SEO is Gradual & Takes Time
One of the best ways to view search engine optimization is as a long term investment. It is a common misconception with search engine optimization to think your website will rank on the top of the search engine within the first month, or even the first few months. Search engine optimization is not a quick fix to your poor internet rankings. Climbing the search engines rankings will take time and lots of effort to get your website ahead in the game. If you are performing search engine optimization yourself, or paying a third party company to do it for you, it is important to have realistic expectations. If you just started performing search engine optimization on your website, you can expect to begin to see results within three to five months. SEO rankings are gradual and typically only change a few slots every month.
Rankings are Competitive
Search engine optimization is competitive. While you may perform monthly search engine optimization on your websites, guess what? So is everyone else. Everyone wants to rank at the top of the search engine, which can make ranking more difficult. Often newcomers to search engine optimization think they can immediately get an edge on their competition if they are paying for SEO services. While this is true, it is important to remember SEO takes time and there are competitors who have invested many more months or years into search engine optimization than you. It will take time to catch up and overtake their rankings. Businesses who have had more time doing search engine optimization will be harder to gain on in only a few months. SEO is competitive and takes time.
Fluctuations Are Normal
Every month it is normal for SEO rankings to fluctuate. Some months your rankings will show significant progress, while other months you will see your rankings drop for a bit. Dramatic ranking increases are more of an exception rather than the rule. You will win some and you will lose some. If your website is experiencing dramatic decreases in rankings, this could be because of two reasons. There may be errors on your website which have caused the rankings to drop dramatically, or they could be normal. Never be afraid to ask your internet marketing consultant why your rankings have dropped. It presents the opportunity for the internet marketing consultant to discuss how search engine optimization works, and also to discuss openly the efforts performed to increase the rankings that month. With that in mind, it is also important to view these fluctuations with the big picture in mind. Consistent search engine optimization will result in an upward trend for your keyword rankings.
Keyword Differences
Certain keywords draw your target audience to your site. Choosing the right keywords for your website is everything, but remember not all keywords are created equal. Some keywords are easier to rank for than others, so it is important to have realistic expectations when it comes to rankings for certain keywords. When discussing SEO packages with your internet marketing assistant, clearly define which keywords you would like to rank for. Clearly communicating with your internet marketing assistant about the keywords you would like to rank for is important for both parties. If you are seeking to rank for keywords on a local level, such as Rexburg web development or Idaho Falls web design, these will be easier to rank for rather than the general keyword of “web design” or “web development.” Trying to rank for keywords on a national level is often not part of basic SEO packages, so it is important to discuss your expectations and match them with the proper packages. For more information on how basic SEO work and what to expect, give Barton Consulting a call at 888.379.1357.