How long does SEO take? The honest answer

How long does SEO take? SEO TAKES TIME!

In today's digital world, SEO (search engine optimisation) is more important than ever. Smart entrepreneurs and website owners know that it is part of a healthy marketing mix. But you also want to know how long it takes for SEO measures to take effect and achieve visible results in the form of top 10 (or even number 1) rankings.

The honest answer is: it depends - on a variety of factors. You won't get a different answer from a reputable SEO agency and therefore not from me either.

But I can tell you one thing: SEO is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. There is no guarantee of immediate ranking positions and it is important to have realistic expectations. The results in the SEO sector usually only become apparent after months, sometimes even after a year or more.

The graphic clearly shows the time course of the results of SEO measures

So let's take a brief look at two virtues that are particularly helpful and absolutely essential in search engine optimisation: Patience and consistency

The importance of patience and consistency in relation to the duration of SEO

SEO requires patience, because results can be a long time coming. But don't sit back. Despite the patience you should have, it's important to work on it consistently and actively.

This means regularly creating new, high-quality content, technically optimising your website and building backlinks. This is the only way to ensure that your website ranks better in search engines in the long term and that you generate more organic traffic.

Now that we've got that out of the way, you can find out more about the different factors that influence how long SEO takes.

Overview of factors that influence how long SEO takes

Whether and how quickly you will be successful with SEO depends on many factors, which we will cover in detail in a moment. They can be roughly categorised as follows:

Your initial situation: Depending on how well your website is already optimised and what authority it has, the duration of SEO can vary.

Your resources: The budget, expertise and team you have available for SEO can influence the speed at which you make progress.

Your competitors: The number and quality of competitor websites in your market segment play a crucial role in determining the duration of SEO.

The planned SEO measures: The type and implementation of the SEO strategy also influence the time it takes to achieve success.

Google & Co: Last but not least, Google in particular can throw a spanner in the SEO works with an algorithm update and set you back.

We will now dive deeper into these factors and I will provide you with valuable information and tips that will help you develop a better understanding of how long SEO takes and how you can speed up the process.

SEO duration factors in detail

1. Your initial or current situation

Every SEO project starts at a different point. The better your website is already set up, the faster SEO results can be achieved. Both the content (e.g. relevant, informative SEO texts) and the structure and technology of the website play an important role - as does the age of your website.

2. New vs. established website

An important factor for the success of SEO measures is the authority of a website, which new websites cannot yet have. It is made up of various aspects.

• Domain age: Established domains are often more trusted by search engines such as Google. A new website must first build up this trust, which requires time and financial resources. However, this does not mean that a new domain has no chance of achieving good rankings. With high-quality content and a solid SEO strategy, a new website can definitely be successful.
• Backlink profile: Established websites usually already have a backlink profile, i.e. links from other websites that point to them. These backlinks are an indicator of the relevance and authority of a website for search engines. A new website must first build up a solid backlink profile in order to increase its authority.
• Technical optimisation: Established websites may have already undergone technical optimisations that improve their performance and usability. New websites need to make these optimisations to be competitive.
• Content: Established websites often have more extensive content that has been optimised over time. New websites must first create high-quality content and optimise it for the search engines.
• Indexing: Established websites are already indexed in the search engines and therefore have a basis on which they can improve their SEO performance. New websites must first be recognised and indexed by the search engines before they can appear in the search results.

New websites cannot fulfil these aspects. For this reason, SEO work requires more effort and time to achieve the same authority and visibility in search engines as already established websites.

However, this does not mean that new websites cannot achieve a top ranking. With a well-thought-out SEO strategy, high-quality content, continuous optimisation and the aforementioned patience and perseverance, new websites can also be successful and achieve competitive positions in the search results.

What Google says about the duration of SEO

In a video from the "Ask Googlebot on YouTube" series, John Mueller from Google answers the question "How long does SEO take for new websites?" by saying that there is no fixed duration for achieving success in the field of search engine optimisation. However, some measures can be taken to make the process as efficient as possible so that it doesn't take longer than necessary."

We'll discuss what measures you can take to optimise your website later. Now let's move on to the factors that influence how long SEO takes.

3. Goals and industries

The duration of SEO depends heavily on your goals and the industry you're in. For example, if you run a niche website, you may achieve success faster than if you are in a highly competitive industry. It is therefore crucial to develop a customised strategy for your business, taking into account your goals and the competitive situation in your industry.

Here are two illustrative examples:

4. E-A-T or E-E-A-T

E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthinessand is part of the Google algorithm and anchored in the Google guidelines for evaluating content quality. E-A-T was first mentioned in 2014 when Google included the concept in its guidelines for website content quality. In December 2022, Google made significant changes to its search quality rating guidelines and introduced the concept E-E-A-T, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trust. E-E-A-T is not a direct Google ranking factor, but Google wants to deliver results with strong E-E-A-T, so it is an important concept in SEO. The better you fulfil the criteria, the faster you will be able to achieve ranking improvements.

5. Technical aspects

A well-optimised website in terms of technical SEO has a significant impact on the time it takes for SEO successes to become visible. This includes aspects such as loading times, mobile optimisation, a clean URL structure, the use of structured data and an SSL certificate.

6. Budget

Your budget plays a decisive role in how quickly you make progress in SEO. With more financial resources, for example, you can invest in the support of an SEO agency or in professional SEO tools, which can speed up the process. Here is another quick example:

7. Weighting the ranking factors

Google has a catalogue of over 200 ranking factors for evaluating websites. These are generally known, but what is not known is how Google weights the individual ranking criteria. For example, Google announced on 26 March 2018 that it will now index the mobile version of a website.

