How Long Does SEO Take To Produce Results?

Posted on 26 November, 2021 by Elsa Tom

So, you built a website for your business, and it’s up and running. You have followed the best practices in developing your website, curated top-notch, SEO-friendly content. But you see no visitors, let alone buyers. You’re in a dilemma – why is that? I did everything right, you’d think. Why isn’t my website discoverable? 

Well, as an SEO agency in Dubai, we think we can answer your question. This is probably the most asked question. What will it take for your website to be ranked on the #1 page in Google’s search result? Well, the answer isn’t so simple. Also, no offence meant, this question isn’t relevant anymore. The question stems from a perception of SEO that was previously true but is no longer so.

SEO is not like paid ads – where you can see results as soon as you turn your ads on. Success from SEO takes time. But how long? In this blog, we will answer this, as well as make you aware of the elements that influence how long it takes to see results from an SEO plan.

Let’s Cut To the Chase

For the sake of a concrete answer, let us say that the results of a fully complete SEO plan can be seen within 6 months. And by results, we mean a demonstrable increase in traffic, as well as accompanying leads or conversions. This does not necessarily imply that you will have reached your goal by this time, but if you are engaging in SEO, you should expect to see results within this timeframe.

You could notice benefits in as short as two weeks (as some website owners claim), or it could take up to a year. No one can say, for sure. There are a lot of variables involved, and what works for others may not work for you. This is not ‘one size fits all.’ As an SEO company in Dubai, we know how important it is to have a steady plan for your website to grow with SEO.

If you put speed ahead of sustainability, you'll end up hurting yourself in the long term. Any website that has a sudden gain in ranking is instantly suspect to Google, as it is considered that something is wrong.

It's important to keep in mind that a variety of things might have a positive or negative impact on your SEO results. The amount of time it takes to see meaningful results is determined by factors such as your site's age and authority, any penalties affecting your ranking, and whether you want long- or short-term outcomes.

The top four factors that can affect your SEO, including how long it takes to see results, are listed below. Let’s dive in.

#1: Your Competition

In low-competition niches and search queries, results appear much faster than in competitive ones.

Trying to get a website to rank for competitive travelling keywords, like hotels in Dubai? It could take up to two years to get substantial page one prominence. On the other hand, for local or lower-competition keywords, encouraging results could be seen in as little as 3 to 6 months.

The more websites you have to compete with, the longer it will take to reach the top of the search results.

This will follow a constant trend in which outranking the lower sites is both easier and faster, but as you climb the search results, each consecutive step will take substantially more effort and time. When it comes to SEO, you should consult with a reliable SEO agency UAE.

#2: Your Website’s History and Age

One of the primary things that determine the time it takes to see SEO results is whether or not you're working on a new domain.

Given that it hasn't yet established any authority or earned any backlinks, a new domain will nearly always take longer to achieve success than an established one. An established domain, on the other hand, will almost always have some authority and some backlinks pointing to it.

Rather than 6 to 12 months, a brand new domain should anticipate seeing results in 9 to 12 months.

#3: Your Content

According to Kapost, having a content marketing plan in place can result in a rise of up to 8% in website traffic. In fact, we frequently see a lot more.

We all know that quality content is king when it comes to achieving SEO results; as a result, you should devote a significant amount of effort to developing a content strategy and putting it into action.

You face a stiff uphill battle if your website lacks relevant and authoritative information. You'll need to update your website's content and plan a strategy for creating and distributing new information. Your website should contain SEO-friendly content since it will substantially help users discover your website. Looking for an SEO agency in UAE for your website’s content? Your search ends here. We’re here to help.

#4: Your Website’s Design, Structure, and Architecture

The design, CMS system, and URL structure of your website all have a role in website traffic and ranking.

These elements, if not addressed appropriately, can cause your page ranking to suffer. Your site's architecture and URL structure should allow optimal optimization for a high ranking.

Because mobile devices account for more than half of all internet searches, choosing the right responsive design for mobile optimization is crucial. Furthermore, more than 90% of internet users report they use multiple device screens. Your website will perform effectively on all devices if you use a responsive design.

Google has also just converted to a mobile-first strategy, which means that when it comes to indexing and ranking, it will scan mobile pages first. If you have a bad mobile experience, it will almost certainly affect your ranking in the SERPs.

Take the time to run your site through Google's Mobile-Friendly Test, and enlist the help of a developer if necessary to improve your mobile presence. 

Takeaway

So, is it just all an educated guess? Well, as a leading SEO company in UAE, we can say that we know that you might get frustrated by not seeing quick results on your SEO strategy, and our job is to manage your expectations.

 You won't be able to tell how long SEO will take until you start working on it.

You may, however, make a very educated guess based on these variables. Then, as time goes on, you'll have a better understanding of how long it will take to beat your competition in your field.