique, of quality, or value to offer, you’ll never push those who already hold these positions out of your way. May the best, most determined marketer win.
Aggressively adding new human-created information to your site.
Daily or weekly — make a schedule and stick to it. Resources, white papers, “how-tos.” Even commentary based on your experience will add value and naturally work wonders as keyword-targeted pages.
Let your sparkling personality show through. That’s what will set you apart. There is only one of you!
Then, plan on having lots of patience. Lots.
Work Towards Being the Best
Create a plan to do what it takes to make your site the best it can be. Whatever it takes.
THE site for your niche product or service, and your rankings will improve — over time. Online success is not on your terms or what you are willing to do. You compete in the marketplace as it is, or you are irrelevant.
There are no shortcuts or tricks to fast top-5, top-10, or top-page organic results. If someone tells you otherwise, they are trying to use what you don’t know to get into your pocketbook.
The good news is that you’ll get your rankings if you commit to continuing to build your website and, more importantly, to building your brand into exactly what your target market is looking for.
The bad news? You have to keep working at it to maintain those rankings. No one can tell you how long that will take for your particular site.
Online, there is no rest for the weary. No set-and-forget. Wrap your head around that, too.
At your service,
P.S. Links to more WordPress SEO articles are below for your convenience.
