How long Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) takes is one of the most common questions we get asked as SEO Specialists.
The problem with answering that question is that there is no real answer. Although you can achieve high rankings through well-done SEO, it’s impossible to know how long it will take or how long your high rankings will last. If you do come across an SEO Agency that guarantees high rankings (specifically in a short time period) we advise you to steer clear of them.
How Long Might SEO Really Take?
With a well-made SEO Strategy, you can usually expect your website to rank higher in 2-3 months for low-competition keywords and anywhere from 4-12 months for high-competition keywords. It’s important to remember that the time it takes your website to rank higher is dependent on a few factors:
- How strong your competition is
- The amount of good quality backlinks you have
- The content on your website
Even after understanding these factors, there is still no one solution to getting your website to rank higher.
Although ranking higher can still take time, the competitiveness of the keywords you’re targeting can play a major role in how long it takes for you to rank.
For example, a website for a tradesman who serves in a small town will rank higher, quicker compared to an SEO Agency serving in a big city.
We have made a table that shows how long SEO milestones usually take below:

As you can see, achieving “SEO Success” can take quite some time which is why it’s important to hire the right SEO Specialists in Ireland that can offer you the right Monthly SEO Package.