One of the most common questions that customers have to ask when it comes to SEO is how long it takes to succeed. However, this is a fairly complex question that stands on several assumptions, such as what it means for SEO to work. For instance, it’s easier to measure the amount of time it takes to gain a top-ranking spot for a popular keyword than it is to consider the actual results and conversions that SEO drives. While these two goals were once the same, that’s no longer the case.
How Long Does SEO Take?
Speaking generally, the impacts of SEO start to show a considerable effect after four to six months. That said, this is only the start of the effects; they should grow much greater with time as you continue investing in SEO. However, specific cases can vary greatly due to the requirements that a certain website has. If a website is already in good shape, then your content marketing will start to pay off after a few months. Not all websites are technically sound, however.
Search engine optimization relies heavily upon technical features, such as web architecture and page loading speed. If your website needs a technical SEO makeover, then that will serve as an obstacle to your content marketing ambitions. However, that doesn’t make matters fundamentally different. If fixing your web architecture and other technical elements takes several weeks or months, you can expect a somewhat proportionate increase in time until your content marketing pays off.
When is SEO “Working?”
In the past, SEO was a simple matter of ranking for the most popular keywords which generally didn’t shift over time. In the first decade of the 21st century, content farms produced vast amounts of poor-quality, keyword-stuffed content that worked for SEO purposes.
However, the 2011 update to Google algorithms worked to eliminate low-quality content and make SEO much more complex and quality-oriented. This trend has only grown, and the goals and expectations of SEO have changed accordingly. Today, the emphasis isn’t so much on hitting the ultimate goal of ranking for a few static, unchanging keywords and then maintaining your spot. Rather, it’s important to target long-tail keywords and natural sentences to capture traffic that is smaller, but more likely to lead to conversions.
While SEO does take time to pay off, you don’t have a static goal to reach anymore. Today, a successful SEO program will involve various elements, including the traditional keyword ranking strategy. Equally important is the dynamic, proactive element that identifies natural trends in searches and meets the public where their interests currently lay.
In short, SEO usually takes at least four months to start generating a consistent return. However, it’s never over; it’s an ongoing marketing effort to stay on top of the competition and capture long-tail, high-conversion traffic.
Call Azonaco for Your SEO
Azonaco is one of Arizona’s leading digital marketing companies. While we specialize in content marketing and SEO, we offer other services such as PPC advertising as well. No matter your digital marketing need, we can provide you with great content that ranks and drives conversions. Get in touch today to learn more about the services we can offer you.
