Why your search rankings won't skyrocket overnight: The truth about SEO and the latest updates

So, you have invested both time and money to optimise your website expecting to see your website soar to first place on Google or Bing, only for: crickets? It can be incredibly frustrating when you don't see instant results in your website rankings, even after all of the improvements that you have made on your website.

I can certainly say: you are not alone.

SEO is a long-term game

It is easy to fall into the trap of expecting immediate results after optimising your website. However, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is far more of a marathon than a sprint. The changes that you make today won't offer you instant results that you can start to see tomorrow, for one simple reason. Search engines, like Google, need time to crawl, index and evaluate the updates that you've implemented.

The search algorithms are complex and constantly evolving. They evaluate various signals from your website, such as the quality of your content, backlinks, how friendly it is for mobile devices, and the experience you are creating for your users. All this before they make any changes to your website's ranking. Depending on how competitive your particular niche or industry is, the authority of your website, and the specific improvements that you have made, you could be looking at anything between a few weeks to a few months before you start to see any noticeable changes.

In short: patience is key.

SEO works over time, and the efforts that you put in today will pay off as search engines begin to recognise the value you've added to your website.

The good news? This long-term approach is often the difference between sustainable, lasting success once you've built up momentum, or a great website hidden on page 100 of search engine results.

Image courtesy of Wix.

What's holding up your SEO progress?

Several factors can have an impact on how quickly you can start to see changes in your search rankings. Firstly, it can take weeks to crawl and index the updates that you've made on your website. Think of the crawling bot indexing your site as a little spider that is slowly weaving it's web, making sure that every page is properly connected and accounted for. This process takes time, but is essential for ensuring that all of your updates are properly recognised.

Your website's authority also plays a role. If you have a newer website, or have fewer links either to or from your website, it will take you longer to see results. The same is true depending on how competitive your industry or niche is. If you're up against plenty of established competitors that are already occupying much of page one of the search listings, it can take much more time to climb the ranks and join them.

Don't forget to E-A-T: the secret to ranking success

When it comes to search engines, they don't just care about how well you optimise your site: it also looks at who and what is behind the content. This is where the concept of EAT comes in: expertise, authority, and trustworthiness.

Remember that you need to be creating your content with your customers in mind and to establish yourself as an expert in your field, so search engines want to make sure that the content it ranks is created by credible sources who are providing value to people.

Expertise, as suggested by the word, is all about your content being written by someone who knows what they are talking about. When you show yourself as an authority on a topic, the algorithms are more likely to trust your content. Your authority is about proving your credibility: think positive reviews, reputable backlinks and citations that vouch for your authority. And being trustworthy? This is all about creating a transparent user experience. You want to make sure that you have clear privacy policies and secure transactions.

So if you're wondering why your ranking aren't improving despite following all of the tips for optimisation, it might be time to focus a little more on what you EAT....

Serve up informative and reliable content, and you'll be in a for a happy search engine.

Image courtesy of Wix

How long does it actually take and what can you do to speed up the process?

As we have established, the unfortunate truth is that you won't see results delivered overnight. Typically, you might start seeing some noticeable changes in your rankings anywhere from 3 to 6 months after implementing your changes.

It's not all doom and gloom though, as there are ways that you can help the process along and give your website the best chance of ranking faster.

Make sure that you are creating high-quality and valuable content for your audience. The more relevant and useful the content, the quicker the search engines will be in recognising it's worth. Remember, human first, search engine second here. Then you want to be focusing on building up quality backlinks. These backlinks form a strong signal to search engines that your content is reliable and validated by another website.

Next up, it's about regularly ensuring that your technical SEO is up-to-date. A fast and mobile-friendly website with a clean, logical structure makes it easier for search algorithm crawlers to index your site efficiently. Finally, keep an eye (or two) on your competition. If you're in a crowded market or facing some hefty players with a large domain authority, you need to realise that it will take you a little longer to see your site climbing the ranks.

Consistency is key. Continue optimising, build up relationships and create quality content. Eventually, the results will follow. Anyone that tells you there is a quick win, is probably trying to sell you advertising.

Patience pays off in SEO

SEO can be a frustrating game, particularly when you've worked hard without seeing the immediate results. But remember that it's all about the long-term strategy. Needless to say but search engine marketing is more akin to an ultra-marathon than a sprint. Excessive patience, persistence and perseverance really are the key to your long-term success. While the waiting game can be tough, the results will be worth it when you can see your website begin to climb through the rankings.

By focusing on quality content, building good links and ensuring your technical SEO remains top-notch, you can help the process along and set yourself up for success. SEO is not a quick fix. Yet the rewards of better rankings and sustained traffic will be well worth the wait.

If you're looking for some personalised help or advice, don't hesitate to reach out. Alternatively you can check out the recently launched Website and SEO Essentials course, which will arm with you with everything you need to optimise your site for success.

Ready to take your SEO to the next level? Get in touch or sign up for the Website and SEO Essentials course today and let's start driving results together.