To improve their online visibility and increase patient traffic, healthcare providers need medical SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Medical practitioners, however, may have difficulty understanding the timeline and expectations of SEO results. Using multiple perspectives and relevant statistics, this article provides insight into how long medical SEO takes.
Understanding the Changing Landscape of SEO
The goal of SEO was to find a few high-traffic keywords to drive website traffic. However, natural language search and tools like Siri and Google Now have made search queries more conversational and detailed. Rankings for long-tail keywords are now more important because they generate high traffic.
Timing Perspectives:
Many SEO companies claim that SEO efforts typically take 4 to 6 months to show results. However, this is just the beginning, and the results will grow. Medical SEO may take up to 12 months or longer to show its full impact.
Factors Influencing the Timeline:
Several factors impact the duration it takes for medical SEO to work effectively. These factors include the website’s age, previous SEO efforts, website health, content volume, link profile, and other SEO considerations. Each website is unique and begins the SEO journey from a different starting point, leading to varied timelines for results.
Timeline:
Although timelines and results for medical SEO can vary, the following is a plausible scenario:
In the first month, keywords will be researched, and strategies will be developed. Research and discovery can lead to the start of technical changes.
As part of Month 2 of the SEO program, start implementing technical SEO modifications based on the audit of the website. The comprehensive overhaul of the website may take some time, and it will take some time for rankings to begin to show the impact of the changes.
Month three focuses on content creation, such as articles, FAQs, and blogs. Although rankings could improve by the end of the month, conversions may not be evident just yet.
As we enter month four, we continue to create content and optimize the technical aspects of our website. Rankings, traffic, and lead generation should finally start to increase, albeit not at their peak.
The fifth month will focus on social media management to increase traffic and link building. A growing link profile and an increase in leads will indicate the effectiveness of SEO.
In the sixth month, consider conversion rate optimization to enhance the conversion of website visitors into leads and sales. Maintain content creation and explore additional creative strategies specific to the medical field to sustain growth.
The goal of medical SEO is to get visible results over time. While SEO companies usually suggest 4 to 6 months as a starting point for visible results, it is essential to note that the impact of SEO grows over time as well. Websites that commit to a comprehensive SEO strategy for 6 to 12 months or longer will gain more online visibility, more web traffic, and a higher conversion rate.
Although results may taper off after a certain point, maintaining the obtained results should still be prioritized for ongoing success. Medical practitioners should understand that SEO is a valuable long-term marketing tactic offering one of the industry’s highest ROIs.
To learn more about the timeline of SEO effectiveness, you can refer to this Forbes article by Joshua Steimle: How Long Does SEO Take To Start Working