Did you know that only 0.78% of Google searchers click on results that come up on the second page of searches? That means that investing in SEO is crucial in ensuring you get seen. But, just how long goes SEO take to work on average?
This is a question that we get a lot as an agency that offers SEO for small businesses. And the answer, unfortunately, is not a simple one. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
The amount of time it takes for SEO to work will vary depending on a number of factors, including the competitiveness of your industry, the quality of your website, and your SEO strategy.
Here’s what to know and how you can help your team get the most out of an investment in SEO services.
What Is SEO?
SEO is short for search engine optimization. How does it work? You (or an SEO expert from a great agency) will optimize your website for online searches. The goal is ultimately to improve the visibility of your site so that it ranks at the top for each search.
You can do this mainly by selecting the right keywords and creating high-quality content that contains those keywords. This includes optimizing things like title tags and meta descriptions as well.
However, it can also include off-page SEO tactics, which encompass link building and other activities designed to improve the authority of the site. Regardless of which tactics you use, we can’t overstate the importance of SEO enough.
How Long Until You See the Benefits of SEO Services?
The answer can vary, but it generally takes four to six months to see results. This will vary based on a number of factors, including your site’s age, your site’s past history with Google, and whether or not your site has received any Google penalties in the past.
However, if you are patient and work with a reputable SEO company, you should start to see results within a few months. And, as your site continues to gain traction in the search engines, you can expect to see even more traffic and conversions over time.
The key to seeing results with SEO is to remain patient and stay consistent. Oftentimes, businesses don’t see immediate results and then decide to stop their campaigns after about three months.
Instead, we suggest you ensure you’re working with the right company and allow them to fully engage in the SEO strategy they have created for you. If after about six months you haven’t seen any traction then it might be time to speak with the team to adjust your strategy.
Factors That Influence SEO Success
As mentioned above, there are various factors that can influence the success of your SEO campaign. It’s important to be aware of these so that you are able to address them before starting any SEO work.
Your Website’s Age
Generally speaking, the longer your site has been around, the more likely it is to rank higher. This is because search engines like Google give preference to websites that have a proven track record.
When you first create a website, it will take some time to build up authority and trust with Google. However, over time, as your site continues to provide valuable content and visitors, it will slowly start to rise in the rankings.
Past SEO Services
If someone recently provided SEO packages & services and they did so with little regard for relevance then it might be harming your current SEO efforts. However, if their work was high quality and the keywords used are still relevant, it might mean that your SEO starts working faster.
Past Penalties
When a website is penalized by Google, it can be difficult to regain the search engine’s trust.
This means that if a website has been penalized in the past, it will be harder for that website to rank well in the future. As a result, sites that engage in manipulative practices may find it difficult to improve their page rankings and may even face further penalties from Google.
The Competition
Finally, the level of competition in any given market online can have a significant impact on SEO. For example, if there are many websites competing for the same keywords, then it will be more difficult to achieve a high ranking for those keywords.
However, if there are only a few websites competing for the same keywords, then it will be easier to achieve a high ranking. As a result, the level of competition can have a direct impact on how difficult or easy it is to achieve fast SEO results.
How to See SEO Results Faster
How much time and effort are you putting in? How competitive is your industry? How established is your website? All of these factors play a role in how fast you’ll see results.
That said, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process.
Improve Your Site’s Loading Time
In 2018, page speed became an official ranking factor on Google. That means if your site takes too long to load, you could be at a disadvantage in the search results. But page speed is about more than just SEO.
It also affects whether people stay on your page or not. If your site takes too long to load, people are likely to get frustrated and leave before they even see what you have to offer. That’s why it’s important to make sure your site loads quickly.
Eliminate On-Page Errors
One of the most important steps you can take to improve your website’s SEO is to eliminate on-page errors. Some of the most common mistakes include:
- Meta titles that are too long
- Duplicate titles
- Missing descriptions
- Duplicate content
- Hidden (unreadable) content
- Broken links
- Missing H1 tags
These errors can prevent search engines from properly indexing your website, and they can also cause your website to rank lower in search results.
Leave SEO to the Experts
How long does SEO take to work? SEO is a complex and ever-changing field that requires you to be up-to-date on all the latest changes so that your website stays ahead of the competition. With the help of experienced SEO experts, you can expect to see results in a few months.
However, the best way to figure out how long it might take for your website to rank for certain search terms is to get in touch!
Are you interested in learning more about our services? Fill out our contact form and one of our representatives will get back to you as soon as possible.
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