A question we are commonly asked is how long it takes for SEO changes to take effect. We understand why business owners and brand managers want to know, it’s a hot button topic.
Search engine optimization (more commonly referred to as SEO), is an investment, much like the rest of an advertising strategy. But it’s important to understand that unlike other areas of advertising, like paid media (PPC), the results typically aren’t seen as soon as the campaign launches.
A better question to ask is “What does SEO success look like for my business?” And to answer that question, campaign goals and KPIs will need to be determined. Both factors can be used to measure campaign success.
For example, a goal could be to increase the amount of revenue over a 12-month period. Whereas a KPI could be growth in organic traffic or rankings.
When to Expect to See Results
When discussing results, we are referring to measurable increased traffic, associated leads, or conversions. But when the business will see the progress could vary.
And much like a proposed SEO strategy, how long SEO takes before the business sees results will likely vary from one business to another. It’s difficult to give a concrete answer that would apply to every business and its respective website.
But, with a tailored, well-executed strategy, businesses may expect to see movement or results in six to 12 months.
“It really depends. If we are talking about a full SEO campaign, clients should start to see results within six months. However, specific initiatives can have immediate effects, such as optimizing a Google Business Profile and focusing on getting more reviews can almost instantly help the client,” explained Elevation Ten Thousand Senior SEO Strategist, Shea Lynch.
Businesses without a thoughtful strategy, or even a plan that’s consistent, can’t expect to see results as soon as those that have implemented a strategy.
One thing is for sure, it takes time to improve and see results from SEO efforts.
“Implementing schema code for FAQs can also see improvements in impressions within a few days. But we always take a holistic look to performance and progress, and that takes time,” Lynch continued to say.
Determining How Long SEO Takes
There are a few factors that go into determining how long it takes for SEO changes to take effect.
The Competition
Depending on the market and the business niche, how long it takes to see results will vary. A business with little competition or low search queries will likely see results faster than one with competitive queries.
But there’s more to it than simply keyword difficulty. Consider how long it took the competition to achieve its current ranking and maintaining visibility. These details will help with campaign strategy, including how aggressive the campaign should be.
A good place to begin is to perform a competitive gap analysis to see how your business holds up against the competition. You know the product or services are competitive, but what about the brand’s online presence?
The Website
Is the website domain new or established? This is an importance piece of information as new domains will take longer to see success than one that is established.
Established domains have built authority and typically have backlinks pointing to it, whereas a new domain won’t have either of these items. A new domain can anticipate results closer to the 12-month mark, as opposed to a shorter timeline that an established domain may see.
But, if an established has been penalized or implemented SEO work that goes against the Google Webmaster Guidelines, it won’t see results as quickly as a website that has not had these issues.
Creating a history of the website and its projects can help establish an anticipated projection. Working with an SEO expert can also help to determine errors and timeline projections.
Resources
Although you can’t control the competition, their SEO efforts, or the history of your brand’s website, you can control resources earmarked for the project. The more resources available for the project, the quicker you may see results.
But the most important resources are time, energy, and a dedicated team.
If the competition has someone working on the website a few times a week for a few months, the results will appear faster than if you were to employ someone to only spend a couple of days total on your website.
An adequate amount of time is only part of the necessary resources. Having an expert team at the helm to create and implement a customized strategy is essential. Much like how a business can vary from the next, so can associated SEO strategy.
How Long SEO Could Take for Your Brand
One thing is for sure, there’s no shortcut when it comes to SEO and seeing positive results for the business. And much like other areas of advertising, SEO isn’t a one-time effort.
After implementing the strategy, it’s equally as important to monitor the website to ensure the company sees positive results. This on-going and long-term marketing tactic is an investment, but one that is worthwhile for any brand.
Although every brand — its online presence and website, is totally unique, paying close attention to technical issues, content quality, and link quality is always important.
To learn more about how long it might take to from your brand to see success, and to discuss a customized strategy, contact our SEO team today.
