97% of search engine users search online to find a local business. If users want to find a local business online, they turn to search engines first.
If you’re a local business owner, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the wonders of local SEO and its ability to boost your search rankings and bring in more customers. But like any good investment, you want to know – how long will it take until I see a return on my time and effort?
In this blog post, we’ll offer a realistic timeline for local SEO results and discuss factors that can influence how quickly you see them.
Factors Affecting Local SEO Timeline
Before we dive into timelines, let’s understand a few things that play a huge role in how fast your local SEO works:
- Competition: How competitive is your industry and location? High competition means it’ll likely take longer to outrank established players.
- Your Website’s Health: If your site has technical errors, thin content, or poor user experience, SEO efforts will be less effective.
- Consistency: Local SEO is an ongoing process. Sporadic efforts will yield slower results than consistent updates and optimization.
- Google Business Profile (GBP): A well-optimized GBP listing is crucial for local businesses; the completeness and accuracy of yours matters.
So, How Long Does it Really Take?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a general timeline:
- 1-3 Months: You might see early signs of improvement – better visibility for some local keywords, a few more clicks to your website.
- 3-6 Months: Your GBP listing should start ranking in the local map pack, and you could see significant increases in organic traffic to key pages.
- 6 Months and Beyond: With sustained efforts, you should see consistent lead generation or sales, and hopefully, you’ll start outranking competitors for some high-value keywords.
Important Note: These are estimates. Depending on the factors mentioned above, your results could be faster or slower.
How to Speed Up Your Local SEO Results
Want to see those positive changes faster? Here’s what you can do:
- Thorough Local SEO Audit: Find and fix any technical issues and content gaps on your website.
- Optimize Your GBP to the Max: Add photos, get reviews, post regularly, and ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is accurate across all listings.
- Focus on High-Quality Citations: Get listed on reputable directories relevant to your area.
- Create Localized Content: Blog posts about events, local tips, or industry news in your area can attract the right audience.
Don’t Let Competitors Outrank You – Schedule Your Strategy Call Now
Need a Helping Hand?
Local SEO can be complex, and doing it right takes time and expertise. If you want to accelerate your results and leave your competitors in the dust, consider partnering with a local SEO agency. Here at D&D SEO Services, we specialize in helping businesses like yours dominate local search. Contact us today for a free consultation!
