The visibility of a business website can mean the difference between survival and success in today's digital marketplace. A website should be the gateway to your brand's digital presence, optimised to attract and engage users from all corners of the internet. Achieving visibility requires the use of search engine optimization (SEO), as it is an essential tool for building trust and relevance on search engine results pages. Read our article below for a guide to search engine optimisation.

What is SEO?

The process of search engine optimisation SEO is the art and science of optimising the ranking of a website so that it is visible on the first page of Google and other search engines. Increasing visibility can lead to an increase in organic traffic, which leads to increased sales and brand awareness, reaching a wider audience with whom the business wants to connect.

The digital nature of SEO may make it a difficult concept to grasp. There are so many facets and so many factors that influence its success that it may not be clear what makes it successful. SEO is one of the most important parts of any digital marketing strategy and requires a lot of patience before results can be appreciated. But how long does it take to achieve SEO results?

What makes SEO successful, and realistically how long can we expect to wait before we see valuable results?
The first concern that needs to be allayed is the expectation of quick results that many businesses have when embarking on their SEO journey, either due to a lack of knowledge or an over-promise by an agency. Unfortunately, this expectation only leads to disappointment if they don't see immediate improvements. This is a shame, because the truth is that SEO is a long-term investment that requires patience, consistency and strategic planning.

A simple step-by-step guide to search engine optimisation (SEO)

The Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) process may seem complicated at first, but it is actually a series of logical steps. A guide to search engine optimisation, if you have a website and want to get more people to find you on Google, you can get started with the guide below.

1) Keyword research - what are people looking for?

Before you write or develop anything, find out what your potential customers are looking for. Look for words and phrases that relate to your product or service.

Tools that can be used:

Google search suggestions predictive (that pop up as you type)

Google Trends EN, search statistics

Our tip: Don't just look at what you'd say - look at how your clients say it! Use Yoast SEO Tool!

2) Technical SEO - get the foundation of your website right

Google likes your site if it's fast, secure and built on a well-edited web engine and the UX/UI is user-friendly

Check:

Is the site mobile friendly? (Use a mobile test tool!)

Loading speed (PageSpeed Insights helps)

Is there an HTTPS certificate (does the page start at https://-szel?)

Is your website well structured (menus, sub-pages, logical navigation)?

Our tip: Use WordPress + SEO plugins (e.g. Yoast SEO), because they help you keep the technical elements in order.

3) Content optimisation - write useful, not just pretty

During the search engine optimisation process, Google likes you to provide real value to the visitor. So don't just repeat keywords - explain, give advice, answer visitors' questions.

What to look out for:

Each page should have one main keyword

Have subheadings (H2, H3), not just continuous text

Use images, but optimise them (small files, ALT text)

Write a regular blog - this will help you cover new keywords

Our tip: Imagine the visitor is hearing about you for the first time. Can you tell them clearly what you do in 30 seconds?

4) Link building - other websites link to you

AA During the search engine optimisation process, Google also looks to see if other trusted sites are linking to you. It's like when other business owners recommend you verbally - it builds trust.

How to get started:

Register in local company databases (e.g. cylex.hu, cégekadatbazisa.hu)

Write guest articles for professional blogs

Connect with other, non-competing small businesses and share each other's pages

Fewer, but good quality links are worth more than many weak ones.

5) Local SEO - if you have a physical store

Many people search Google for „hairdresser Székesfehérvár” or „dentist nearby”. If you want to appear in such searches:

Do it:

Fill in the form Google My Company (Google Business) your profile

Write reviews with your customers

Give us your exact address and opening hours
Our tip: At least 10 positive reviews will make a noticeable difference in local searches.

Summary:

The process of search engine optimisation is not magic, but a consistent and conscious construction. If you start from the basics - understanding what people are looking for, getting your site technically in order and producing good content - Google will eventually start to „reward” you with better rankings.

Understanding the timeline of SEO results

First, it would be wrong to say that there is no immediate effect. While these may not be huge changes, there are identifiable changes that occur after SEO changes are introduced. What immediate effects can we see?

Initial mapping and indexing

After implementing SEO changes, search engines like Google will crawl and index the page. This process can cause minor fluctuations in the site's ranking as the search engine updates its index with new information. Initial crawling is important because it ensures that search engines know about changes, such as content updates, new pages or improved metadata. This can sometimes result in a quick but temporary ranking boost as search engines re-evaluate the page.

Short-term SEO results

After the immediate impact, a business can expect short-term results as SEO continues to do its job. These may not be the big results we were expecting, but they fit the timeline perfectly and are the first signs of a successful SEO strategy!

Weeks 1-4: Initial improvements

In the first month, we see initial improvements in the ranking of less competitive keywords. Improved user experience from on-page optimizations can lead to better engagement metrics, indirectly increasing SEO. Users can spend more time on the site, reducing bounce rates and increasing average session duration, which are positive signs for search engines.

1-3 months: noticeable changes

More noticeable changes may occur in the first few months. Continued content creation, on-page optimisation and technical improvements could lead to a gradual increase in traffic. Rankings for moderately competitive keywords may start to improve, reflecting our efforts. During this period, we may also see better results from local SEO efforts, especially if we have optimised for site-specific keywords.

Over time, the long-term growth of SEO will become increasingly apparent. This is when we can start to track how much SEO has improved the performance and visibility of the website.

6-12 months: sustainable growth

Sustainable growth is usually evident after six months of sustained SEO effort. By then, the high quality backlinks you have acquired will have had a more significant impact. Content that has strengthened and gained credibility over time will contribute to higher rankings and more significant traffic growth. Consistent content updates and ongoing link building efforts will strengthen the credibility of the site, helping to rank for more competitive keywords.

after 12 months: Long-term success

After a year, long-term SEO strategies are fully operational. This includes maintaining and improving competitive keyword rankings, building domain credibility and keeping up with search engine algorithm updates. This constant effort will result in continued organic traffic growth and conversions, ensuring long-term success. At this stage, SEO efforts focus on refining strategies, optimizing for new keywords and staying ahead of algorithm changes, ensuring the site remains competitive and relevant.

As we can see, the process of SEO is a gradual process that leads to the desired goal as a stepping stone. The first step reveals immediate effects that can be seen within a few days. Short-term results are the next step, and finally, at the top, is long-term growth and success - where SEO has been about experimentation and fine-tuning to always work towards your goals and adapt to the evolving goals of your business. Understanding the timeline of SEO results is key to increasing website visibility. While some changes can bring quick success, significant and sustainable growth usually takes time.

We can help you get 30-60% of your website's visitors from Google for free. Read our guide to search engine optimization several times and apply it to your website.

📩 Get in touch with us, and let's start working together!