Anyone who had not optimised their website for mobile devices by then had to expect a drop in visibility and rankings.

8. Search engine algorithm and Google updates

The search engine algorith m is another important factor that influences the duration of SEO. Google regularly updates the algorithm to improve the relevance and quality of search results. These Google updates can cause the rules of the game to change and you may need to make adjustments to your strategy. Imagine you're on a good path and then this happens:

Source: SISTRIX

A good understanding of how the algorithm works and the ability to react quickly to changes are crucial to optimising the duration of SEO. By keeping up to date and continually adapting your strategy, you can achieve SEO success faster and more effectively.

Let's take a quick look at the final two factors that influence the duration of SEO before we answer an important question.

9. Expertise and team

A competent team with SEO expertise can also help to shorten the duration of SEO. Experienced SEO experts know which measures to prioritise and how to implement them effectively.

10. Number of competitors and the quality of competitor websites

The number of competitors, but above all the quality of their websites, have a direct influence on the duration of SEO. If your competitors already have well-optimised websites, you will have to put even more effort and budget into outperforming them.

Which leads us to a question that many entrepreneurs ask themselves.

When should I start with SEO?

A good question, the answer to which affects both your marketing budget and your sales. The answer is pretty simple: the sooner, the better.

And here's why.

The longer you delay implementing SEO strategies and your competition is already taking SEO measures, the bigger the head start you have to catch up. Therefore, the further ahead your competition is, the more resources you have to invest and the longer you have to wait for results. The challenge in this race is compounded by the fact that your competitors are not stopping their SEO efforts. Therefore, double the effort and resources are required to catch up.

Ergo: The best time to start with SEO was a year ago, the second best is right NOW. The sooner you start, the sooner you will notice the positive effects on your online business and the lower the costs will be.

You now have a comprehensive picture of the factors that influence the duration of SEO and know that you should start SEO today rather than tomorrow. By taking all these aspects into account, you can develop a customised and targeted SEO strategy to achieve your goals more efficiently.

And if you're wondering if there's a shortcut, read the next section carefully.

Speed up your SEO without neglecting quality

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a continuous process that requires time and effort to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search results. There are no shortcuts, as quality and long-term results should take centre stage.

However, it is possible to speed up the process by prioritising and using your resources efficiently. The focus for new websites is different than for established websites. In the following step-by-step guide, I will show you how you can get the best out of your site in both cases without neglecting quality.

But now to the guide.

By following these steps, you can speed up the SEO of your website and be successful in the long term. It is important to continuously work on optimisation and react to changes in the search engine algorithm to stay up to date.

Focus areas for optimising new websites

1. Technical SEO: As new websites usually do not yet have an established structure and little to no content, it is important to get the technical SEO aspects right from the start. This includes the optimisation of meta tags, page structure, URL structure and the implementation of SSL.
2. Keyword research: New websites should focus on niche keywords to position themselves in a less competitive environment. This makes it easier to rank in the search engines.
3. Creation of high-quality content: New websites need content that is relevant to both users and search engines. The focus should be on high-quality, target group-orientated and well-structured content.
4. Link building: Backlinks are particularly important for new websites to increase authority and visibility in search engines. Targeted link building through guest posts, business directories and co-operations can be helpful here.

Focal points of the optimisation of established websites

1. Analysing the current status: The first step for established websites is to assess the current status of the website in terms of SEO. This includes checking the technical SEO aspects, the content and the backlink structure.
2. Evaluation of the data obtained: Based on the results of the analysis, strengths and weaknesses can be identified to focus on the areas that need improvement.
3. Planning the SEO strategy: Based on the identified weaknesses, a comprehensive SEO strategy should be developed that covers both the technical and content aspects.
4. Implementing the measures: The planned measures can be implemented in various steps, depending on priority and resources.

Conclusion

So, if we summarise everything we've said so far, we can see that SEO is really important if you want to be successful on the internet. Therefore, every company - no matter how big it is or what industry it's in - should invest in SEO to keep up in the digital age.

How long SEO takes can range from a few months to a year, and in particularly competitive industries even far beyond that.

It is therefore crucial to think long-term. A good SEO strategy will make you more visible on the internet, target your audience correctly and ultimately reward you with more sales.

If you keep working on your website and adapting to changes in the market, the question "How long does SEO take?" will no longer be relevant to you. You will trust the process, steadily push your way to top rankings and eventually beat the competition.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it important to start SEO early?

Starting SEO early will help you gain a competitive advantage over your competitors and increase your website's visibility faster. The later you start, the harder it will be to catch up with the competition and you may need to invest more resources.

How long does it take to learn SEO?

The time it takes to learn SEO depends on your personal background, learning speed and commitment. You can gain a basic understanding within a few weeks to months. However, SEO is a constantly evolving field, and it requires continuous training to stay up to date.

What does SEO cost per month?

The monthly cost of SEO varies greatly depending on factors such as the size of your website, the industry, the competition and the goals of your SEO campaign. Prices range from a few hundred to several thousand euros per month. The work can be done in-house, by external agencies or a combination of both. More about SEO costs

Is SEO difficult?

SEO can be considered complex as it covers many aspects, such as technical optimisation, content creation, link building and continuous adaptation to changes in search engine algorithms. Nevertheless, anyone who is willing to invest time and effort in learning SEO can achieve success.

How long does it take to rank on Google?

The time it takes to rank on Google is variable and depends on factors such as the competition, the quality of your website and the relevance of your content. In general, it can take anywhere from a few months to over a year to achieve notable rankings. A solid SEO strategy and patience are crucial for long-term success.

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