Why Your Montreal Business Website Isn’t Ranking on Google (And How to Fix It)

Introduction

If your Montreal business website isn’t ranking on Google, you’re not alone. Many local businesses struggle with SEO because of common mistakes that hurt their search visibility. The good news? These issues can be fixed with the right approach.

At LeafGrafica, we help businesses identify SEO problems, fix ranking issues, and implement long-term strategies for growth. In this article, we’ll cover:

✔️ The biggest SEO mistakes hurting your rankings
✔️ Technical SEO issues that prevent indexing
✔️ Content problems that lower search visibility
✔️ Local SEO mistakes affecting Montreal businesses
✔️ Actionable solutions to improve your rankings

Need a full SEO checklist? Check out our Montreal SEO Checklist for a step-by-step optimization guide.

1️⃣ Common SEO Mistakes Hurting Your Google Rankings

Many businesses make critical SEO mistakes without realizing their impact. Some of the most common errors include:

🚨 Targeting the Wrong Keywords – Using broad or irrelevant keywords that don’t match search intent.
🚨 Ignoring Local SEO – Not optimizing for Google Business Profile, citations, and local searches.
🚨 Slow Website Speed – Google prioritizes fast-loading pages; slow sites suffer lower rankings.
🚨 Poor Mobile Experience – With over 60% of searches on mobile, a non-mobile-friendly site will struggle to rank.
🚨 Weak Backlink Profile – Not having enough high-quality backlinks to build authority.

Want to learn how backlinks impact SEO? Read our Montreal SEO case study where a business increased traffic by 300%.

2️⃣ Website Structure & Technical SEO Issues

Even if your content is great, technical SEO issues can block your site from ranking. Here are some major problems:

🔍 Indexing & Crawlability Issues

📌 Missing XML Sitemap – Google needs a sitemap to efficiently crawl your pages.
📌 Broken Links & Redirect Loops – These create poor user experience and confuse search engines.
📌 No HTTPS Security – Google prioritizes secure sites (HTTPS), and unsecured websites lose rankings.

🚀 Site Speed Optimization

✔️ Use Google PageSpeed Insights to test load times.
✔️ Compress images and enable lazy loading.
✔️ Minify CSS and JavaScript files for faster performance.

For more technical SEO tips, check out our AI SEO Trends Guide.

3️⃣ Content-Related Problems (Thin, Duplicate, or Low-Quality Content)

Google ranks valuable, unique, and well-structured content higher. If your site has thin, duplicate, or outdated content, it won’t rank well. Common content mistakes include:

❌ Thin Content (Low-Quality Pages)

📌 Pages with little valuable information (under 300 words) tend to rank poorly.
📌 Lack of engaging, well-researched blog posts that answer customer queries.

❌ Duplicate Content Issues

📌 Reusing the same content across multiple pages confuses Google and lowers rankings.
📌 Copying content from competitors or third-party sources leads to penalties.

✅ How to Fix It?

✔️ Focus on long-form, informative content that answers customer questions.
✔️ Use internal linking to connect blog posts with service pages.
✔️ Implement a content refresh strategy to update outdated information.

Want to see how a blog strategy improves rankings? Read our Montreal Business Visibility Guide.

4️⃣ Local SEO Mistakes That Impact Visibility in Montreal

If your business serves a local audience, your local SEO strategy must be on point. Here are common mistakes businesses make:

🚨 Not Claiming or Optimizing Google Business Profile – Your GBP listing must be verified, updated, and keyword-optimized.
🚨 Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) – Business details should be consistent across all directories.
🚨 Few or No Customer Reviews – Google values frequent, positive reviews for ranking in local search.
🚨 Lack of Localized Content – No city-specific service pages or blog posts targeting Montreal customers.

📌 How to Fix It?

✅ Fully optimize your Google Business Profile with images, posts, and updated business info.
✅ Ensure your business is listed on Yelp, Yellow Pages, and other directories.
✅ Build local citations to boost visibility in Montreal-specific searches.

For a step-by-step guide, check out our Google Business Profile optimization guide.

5️⃣ How to Fix Your SEO and Start Ranking Higher

🚀 Step 1: Audit Your Website – Use Google Search Console to find crawl errors, broken links, and performance issues.
🚀 Step 2: Optimize Your Google Business Profile – Fill out every section, add local keywords, and post updates.
🚀 Step 3: Improve Site Speed & Mobile Friendliness – Test load times, compress images, and enable caching.
🚀 Step 4: Create High-Quality Content – Publish in-depth blog posts, optimize for Montreal keywords, and keep pages fresh.
🚀 Step 5: Build Stronger Backlinks – Get featured in local directories, guest post on industry blogs, and increase brand mentions.

Want expert guidance? Check out our Montreal SEO Checklist to implement these fixes step by step.

Final Thoughts: Get Your Montreal Business Ranking Again

If your Montreal business isn’t ranking, don’t panic. Most SEO issues are fixable with the right approach. By optimizing your website structure, fixing content mistakes, improving local SEO, and eliminating technical errors, you can reclaim your spot on Google’s first page.

📍 Need professional SEO help? Contact LeafGrafica for a custom SEO strategy.
📍 Want to take action today? Follow our Montreal SEO Checklist.

🚀 Optimize now and watch your rankings improve!