How Do You Know if Your SEO is Working – is your SEO working?
SEO is all about getting your website to show up higher in search results, making it easier for people to find your content when they search for certain topics. But once you’ve put in the effort, how do you know if all that hard work is paying off?
Understanding whether your SEO is actually working is key to making sure your site gets the visibility it deserves. The thing with SEO is that it’s not an overnight success. It can take a few months—sometimes even up to a year—to start seeing major results.
So, what should you be looking for in the meantime? In this blog, we’ll break down the metrics that can help you track your progress and show you how to check if your SEO is working.
Table of Contents
How Long Does SEO Take?
The time it takes to see search engine result pages depends on how competitive your keywords and market are. On average, you can expect to start seeing progress within 3 to 6 months. However, in highly competitive industries, it might take up to a year.
Many businesses stick with SEO long-term because they know it pays off over time with increased traffic, leads, and sales. When SEO works, it builds a steady flow of visitors to your site, helping your business grow consistently. Patience is key, but the results are worth it in the end.
Can You Predict SEO Results?
Predicting SEO results isn’t easy because there are so many factors at play, like competition, search engine algorithm changes, and shifts in industry trends. While SEO experts can make informed guesses based on data and past performance, nothing is guaranteed.
Therefore, you must set realistic expectations for SEO. By understanding that results can vary, you’ll be better prepared to evaluate whether your SEO efforts are paying off over time.
Key Metrics to Measure SEO Performance
Measuring your SEO performance helps you see how well your strategies are working and how your website ranks on Google. Here are some key metrics to keep an eye on:
1. Organic Traffic
Organic traffic refers to the visitors your site gets from search engines without paid ads. This metric shows how well your pages rank for relevant keywords.
To track it, you can use tools like Google Search Console or paid options like SEMRush and Ahrefs. If your organic traffic is steadily growing, it’s a sign that your SEO efforts are on the right track.
2. Conversion Rate
Your conversion rate measures how many visitors take a desired action, such as signing up for a newsletter, downloading an eBook, or making a purchase.
To calculate the conversion rate, divide the number of conversions by the total number of visitors. A strong conversion rate means your SEO (search engine optimization) is not only attracting traffic but also generating leads or sales.
3. Search Engine & Keyword Rankings
Your search engine ranking shows how often your site appears in search results, while keyword rankings tell you about your position for specific keywords.
The higher you rank, the more likely you are to get organic search traffic. Monitoring these metrics helps you see which keywords are working and where you might need to adjust your strategy.
4. Domain & Page Authority
Domain authority is a score that reflects how likely your site is to rank in search engines. Page authority applies to individual pages.
The higher your authority, the better your chances of ranking. You can check your domain and page authority using tools like Moz’s Domain Authority Checker. High authority generally means more visibility and credibility.
5. Page Speed & Mobile Optimization
Page speed is crucial for user experience. A slow site can increase your bounce rate, where users leave before interacting. Optimizing for mobile is equally important, as most internet users browse on their phones. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help you assess and improve these areas.
6. Relevant & Competitive Keywords
Tracking relevant keywords (specific to your content) and competitive keywords (those your competitors also target) helps you understand how well your site is ranking for important terms.
Using tools like Google Analytics or paid SEO tools, you can monitor your targeted keyword performance and refine your strategy accordingly.
7. Bounce Rate & Time on Site
Bounce rate shows how many visitors leave your site without interacting further, while time on site reveals how long they stay.
A high bounce rate could signal that your content needs improvement or that your site isn’t easy to navigate. However, if your content is meant for quick reads, a high bounce rate may not be an issue.
8. Backlinks & Referral Traffic
Backlinks are links to your site from other reputable websites. Quality backlinks improve your authority and can drive referral traffic to your site. Tracking the growth of your backlinks can show whether your SEO efforts are helping build trust and visibility.
9. Brand Mentions
Effective SEO boosts your company’s visibility, increasing awareness and exposure. As more people discover your brand, you should see a rise in online searches for your company’s name and more mentions as users research and talk about your business.
Best Practices for Measuring SEO Performance
Tracking the right metrics is essential to understanding how well your SEO efforts are working. Here are some key practices to help you accurately measure and refine your SEO performance.
