How I Got My Website to Show Up in The Top 5 Google Search Results (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Sean G. McCormick
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 30
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You’ve poured hours into building your website.
The copy is polished, the photos look professional, and maybe you even wrote your first blog post.
Then you type your business name into Google and… crickets.
Nothing shows up.
You’ve built the site, but no one can find it.
If clients can’t stumble across your site while searching “executive function coach near me” or “help for ADHD college students,” then your digital storefront might as well be invisible.
The good news is that the fix is straightforward.
This post walks you through how to get your coaching website onto Google using a free tool, Google Search Console 👇
Why Google Visibility is Essential for Executive Function Coaches
Your website should be a magnet that attracts new clients, not a secret diary hidden in cyberspace.
Potential clients are already searching for solutions to their executive function challenges.
They’re not typing “[Your Name] Coaching” unless they already know you exist.
They’re typing questions like:
“How to help my teen with time management”
or
“Executive function skills tutoring.”
If Google hasn’t indexed your site, you’re locked out of those opportunities.
That means fewer inquiries, fewer booked sessions, and more frustration wondering why your calendar isn’t filling up.
Visibility matters because people can’t hire you if they can’t find you.
For a full guide on how to market yourself as an EF coach, check out my article How to Market Yourself: A Guide For Coaches.
Why Executive Function Coaches Often Struggle to Get Their Business to Show Up on Google
1. Assuming the website will magically appear
Many coaches who I've worked with in my coaching certification program build a great website but assume Google will instantly recognize and display it.
In reality, Google has to be told your site exists before it can start showing up in results.
If you are still in the process of building your website or want to refine it, you can learn more about how to do this in my article, How To Build A Website As An Executive Function Coach Without Breaking The Bank.
2. Forgetting the sitemap
Even when coaches hear about indexing, they miss submitting their sitemap.
A sitemap is a special file, usually called sitemap.xml, that lists every important page on your website in a structured format.
Think of it as the table of contents for your site.
It tells Google where each page lives and how they connect to each other.
Without it, Google has to stumble around trying to discover your pages one by one, which means some of them might get missed or take months to show up in search results.
We'll go over how to set up your sitemap later in this article.
3. Neglecting links
Some coaches write a beautiful homepage and a services page but never connect them through internal links or link out to credible external sources.
For example, you might write a blog post about “time management strategies for college students” but forget to link it back to your Services page where readers can book a session with you.
Without links, your site looks like a lonely island that Google has little reason to explore or recommend.
7 Steps to Get Your Executive Function Coaching Website to Show Up on Google
This guide is for non-techies. It works whether you’re using Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, or another site builder.
Step 1: Go to Google Search Console
The Google Search Console is a free tool is the control center for how your site appears in search.
Visit: https://search.google.com/search-console to get started.
It lets you see if Google has indexed your site, fix problems, and track performance.
Log in with your Google account, preferably your business one.
Step 2: Add your website
To add your website:
click Add Property
select URL prefix
enter your full site URL
This tells Google exactly where your site lives so it can begin monitoring it.
Step 3: Verify ownership
Verification proves to Google that you actually own the site, which prevents random people from messing with your data.
To do this,
choose the HTML tag option
paste it into your site’s header or SEO settings
publish your site
click Verify
Step 4: Submit your sitemap
In Google Search Console, click on “Sitemaps” in the left-hand menu.
You’ll see a box that says “Add a new sitemap.”
In that box, type sitemap.xml right after your domain.
This looks like www.yoursite.com/sitemap.xml
Then click Submit.
When you do this, Google will show your sitemap in the “Submitted sitemaps” list.
You’ll see the status change from “Pending” to either “Success” (which means Google found it and can crawl your pages) or “Error” (which means something is broken and you may need to double-check the link).
Submitting your sitemap gives Google a direct roadmap of your website.
This helps it find and index all your important pages quickly instead of waiting weeks for Google to stumble across them.
Step 5: Request indexing
Paste each of your important URLs into the top search bar in Google Search Console and click Request Indexing.
This is like raising your hand and saying,
“Hey Google, check this page out right now.”
Do this for your homepage, services, about page, blog posts, and any other pages that are important.
Step 6: Build links
Add links between your own pages to create a web of connections that helps Google understand how your content fits together.
For example, if you write a blog post called “5 Strategies for Beating Procrastination,” include a link within that post that points to your Services page with text like “Work with a coach to implement these strategies.”
Also link out to credible external sites like:
ADHD research
coaching associations
productivity tools
Google values sites that connect to other trusted resources.
Step 7: Keep creating content
Google likes fresh, relevant sites.
If you want accountability and inspiration to keep creating, join my Skool community where other executive function coaches share ideas, wins, and support.
Every new blog post, testimonial, or service update signals that your site is active and valuable.
For tips on how to create consistent and helpful content, check out my article How I Turn Coaching Sessions Into Content (Step-By-Step Guide).
If you prefer a video, you can watch my webinar on this topic here 👇
Consistent content builds authority and improves your chances of ranking for client-focused searches.
The Bottom Line
Your site won’t attract new coaching clients if Google doesn’t know it exists.
Here’s the 7 steps to start showing up on Google:
Open Google Search Console
Add and verify your site
Submit your sitemap
Request indexing
Add internal and external links
Keep publishing fresh content
Hope this helps! 🤙🏻
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About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.