Are you second-guessing your SEO agency’s performance due to underwhelming results? Or you may be navigating the digital marketing world alone and finding it challenging to track and measure your SEO success.
You’re not alone. Many business owners grapple with these questions, trying to understand if their investment in SEO is truly paying off.
As the founder of Warren Digital, I’ve worked in the digital marketing and SEO industry for over 15 years. Our entire team of SEO experts in Sydney has assisted businesses of all sizes in setting goals and smashing those objectives, growing their businesses, and seeing continued success from an SEO campaign.
Now, let’s explore what SEO results are and why they hold so much significance.
What are SEO results?
SEO results are the measurable outcomes achieved by implementing various SEO strategies on a website. They aren’t just about achieving higher rankings on search engines like Google and enhancing user experience, boosting website traffic, and improving organic conversions.
Despite what many believe, SEO is not just using keyword research tools or creating backlinks. It’s a comprehensive process that involves addressing technical SEO errors, adding strategic internal links to improve page rankings, building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, and crafting engaging, high-quality content that resonates with your audience.
Remember, Google’s algorithm isn’t just looking for keyword matches. It prioritises websites that offer valuable, relevant content and a seamless user experience.
Achieving better SEO results means focusing on these areas to ensure your website ranks higher in Google searches and provides value to its visitors. This is where a thorough SEO site audit and a well-planned SEO checklist come into play to measure your SEO performance and results.
Why are SEO results important?
SEO results are paramount in increasing website traffic and are one of the most important aspects of your digital marketing strategy, regardless of your business. They are crucial in not only improving your website’s visibility but also in driving its overall growth.
Boost sales
Effective SEO strategies lead to higher rankings in search engine results, significantly increasing your website’s organic search traffic. This heightened visibility often translates into more leads and increased sales.
Increase traffic
SEO results are instrumental in attracting a steady stream of high-quality traffic to your landing pages. By optimising target keywords and creating valuable blog posts, you can attract potential customers who are genuinely interested in your products or services.
Enhance brand awareness
A well-ranked website is more likely to be recognised and trusted by users. Achieving top SEO results helps establish your brand’s credibility and fosters increased brand awareness among your target audience.
Improve user experience
SEO isn’t just about search engines; it’s also about users. When your site is optimised for SEO, it is typically more user-friendly and offers a better overall experience to your visitors. Easy navigation, faster load times, and mobile-friendly design are all outcomes of good SEO practices.
Tracking your SEO results is as important. An experienced SEO manager will use SEO software to track your SEO progress and learn from the data. They’ll ensure your website is easy to crawl, index, and check for broken links, missing H1 tags, thin text, and much more, leading to better SEO results.
What is an SEO audit, and how does it work?
An SEO audit is a comprehensive evaluation of your website to assess its strengths and identify opportunities for improvement in terms of SEO. It can provide valuable insights into your website’s health and performance, paving the way for strategic adjustments to boost your search volumes and overall SEO success.
Several key aspects are examined during an SEO audit, including:
- On-page SEO: Checking if your web pages are optimised with relevant keywords and high-quality content.
- Off-page SEO: Evaluating the quality and quantity of backlinks to your site.
- Technical SEO: Assessing site speed, mobile-friendliness, and the effectiveness of your site’s XML sitemap.
- User experience: Reviewing site design, navigation, and overall user-friendliness.
While SEO tools like Ahrefs and Semrush can perform basic SEO audits to identify quick fixes, a more thorough and complex audit often involves a combination of various tools and using unique experience and insights.
For instance, Screaming Frog is a valuable resource that can handle intricate tasks such as checking every page on your website for potential issues.
How long does it take to see SEO results?
On average, you can expect to start seeing the fruits of your SEO campaign within 3 to 6 months. However, this timeframe is influenced by several factors:
- Client’s goals and budget: The alignment of your objectives with your financial resources can greatly affect the pace of your SEO success.
- Industry competitiveness: Industries with fierce competition may require more time to achieve visible SEO results.
- Previous SEO work: If your site has been previously optimised, it might be quicker to see improvements.
- Quality of work: The better the SEO practices implemented, the faster you’ll see positive outcomes.
- Type of SEO work: Comprehensive SEO efforts involving technical optimisations, new content creation, and link building typically yield results faster than focusing on just one aspect.
- Content quality: High-quality, relevant content ranks better and faster in search engine results.
- Website structure: Your website’s structure directly impacts the timeframe; a well-organised and easily navigable site can enhance the user experience and improve your search engine rankings faster.
- Mobile friendliness: Websites that provide a seamless mobile experience tend to achieve higher rankings in Google’s mobile search results faster.
- External factors: Elements like branded search volume, media mentions, and reviews on rating sites such as Google Reviews and Trustpilot can also impact the speed at which you see results.
SEO is a long-term strategy. While you might want to achieve quick wins, the ultimate goal is to build a solid foundation for your website’s sustained growth and success.
How can you measure SEO results?
Measuring the success of your SEO strategies largely involves tracking specific metrics using tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Ahrefs, and Semrush.
These platforms provide detailed insights into your website’s performance, from keyword rankings to conversion rates, helping you understand how well your SEO efforts are paying off.
In GA4, you can set up conversion goals to monitor user touchpoints on your website. For example, you should track how many visitors purchase, enter their information in a contact form, or track abandoned carts. This gives you valuable insight into how your SEO strategy drives desired user actions effectively.
Ahrefs and Semrush are great tools for tracking keyword performance. They can display increases or decreases in your rankings for specific keywords, giving you a clear picture of where your SEO efforts are succeeding and where they may need improvement. These tools also estimate the organic traffic your website receives, helping you measure the reach of your SEO strategy.
Remember, measuring SEO results isn’t just about tracking raw numbers. It’s about interpreting these metrics in the context of your overall business goals and adjusting your strategy based on the data.
What to do if your SEO campaign isn’t working?
If your SEO campaign is not getting the desired results, it might be time to seek the expertise of an experienced SEO agency. A fresh perspective can help identify areas of improvement and devise a more effective strategy.
Before you switch, here are a few helpful steps you can take:
- Read reviews and testimonials: Check reviews and testimonials of potential SEO agencies to learn more about their track record and how they’ve helped other businesses improve their SEO performance.
- Assess their SEO knowledge: Ensure they stay updated with the latest SEO trends and guidelines. An agency well-versed with current SEO practices can provide better results.
- Ask about their strategy: A good SEO agency should be able to explain their strategy clearly, including how they plan to improve your rankings and what metrics they will use to measure success.
- Evaluate their communication: Effective communication is key for a successful partnership. The agency should be responsive and open to discussing your SEO concerns and goals.
Improving SEO performance may require trial and error, but with the right approach and professional guidance, you can achieve success.
Summing up
SEO is a long-term strategy that takes time to generate meaningful results. While the results can take time, the rewards for increased visibility and increases in sales are worth the effort.
If you need help navigating the complexities of SEO or are not seeing the desired results from your current strategy, then get in touch with Warren Digital today.
Our dedicated SEO experts can review your web content, design an effective SEO marketing campaign, and help you reach your business goals more efficiently. Ready to get started? Contact the team at Warren Digital today, and we’ll help you start seeing successful SEO results.