1. Use Google Analytics and Other Tracking Tools
Here’s a quick look at some tools to help you analyze and improve your SEO, ranging from free options to paid subscriptions:
Google Analytics
A free tool offering detailed website traffic stats, user behavior tracking, conversions, and more to monitor your site’s performance.
Google Search Console
A free tool providing insights into your site’s visibility, indexing status, and ranking issues on Google Search.
Ahrefs
A paid tool focused on backlink analysis, offering insights into organic traffic, keyword rankings, and competitor strategies.
SEMrush
A paid tool providing extensive data on keywords, competitors, and SEO health, with features for tracking both organic and paid search performance.
Moz Link Explorer
Part of Moz’s tools, this tool analyzes your backlink profile and domain authority to help improve link-building efforts.
2. Monitor Organic Keyword Rankings Regularly
Consistently tracking your keyword rankings is key to measuring your SEO success and adjusting as needed. If specific pages stop getting clicks, it could be due to changes in Google’s algorithm or stronger content from competitors.
By monitoring your rankings, you can decide if it’s time to update content, add images, optimize for mobile, or use schema markups.
To set this up, choose an SEO tool like Google Search Console, Moz, or SEMRush, and enter the keywords you want to track. Some tools do this automatically, while others let you add keywords manually for tracking.
Why The Progress of SEO Is Hard to Determine
There are three key factors that make it difficult to determine if your SEO efforts are working, and these factors are beyond your control. To succeed, you’ll need to adapt to them.
1. Google Algorithm Changes
Google frequently updates its search algorithm to improve user experience. These changes can affect your rankings, but since most updates target spammy websites, you’re usually safe if you follow modern SEO best practices.
However, because you won’t know exactly when or what will change, your results may fluctuate during these updates. The best way to handle this is by sticking to honest SEO strategies to minimize negative impacts.
2. Competition
Your competitors are also working to improve their SEO, which means rankings can shift as they adjust their strategies.
Since everyone is aiming for the top spot on search results, it can be hard to maintain a consistent position. Changes in competitors’ SEO approaches can lead to fluctuations in your own rankings over time.
3. Searcher Behavior
Google ranks websites based on how users interact with them. If your site provides useful, quality content and a good user experience, you’re more likely to rank higher.
However, changes in how people search and what they look for can influence your SEO results. If searcher behavior shifts, it can affect how well your site performs.
Actionable Insights from SEO Data
Understanding your SEO data is key to improving your website’s performance. Each metric, from organic traffic to the quality of your backlinks, provides insights into how well your SEO efforts are working. Here’s how to turn that data into actionable strategies:
1. Translate Data into SEO Strategy
Look for gaps and opportunities based on your data. If your domain authority is dropping, consider guest posting on reputable sites and adding links to your pages. If traffic is low, it’s best to:
- Identify content gaps
- Optimize meta tags
- Enhance technical SEO
High bounce rates might indicate your content isn’t engaging enough—compare your pages with competitors to see what might be missing.
Examine the quality of your backlinks to find patterns and focus on obtaining high-quality links. Strengthening your outreach and guest posting can help improve your site’s authority and search rankings.
2. Continuous Improvement Cycle for SEO
Use your data to set clear goals and take action. This might involve updating your content, improving mobile usability, or enhancing other aspects of your site based on the insights you gain. After implementing changes, monitor your metrics to see how they impact your performance.
For example, track keyword rankings and conversion rates after adding content with high commercial intent and effective calls to action.
Comparing your performance with competitors can also highlight areas for improvement. Look at their content strategies and see if you can create similar or better content to capture more traffic.
3. Rounding Up
SEO is a long-term effort that pays off with consistent attention to key metrics. Ethical SEO practices build a solid foundation and ensure lasting results, unlike quick fixes that may only provide short-term gains.
By tracking the right metrics and making data-driven adjustments, you’ll enhance your website’s performance and achieve the results you’re aiming for.
Is Your SEO Working as It Should?
Figuring out if your SEO is working means keeping an eye on various metrics and adjusting your strategy based on what you find. Track things like keyword rankings, organic traffic, and backlink quality to see how well your site is doing.
SEO is a long game, so be ready to tweak your approach and be patient for the best results. If you need expert help to boost your SEO, BrandLume has got you covered. Our team creates proven and custom SEO strategies that actually work. Get in touch with us today and let’s help your business flourish!
