Hi all, I’m learning SEO (very new to this).
I’ve heard that SEO can take 3-6 months to show results if done correctly. My question is, does that mean:
It takes 3-6 months for my site to even show up on Google?
Or does it take that long for Google to notice changes I’ve made (like new content)?
Just trying to understand exactly what ‘3-6 months’ refers to.
Thanks!
It doesn’t take 3-6 months to just appear on Google. When you launch a new site, Google puts it in a ‘sandbox’—kind of like a test period where it reviews your content. In about 1-2 months, you’ll start to see your site show up, though its ranking might be low at first. After this ‘sandbox’ time, Google revisits your site and adjusts the ranking based on updates, like if you’ve improved your content or gotten better backlinks. Getting high-quality backlinks from trusted websites will really help your ranking, but even those take time to be recognized by Google. Some people try to use fast indexing services, but I wouldn’t recommend them—it can look suspicious to Google.
The 3-6 months is usually how long it takes to see noticeable changes in rankings and traffic. Your site can be indexed much sooner than that, but it will take time before you start seeing real improvements in search results.
@esleystanley
What do you mean by ‘optimizations’ improving visibility? Does that mean adding more content, getting backlinks, or does it depend on user behavior like visits and reads?
Levi said:
@esleystanley
What do you mean by ‘optimizations’ improving visibility? Does that mean adding more content, getting backlinks, or does it depend on user behavior like visits and reads?
Check out Grumpy SEO Guy’s podcast. He covers this stuff in a lot of detail.
When someone says it takes 3-6 months, it’s often because they have no clue and just want you to keep paying them for 6 months.
Calvine said:
When someone says it takes 3-6 months, it’s often because they have no clue and just want you to keep paying them for 6 months.
Haha, that makes sense. But Google itself says 3-6 months too.
Calvine said:
@CharlotteAmelia
Google doesn’t actually say that anywhere.
Well, when I Google ‘how long does SEO take,’ almost every article on the first page says 3-6 months.
Calvine said:
@CharlotteAmelia
Google doesn’t actually say that anywhere.
Well, when I Google ‘how long does SEO take,’ almost every article on the first page says 3-6 months.
Yeah, that’s from SEOs trying to keep clients paying for as long as possible.
CharlotteAmelia said:
@Calvine
Gotcha. But how long would you say it takes then, for someone who’s just starting out?
It totally depends on things like competition, your niche, and how much effort you’re putting in. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
CharlotteAmelia said:
@Calvine
I’m starting from zero. Could you at least give a rough range?
If you’ve got a solid SEO strategy, you should start seeing some signs of progress in about 30-45 days, but a lot depends on how quickly changes are made and implemented.
Calvine said:
@CharlotteAmelia
Google doesn’t actually say that anywhere.
What about the Google Sandbox? If a new site gets stuck there, how long does it take to come out?
Calvine said:
@CharlotteAmelia
Google doesn’t actually say that anywhere.
What about the Google Sandbox? If a new site gets stuck there, how long does it take to come out?
If you launch a good PR campaign and make sure you’re promoting your brand online, you can avoid being stuck in the sandbox at all. But if you don’t do much, it could take longer for your site to start ranking.
Calvine said:
When someone says it takes 3-6 months, it’s often because they have no clue and just want you to keep paying them for 6 months.
Not all SEOs are doing that. Some give realistic timelines, but clients don’t always like hearing the truth.
Calvine said:
@Mia
I always tell the truth. What would you say to your clients?
I’d probably say something similar, but it depends on how they take it.
There’s no exact time frame. I’ve seen results show up in just days, and other times, changes that I expected to help didn’t do much at all. The whole ‘3-6 months’ thing was more common advice years ago, but SEO isn’t as predictable as it used to be.