SEO Can Take 1 Week or 3 Months or 2 Years.
How long does it take to see the results of search engine optimization (SEO)? It is a fair question that every business owner who is interested in SEO should ask. The answer depends on many factors, including the web site’s history, size, complexity, content and previous SEO effort. For example, it can take twice as long for a brand-new web site to rank at the top as a web site that has been around for 5 years.
One big factor that determines how quickly you can see any noticeable SEO results is the competition. In a highly competitive industry, such as real estate, it can take much longer to stand out from tens of thousands of similar web sites. For most industries that we have been working with, we have been able to get dramatic ranking increases at Google within 1-2 months, with some cases within just 1 week.
If the goal is to get top rankings for some target keywords, you can expect to get Page 1 listings or No. 1 rankings within 2-3 months, as we have seen from most of our clients’ web sites. Some of our clients have seen their rankings reached to the top of Google within a week since we started our SEO service. For very competitive keywords, it can take 3 months or longer.
SEO Is NOT a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme
The search engine optimization process is like training an athlete. How long does it take to train someone to win a marathon? It depends on:
- The current condition of the runner – how good of a shape the runner is in, how fast he can run, how long he has been running, and how much training time he can commit to.
- Previous training the runner had – The past training experience will determine what kind of program is the most appropriate.
- The competition – If the runner is competing for in a small local race, it may not take too long to beat the competition. If the runner is competing for the state championship, it can take quite long. If the runner is competing for the national or world title, it can take much longer, if even possible given the runner’s conditions.
If you think you can spend $1,000 on SEO and make $200,000 in 6 months, you are much better off buying lottery ticket. SEO is a new way of marketing. It is fast, efficient and cost-effective. It can make your company more competitive. SEO takes time and effort to make it work. However, search engine optimization is not a get-rich-overnight scheme. Only bogus SEO companies want you to believe that SEO will give you anything you want overnight.
For Your SEO Campaign, Patience Will Pay Off
Search engine optimization is more like a long-distance race, rather than a 100-meter dash. Search engine optimization should be regarded as a critical, if not the most important, part of your overall marketing. As long as your business still needs to reach out to potential customers, you will need search engine optimization to stay competitive. Assuming that search engine optimization is a one-week or one-month quick fix can hinder the long-term success of any SEO effort.
Like any marketing campaign, search engine optimization may generate immediate results. However, sometimes top rankings do not automatically translate into more leads and sales. At our SEO firm, our ultimate goal is always to increase web leads and sales through top rankings and target traffic. We not only specialize in search engine optimization, but creating a strong connection between your prospective customers with your company through a web site that is user-friendly and informative.
Is Your SEO Taking Too Long?
If you have been working with an SEO firm for 6 months to a year, but haven’t seen any noticeable results, chances are you have hired the wrong SEO company. Many business owners rely on their web design company or web designer for the SEO marketing without knowing search engine optimization and web design are two different trades. Web design companies often sell their SEO service as an “add-on” package, which is nothing but a rip-off. It is extremely common for the web design companies to use automated software and outdated techniques for their SEO work. Such bogus services hurt a web site’s rankings more than it help.
When your SEO marketing is in the wrong hands, it seems like SEO takes forever. Any reputable SEO company should give you a realistic estimated time frame. If you suspect your SEO company isn’t up for the job, we will be happy to take a look of their work and provide you with a second opinion. Or you can go to Google and see if your SEO company’s web site is well-ranked. If not, that is an alarm that you get ripped off.