You've finally put the finishing touches on a digital marketing campaign for a business client. As a search engine optimization (SEO) expert, you did you due diligence; studying trends, Google Analytics, and looking for good keywords for optimal search engine traffic.

Then, after doing research and finally creating compelling website content, it's time to post.

While crossing the finish line on a project, there are still some questions. How long until your website content starts to make an impact? How long until you (and the rest of the Internet) can see SEO results in real time?

So, Are SEO Results Immediate?

No, SEO results don't register overnight.

It can be frustrating to do research for SEO keywords, create authoritative content and not see ranking returns as soon as you press 'publish.'

Advertising and digital marketing campaigns are long-term investments, so it's only natural that you want to see returns.

But be patient! That website traffic might not be so far off.

Why Does It Take So Long For SEO to Work?

There's a lot that goes into different SEO strategies, and they're all multifaceted.

Keep in mind that SEO is competitive. As such, your direct competitors aren't asleep while you're crafting articles and posting content. It's also a matter of frequency and updates, too. Google likes to see websites regularly tweaking and updating pages, blog articles, and other all around site improvements.

SEO isn't a 'set it and forget it' situation. SEO services should usually include consistent tweaking for optimal ranking results, fixing broken links, and improving a site's health. It's also important to update obsolete information.

How Soon Can You Expect To See SEO Results?

It depends. Some say a few weeks, others will insist it's a few months.

We know that's not the ideal answer, but let us explain.

According to Google's John Mueller, the success of your optimization efforts hinge on a few key factors of the website you're working on, namely your linking efforts and overall website quality.

Ways To Improve SEO

Here are some vital ways to boost website visibility and turn potential customers into conversions.

Good Linking Efforts

Solid internal linking can generate a lot of SEO traffic. Internal linking is linking existing content of yours to other pages on your website. Internal linking creates a cohesive structure.

On the surface, internal linking is great since users already on your site can further access other web pages easily. Internal links also build your site's hierarchy, essentially which page is valued most.

Internal Linking: An Example

Let's do an example.

Want users to check out your opinion on digital marketing schools from this article? Ideally, you want to create an applicable sentence, one that matches well with your link's content.

Don't write a sentence like, "digital marketing is all about promoting brands." Instead, write something like, "Should you go to school for digital marketing?"

By having content that lines up with your internal link, it helps users better navigate the pages of your website.

High Website Quality

This is crucial. You can create an attractive website with all the bells and whistles, but if you don't deliver quality content, it's all flash and no substance.

John Mueller further explains that it comes down to maintaining a website's high quality. While you obviously want to avoid any technical hiccups, posting regular, quality SEO improvements and content is crucial toward cracking that top ten ranking on Google search engine results pages.

Beneficial Purpose and E.A.T. Pages

What's the purpose of your website?

When consulting the extensive Search Quality Evaluation Guide, Google puts forth that the purpose of the website should be abundantly clear.

Furthermore, "Websites and pages should be created to help users. Websites and pages that are created with intent to harm users, deceive users, or make money with no attempt to help users, should receive the Lowest PQ rating."

Write with expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. These are called EAT pages. Relevant EAT pages have a better chance of ranking in Google's index, as they provide strong value to targeted readers.

Keep it compelling, keep it honest, and most importantly, have an overarching purpose to ensure your page can top the search engine results and avoid a low PQ rating.

A Quick Note on SEO and URLs

When you're outfitting your site with the best keywords, content, and internal links, it's important to keep your URL the same. We've gone over the catastrophic effects of needlessly changing your URL and how it can directly affect your organic SEO campaign.

Changing a URL without a reason can lead damage you site's SEO 'health,' leading to Google turning a blind eye toward your blunders. Changing URLs can totally wipe out all your keyword research efforts, so don't do it unless you absolutely need to!

Is SEO Worth the Wait?

Absolutely.

It doesn't matter if you run a one-person business or a Fortune 500 company; SEO efforts are an invaluable resource. Waiting a few weeks to a few months is well worth the wait to see blog posts and websites make a dent in search engine results.

Overall, be patient, keep your site's quality high, practice good linking, perform regular SEO tweaks and updates, and you should be good to go.

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