website does not appear in a google search

In June 2015 I became VPPR for my club and became responsible for administration of our clubs website businessfocus.toastmastersclubs.org . I noticed that when putting the key words “toastmasters Toowoomba” into google that the website does not appear in the first 20 pages of google. It is now September and after many additions and changes to the site it still does not appear anywhere in the first 20 pages of google using the key words “toastmasters toowoomba”.
Can you advise me how this could be and what can be done about it.

Many thanks
Frustrated Marg Marshall

The website on your TI listing points to toowoomba.toastmastersclubs.org/ instead of businessfocus.toastmastersclubs.org/ . Seems you've got two FreeToastHost sites for one club. That needs to be resolved.

Understandably, 'The Google' is confused.


Looking closer at your businessfocus.toastmastersclubs.org/ site.

Toowoomba does not appear on your directions page. The directions say you meet at "Irish Club Hotel, Tara Room, 80 Russell Street". The map does not include a pushpin locator.

Your map is showing an error . Appears you need to recreate the map using the new version of Google maps.

Make it easy for Google to connect your location to the city of Toowoomba.

On your front page change the location reference into a Google maps link using your full meeting address as the search parameters. This helps it understand that piece of text is indeed an address.

On the directions page include the full address in the text description. Not just the local reference. Also make it a directions link.

BTW, when I change my browser to hide my personalized search results and be geographically neutral, your club comes up as search result #7. However, its the TI listing.

Google is getting close but cannot quite connect the dots.

Oh wait a minute. It appears two clubs meet at the same location on different schedules.
Both meet at the Irish Club Hotel, 80 Russell St, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia

• toowoomba.toastmastersclubs.org = 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday
• businessfocus.toastmastersclubs.org = 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Saw the same location and figured two web sites for the same club. Oops.

Tried to find your club on TI's find-a-club site. However, searching for "Toowoomba" auto-corrects to "Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia", the search results say nothing is found. Also tried "Toowoomba QLD 4350" is not found.

This may be me not understanding the Australian address syntax. Not searching as a local would.

Brad, just search for Toowoomba in Find a club. It comes up fine.

Marg: I suggest you get your website set up with Google Webmaster tools. www.google.com/webmasters/ You have several TM websites in the Toowoomba area (per find a club) that you are basically competing with for Google page rank in the search results. If you get familiar with Google Webmaster tools, you can start to better get a sense of what makes a difference with your website from an SEO perspective. We support the use of Google Webmaster tools. However, it is a more advanced feature, and we are not really set up to tutor you on it. If you elect to use it, you will need to read up on it on the web and refer to our docs for how to link your website to Google Webmaster tools.

Earlier TI reporting having issues with the find-a-club tool. Glad its now resolved.

Hi Brad/Steve,

Thanks guys for the help. But I am now more confused (not tech minded).

1. Your understanding of Australian address syntax is correct. Need to be found using keys words: Toastmasters;Toowoomba; 4350; Queensland; QLD, Australia.
2. There are several Toastmasters clubs in Toowoomba, two that meet in the same Pub. I’m still confused why the website does not appear at all in Google. At least not in the first 20 pages. I’m happy to investigate Steve’s suggestion re Google Webmasters Tools to help us rank better but should not the Club's site appear somewhere down the ranking regardless - ie just because it exists?
3. Re: when you said “Tried to find your club on TI's find-a-club site with no result – is this a public page that an ordinary person can find and use? If so shouldn’t any or all clubs in Toowoomba appear?
4. Do I take action on Brads original instruction ie “change the location reference into a Google maps” or was that usurped by the recognition that there are two clubs that meet at the same place?
Sorry to be a pest but can you clarify for me what I need to do, as I am not tech savvy and just need really clear instructions.