How long do SEO results take?

‍Generally, SEO results take 4-12 months on average to yield visible improvements.

Overall, how long it takes for SEO results to show depends on how much effort goes into the SEO strategy and how competitive your industry is. The more competitive the keywords you try to rank for, the longer it takes.

However, there are several ways to get quick wins so you can start seeing results in weeks, not months.

Why does SEO take so long?

It takes time for search engines to scan your website for new content, and it can take several months for them to trust it. These are some factors that influence how long it takes for SEO results to show:

• The competitiveness of a website's industry
• The quality and relevance of a website's content
• The age of the website
• The level of investment in SEO efforts
• The quality of the SEO agency

The competitiveness of a website's industry

If you're in a highly competitive industry, it can take longer to see results because many other websites compete for the same keywords.

The quality and relevance of a website's content

Content significantly affects how long it takes to see SEO results. The quality and relevance of your website's content are essential for attracting organic traffic, as it shows search engines that your website is valuable and relevant to users searching for related queries.

The age of the website

Generally speaking, SEO takes a longer time for newer websites. Older websites tend to show up on search results faster because there's been time for search engines to scan their content and establish how trusted the website is.

The level of investment in SEO efforts

The amount of effort and resources put into SEO can influence how long it takes to see results. Investing more time, money, and effort into SEO activities will likely result in faster results.

The quality of the SEO agency

A good agency will have the necessary experience and resources to efficiently implement an effective SEO campaign.

The importance of patience in SEO

Allow time for search engines to crawl and index a website

At the start, allow some time for search engines to scan your website. Search engines need to do this to figure out what your website is about. In just a few weeks, your new website should appear in search engines.

The long-term nature of SEO results

SEO is a long-term strategy that requires ongoing effort.

There is a common misconception that SEO is like an on-or-off switch - that it's either something websites either have or don't have. SEO is about consistently updating your website and adding new content to establish yourself as an authority in your niche.

5 "Quick-win" strategies to speed up SEO results

While there are no shortcuts to the SEO process, here are some strategies to get the ball rolling.

1. Target local keywords

Target local keywords if you have a physical location.

For example, "Plumber" or "Plumber Melbourne" are difficult, competitive keywords.

If your physical location is in Heidelberg, target the keyword "Plumber Heidelberg" instead.

1. Create a Google Business listing with the location set to Heidelberg
2. Create a landing page on your website called "Plumber Heidelberg"
3. Optimise the page for that keyword. The H1 heading, first paragraph and page title should contain "Plumber Heidelberg"
4. Set your Google Business listing website URL to the newly created page.
5. Ask for Google reviews from your customers
6. Add relevant photos to your Google Business Listing and add more at least once a month

2. Find existing ranked keywords

If you have an existing website you want to optimise, plug your URL into a tool like SEMrush or Ahrefs to check if you already rank in the top 20 positions for any great keywords.

It's not uncommon to see great keywords in search engines' 2nd or 3rd positions. Add a little more info to those pages and there's a great chance you'll jump up to a higher position.

Here are some examples of extra content you could add to those pages:

• Frequently asked questions
• A video
• Photos
• More body text
• Bulleted lists (like this)

Don't add any fluff or filler text, only add information that the reader could genuinely find useful.

3. A higher investment

A higher investment with the right agency equals more content you can publish on your website, which equals a greater chance of becoming an authority on your topic and climbing the ranks quickly.

4. Choosing a specific niche

If your market is competitive, it is easier to build an audience if you target a keywords that are specific. For example, "Melbourne Plumbers" is competitive, but "Melbourne Roof Plumbers" is less competitive.

Although fewer people are searching for "Melbourne Roof plumbers", it'll be easier to achieve a higher position. Build pages for each one of these keywords, taking care not to build too many pages for variations of the same word, i.e. build separate pages for "Melbourne Emergency Plumbers" and "Melbourne Roof Plumbers", but don't build separate pages for "Emergency Melbourne Plumbers" and "Melbourne Emergency Plumbers".

After you rank for these smaller niche keywords, slowly expand into other sub-niches until you become the authority of the main niche. If you wanted to rank for Melbourne Plumber keywords, you could target:

• Melbourne Roof Plumbers
• Melbourne 24 Hour Plumbers
• Melbourne Emergency Plumbers
• Melbourne Drainage Plumbers
• Melbourne Blocked Drain Plumbers
• Melbourne Gas Plumbers

5. Strategically choose your business name

If you're building a new business, choose a business name containing a highly searched keyword. For example, if you call your business "Melbourne Roofing", search engines are more likely to display your website if someone searches for that query.

How long does SEO take?

SEO takes 4-12 months to see visible improvements. If you employ strategies that we mentioned in this article, results can be seen in weeks, not months.

It’s also important to remember that search engine algorithms are constantly changing. The tactics you use today may not be as effective tomorrow, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on how algorithms are changing and how this impacts your SEO efforts.

Finally, remember that SEO is a long-term strategy that requires consistent effort and optimisation to see the best results. While some businesses may see improvements in their search engine rankings and traffic within a few days or weeks, it's not uncommon for it to take several months to see the full effects of your SEO efforts. Patience and a focus on long-term success are key to achieving sustainable results.