You've filled out your Google profile, asked for your first customer reviews, published a website, but you still don't appear on Google. Rest assured, this is completely normal.
Unlike a paid advertising campaign that works like a light switch (you pay = you are visible), organic SEO requires a little patience.
Let's look at why it takes time and what you can expect.
🌿 SEO is a plantation, not a race
Imagine your business visibility as a fruit tree. If you plant it today, you won't have fruit tomorrow morning. You have to water it, give it sunlight, and wait for it to take root.
For Google, it's exactly the same. The search engine needs time to:
- Discover your information.
- Verify that it is consistent everywhere on the web.
- Trust you by comparing your activity to that of your competitors.
It is this accumulated trust that will allow you, eventually, to outrank your competitors sustainably.
⏳ What is the average timeframe to see the first effects?
This is the question every entrepreneur asks. While there is no single answer, we generally observe three phases in SEO effects:
- The first weeks (Weeks 1 to 4): This is the technical phase. Google takes your information into account (name, address, phone number).
- Gaining momentum (Months 2 to 6): By posting regularly and collecting reviews, you start climbing the rankings. You appear on more specific searches.
- Maturity (After 6 months): This is often where the magic of SEO happens. Your positioning rises and you attract clients continuously thanks to organic search.
If you want to know what to do concretely during these phases, we have published a complete guide on local SEO.
Key Figures
According to a study conducted by Ahrefs (a recognized analysis tool), only 5.7% of websites rank in the top 10 of search results less than a year after their publication.
What this means for you: Don't get discouraged if you're not number 1 in two months. Perseverance is the norm, not the exception.
⚙️ What does your speed of progress depend on?
The time it takes to be visible depends on several factors specific to your situation:
- Competition: Being the only plumber in a village is faster than becoming the best Italian restaurant in a major city.
- Your starting point: A business that has existed for 10 years with a history often has a head start over a brand new creation.
- Your consistency: This is the secret. It is better to spend 15 minutes a week all year round than 5 hours just once.
Concrete Example
Let's take the example of Sophie, a sophrologist in Manchester.
At her launch, she was invisible on the map. There were already 20 competitors installed.
Her action: She didn't try to revolutionize everything. She simply posted an update once a week on her Google profile and systematically asked her happy patients for a review.
Result: Nothing visible the first month. But after 4 months, she entered the top 3 results on the map and now receives 3 to 5 qualified calls per week thanks to that.
📈 Why patience is your best asset
While organic SEO is slower than advertising, it is also much more profitable in the long run.
When you stop paying for an ad, you disappear instantly. With local SEO, you build a digital asset. Once Google identifies you as a trusted reference in your neighborhood, you naturally appear to new customers.
And if you still feel like you're stuck, check out the 6 common mistakes blocking your local SEO.
🚀 In summary: stay the course!
Don't focus on your ranking every morning. Focus on what you control: the quality of your services and the consistency of your communication.
The results will come to reward your seriousness. And if you don't know where to start, don't hesitate to check our starter guide.
Do you want to know if your efforts are starting to bear fruit? Begonia.pro allows you to track your progress simply and tells you what to do to speed up the process, step by step.
