We’re not going to make you speed read this entire article to get the answer you’re looking for—SEO takes more time than you think to produce results. You’ll start seeing results once your SEO strategy builds up the necessary momentum. How long does that take? Well, you’ll have to keep reading for that part. It isn’t exactly a straight answer.
You’ve Started SEO—When Will the Results Roll In?
So, we gave you the short answer (it takes time). The longer, more annoying answer? “It depends.”
And it really does depend—on a lot of factors. It depends on your particular industry, your website, where you’re starting, and where you hope to end up.
There are rare occasions (we’re talkin’ rare) when a simple fix does provide some instant results. For example, if something is getting in the way of your site being crawled, removing that obstacle will provide a quick fix. Overall, though, it takes a good bit of time to get where you want to go.
For some businesses, it might take a year. For others, it might only take a few months. But the short answer still stands! If anyone promises you overnight or instant success when it comes to SEO, run in the other direction. They’re most likely scamming you.
So, why does SEO take so much time? Here are some of the main things that contribute to the amount of time it takes to see results.
#1: Your Industry
Certain industries have certain restrictions or requirements when it comes to Google, which means your SEO strategy might involve more work upfront. Make sure you understand Google’s E-A-T guidelines before you get started. If you haven’t heard of those, no worries—we’ve got a great blog about it here.
#2: Your Competitors
How many businesses in your industry are fighting for that top spot? If you’re trying to rank #1 for, say “personal injury lawyer,” it’s going to take a lot more time. If you’re a more niche business, however, getting the results you’re after won’t take as long.
#3: Your Website
No one likes to hear that their baby is ugly—or in this case, not optimal. But your website is a huge factor in how long it takes to get the results you’re after. If your website isn’t great, your results won’t be either. SEO is not the magic potion that will take your not-so-great website to the top. It does better when it has something solid to work with.
Take time to evaluate your website before you dive into your SEO strategy, and see what improvements you can make to start off on the right foot.
#4: Your Resources
This is a broad one, because “resources” include a lot of varying factors. From your budget and the type of SEO you choose to tackle, to your own dedication and expertise, your resources will make or break your efforts. Here are just a few tips about resources:
- Invest in an SEO expert. Whether it’s an individual or a team, you need knowledge at the forefront of your strategy. Google changes constantly, so you need someone to stay on top of it.
- Make your SEO plan a company-wide initiative. Everyone should be on board with the plan, and should contribute wherever they can.
- Don’t give up. We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but SEO takes time. It’s all about keeping up that momentum and sticking with it until you see results.
If you’re still at that first step, no worries—we have an entire team of SEO experts who are itching to get your business to the top of those search results. Reach out for a no-pressure meeting, get to know us, and we’ll talk strategy.
