There is no question that search engine optimization (SEO) can be extremely beneficial to a financial advisor website. However, the question that many financial advisors ask is how long does it take for SEO to start producing results. This article will answer the how fast question by providing information about what it'll take for your financial advisor website to start ranking in Google's organic results - the best source for your website’s traffic. This is where investors who don’t know your firm find your firm.
A financial advisor website will typically start to see increased organic web traffic from search engines within three to six months. However, it can take several additional months for a site to rank on Google's first page for more competitive keywords that have substantial traffic. That time span is usually necessary because SEO is the equivalent of building a solid foundation for your digital marketing efforts. And, there is a lot of competition out there with similar aspirations.
The good news is that there are several tactics that the right digital marketing agency can use to speed up the process.
Factors that will affect SEO efforts:
- The quality of content on your site - As a financial advisor website owner, you should be aware of Google's search algorithm and what it takes to rank well for organic results. This is important because if you don't have relevant, high-quality content on your website (blog articles, pillar pages, website pages) it will be very difficult to achieve the results you are seeking. What you may not know is Google can track whether its users are opening and reading your content.
- The size of the site - A larger site will typically rank better than a smaller one because it has more content to offer searchers on blogs and Resource Centers.
- How long has your financial advisor website been around? It takes time to establish your presence in Google. And, if Google's algorithm determines that you are trying to game the system, it can make your site close to invisible for keyword-driven searches.
- The number of backlinks that you have - A financial advisor website with more inbound links will rank higher than one without the links in particular when Google's algorithm values those incoming sites as trusted sources.
- The keywords and phrases on a financial advisor website. There are specific search terms that must be targeted to facilitate higher rankings.
Before we go any further, let's discuss the basics:
* What is SEO?
* How long does it take for SEO to work?
* Common misconceptions about SEO.
What Is Search Engine Optimization?
Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO, is a set of procedures that are done with the goal of improving (optimizing) your website content so that it will rank higher in search engines. This can be done by using specific keywords to make sure people find your site when they are looking for information related to a topic you're knowledgeable about or you are the ideal service provider. There are many different strategies and techniques for SEO, but one of the most popular approaches is to include higher traffic keywords in all of your content.
How Long Does It Take for SEO To Work?
The answer to this question depends on a few different factors: how competitive your industry is, what search engine you're targeting, and who's working on ranking it! There are many people that can work on SEO for your site, including you. If you're interested in working on it yourself or hiring a professional to do the work for you, this article will outline what's involved and provide some statistics related to how long it'll take before your website starts ranking when either of these approaches is used.
Common Misconceptions About SEO
One of the most common misconceptions about SEO is that an SEO service provider will give you a set-and-forget solution. This couldn't be further from the truth! The reality is, there's no magic pill for success with SEO and it requires constant attention to detail if you want your website to rank higher in Google's organic search results. Part of the issue is the staggering amount of competition that has the same goals as you.
When it comes to the question "how fast does SEO work," there are a variety of factors that will determine how quickly your website starts ranking in Google.
For example, if you are in an industry like financial advice where competition is fierce, then it's much more difficult for a new site to rank against a site that has been established for a longer period of time.
The best way to determine how long SEO will take is by conducting an audit and creating a content strategy tailored to your industry. Follow this process, for example, your website is optimized for search engines and it should be much easier to rank on Google, Yahoo! or Bing after a few months. This may seem a little vague, but there are other variables that influence your results. Some of the variables are non-controllable, for example where you are located.
In addition to an audit, there are a few other factors that will affect how long SEO takes which include:
* The quality of the content you create. This is especially true if you're targeting a search engine like Google.
* The quality of the content on your competitors' sites. This is also true if you're targeting a search engine like Google.
* How often your website's content gets updated or refreshed. If it doesn't get updated very frequently, then there will be fewer opportunities for indexing by crawlers and it will take longer for your site to rank.
* The amount of content on your website. It pays to have a critical mass so Google knows you are serious about producing a consistent flow of high-quality content.
* And finally, how competitive your industry is. Financial services is one of the most competitive industries on the Internet.
It can be challenging to know just how long it will take for SEO to work for your financial advisor website. If you want help determining how long before your SEO plan should start producing results and driving traffic to your site, contact the specialized team at Paladin Digital Marketing. This firm’s digital marketing experts are ready and willing to partner with you in designing an SEO strategy that produces the traffic your website needs to produce a steady flow of leads. The digital marketing process is complex enough that it pays to hire a team of professionals to do the work for you. Experience counts. The professionals at Paladin Digital Marketing have helped many financial advisors enhance their websites and produce the visibility and traffic that is their source for increased leads that are being converted into revenue-producing clients.
