How long does it take to rank on Google?

Great, every SEO's favourite difficult to answer question. Right up there with "Are you enjoying your food?" from the waiter, five seconds after taking your first bite.

Honestly, why can’t people ask questions like “Shall we get takeaway?” or “Would you like to go home early today?”. Life would be so much simpler.

So, how long does it take to rank on Google?

If you asked me (or any other SEO) the answer would probably be:

“It all depends, because: reasons.”

And that isn’t because there isn’t a correct answer, it’s because there isn't a "one size fits all" answer for everyone. And even if there was, that answer could quickly change depending on the actions of local competition and Google.

I’d then normally conclude the conversation by muttering something about “how long is a piece of string?” and “Don’t ever work in SEO” before heading home for a good cry.

But wait, someone has answered the question... sort of

So last year Ahrefs attempted to tackle this very subject with the aptly named article: How long does it take to rank in Google?

But despite their best efforts, the 700-word article (with 7 different graphs) eventually admits to not having a definitive answer.

What it did do though is provide some thought provoking findings, which Ellie Summers from The Website Group has brilliantly illustrated in the infographic below.

We recommend checking it out as it perfectly summarises the article with minimal technical jargon. And if you prefer, you can also download Ellie's higher resolution version by clicking here:

Need assistance with your SEO?

If you need help with your SEO then our local SEO Service should be your next port of call. We've helped lots of businesses just like yours to achieve a greater presence online. To find out more give us a call on 03330 145 045.