Are people finding our website?

Why Website Visibility Matters

A website is often the first touchpoint for potential customers. But if people can’t find it, it’s like having a storefront hidden down an alley with no sign. Visibility impacts lead generation, brand trust, and overall growth.

The question, “Are people finding our website?”, isn’t just about numbers. It’s about connecting with the right audience, at the right time, through the right channels.

Key Signs People Are (or Aren’t) Finding Your Site

1. Website Traffic Data

Your analytics should show consistent and explainable traffic patterns. Spikes should line up with campaigns, content launches, or seasonal trends. If traffic is flat or dropping, it’s often a sign your visibility isn’t strong enough.

How to check:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Look at Reports → Acquisition → Traffic acquisition. This shows where visitors are coming from (organic search, paid ads, direct, referral).

• Google Search Console (GSC): See how many impressions your site is earning on search results. If impressions are low, people aren’t finding you at all.
  

What to do:

• Benchmark monthly traffic and compare against the previous quarter or year.

• Watch for unexpected drops — which could signal SEO, technical, or campaign issues.

2. Search Engine Presence

If people can’t find you in search results, they’re not finding your site.

How to check:

• Search your business name and core services in an incognito browser. Do you appear on the first page?

• Use Google Search Console → Performance Report to see which queries are driving impressions and clicks.
  

Why it matters:
Even if traffic numbers look decent, low rankings for your main services mean you’re missing out on qualified visitors actively searching for what you offer.

3. Engagement Metrics

It’s not enough for people to visit — you want them to stay, explore, and take action.

Metrics to watch (all available in GA4):

• Engagement rate → % of sessions that weren’t “quick bounces.”

• Average engagement time per session → Are people actually reading or just skimming?

• Pages per session → Do users explore multiple areas of your site?

• Event tracking (via GA4 or Tag Manager) → Track clicks, downloads, video plays.
  

Tools to dig deeper:

• Hotjar / Microsoft Clarity: Heatmaps and session recordings show where users scroll, click, or drop off.

• Site Search Tracking (GA4): If users use your site’s search bar, that’s a sign they didn’t immediately find what they wanted.
  

Why it matters:
Low engagement doesn’t always mean bad content — sometimes it means the wrong audience is landing (e.g., irrelevant ad targeting).

4. Referral and Social Traffic

Referral traffic means people came to your site by clicking links on other websites (blogs, news, partners, directories). Social traffic comes from platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.

Why it’s important:

• Shows your brand is being talked about and linked to outside your own efforts.

• Strong referral sources often bring qualified visitors, since they’re already in a related context.

• Social spikes often line up with campaigns or content shares.
  

How to check:

• GA4 → Reports → Acquisition → Traffic acquisition → Session source/medium. Filter for “referral” or “social.”

• Google Business Profile Insights: For local businesses, see how many visits are coming directly from maps/listings.

• UTM Tags in Campaigns: Add tracking links to social and referral campaigns to see exactly what drove traffic.

How to Improve Website Visibility

• Optimize for search engines: Use targeted keywords, strong meta descriptions, and well-structured content.

• Invest in content marketing: Blogs, resources, and guides increase search visibility and bring in new audiences.

• Leverage paid campaigns: Paid ads can drive visibility quickly while organic efforts build long-term traction.

• Promote through social media: Consistent sharing increases awareness and directs people back to your site.

• Monitor regularly: Use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to track performance and adjust strategy.

Connecting It Back to Business Goals

The real measure isn’t just are people finding your website?—it’s are the right people finding it? Visibility only matters if it leads to meaningful engagement, inquiries, and conversions. That’s where Bend’s strategy-driven approach helps: aligning visibility with business growth.

Want to know if your site is reaching the right audience? Bend helps you analyze performance, identify gaps, and build strategies that drive measurable results. 

Let’s talk about your visibility today.