It is well known that search engine optimization is one of the most important aspects of a successful online company. However, you may be unaware of what you can realistically expect from your SEO efforts in a short and long timeframe. In this article, we’ll explore the expectations vs. the reality when it comes to your search engine optimization efforts. We will also share tips for getting the most out of your SEO campaigns, and why it is important to do the work regardless of when the fruits of your labor will be seen.
Misconceptions Surrounding SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is one of the most important marketing tactics for running a successful online business. It’s the process of optimizing your website and its content in alignment with search engines rules and best practices to organically appear higher on results pages, which will result in more traffic to your page. One of the biggest misconceptions about SEO is that it’s relatively easy and quick to provide results.
A lot of people believe you can optimize your existing pages, post some new content, and create some internal links, and results will be seen within a few days or weeks. However, the reality is that it can take months or even years to accomplish the most ambitious goals. The main reason is that SEO is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort over a longer period of time. If you lose momentum, your search engine results pages (SERPs) will inevitably suffer. That’s why it’s essential to maintain a strong SEO strategy and stay on top of changes in best practices.
What Can Be Accomplished In a Short Period?
While it can take months, or even years, to see the fruits of your labor when working on improving your site’s ranking in search engines, there are things you can do to achieve quick results with SEO.
1. Regularly Publish High-Quality Content
Regularly producing content is one of the best ways to signal to search engines that your site is active, informative, and relevant to the searches of your target audience. In turn, search engines will recognize this effort and reward you with ranking boosts in the results, which will help your site’s authority and boost traffic. Plus, producing quality content regularly will help you build a loyal following, which is beneficial for any company.
2. Optimizing Titles & Meta Descriptions
Title and meta descriptions are some of the most crucial on-page SEO factors. By optimizing them correctly, you can increase the chances of your website ranking higher in search engine results, allowing for more website traffic and conversions.
While they are a relatively quick fix, optimizing your titles and meta descriptions can immediately impact your SEO. Including target keywords in your titles and descriptions can help your website rank higher in SERPs.
3. Share Your Content
Getting eyeballs on your content is essential for SEO success, so be sure to share it through social media and other channels. This will help drive traffic back to your site via multiple channels.
4. Channel Your Focus
If you are a national company, focusing on SEO from a national scale only makes sense. Whereas if you are a local or brick and mortar business, shifting your focus to localized SEO will allow you to channel your resources to generate results from your efforts.
Local SEO is centred around optimizing your website and online channels for a specific geographic area. This includes optimizing your website for local search engines like Google Maps and Bing Local and creating locally-targeted content that will appeal to the relevant people in your area.
Sustainable Growth Requires Discipline
Even for those with previous experience, it takes consistent effort to start seeing actual results from SEO. This means staying on top of several things, including the following:
- Writing high-quality content consistently that tailors to your target audience.
- Internally linking within your website, making it easier for users to navigate it
- By building backlinks from other high authority websites to yours. Doing this leads to more organic traffic to your site. A great way to get started is by guest blogging.
- Updating the appearance of your site to be professional and tailored to your customers.
Ideally, your blog traffic will consistently increase over time as you build up your content and authority. The results you achieve will depend on your level of consistency and the quality of your published content.
Effort and Results
While some quick wins can be achieved in the short term, true success and progress usually takes months to years. This is especially true if you aim to rank at the top of search queries related to your target keyphrases and secure a dominant position in the eyes of search engines.
SEO is a long-term investment that will pay off if you are willing to put in the work. However, it’s essential to have realistic expectations and understand that there is no “quick fix” regarding SEO. The sky is the limit, and those who remain disciplined and consistent will find excellent results.
If you’re interested in working with an experienced team who can help get your website where it needs to be, consult with one of our team members to learn how Bluehour Digital can help you reach heights beyond your expectations.