Rachel Stephens

Updated in February 2025.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a set of practices that help your business rank higher online so you can better reach potential customers. SEO is a big deal for any business because online searches are still a top way people discover new businesses. 

SEO is changing, and this isn’t just a trend — it’s the biggest shakeup in SEO we've seen in at least five years. The future of SEO is no longer just about ranking on Google or gaining traffic through organic search. It’s about visibility, adaptability and understanding how AI is reshaping how people search for information.

When launching a new website or striving to improve an existing site’s visibility, one of the most common questions is: How long does it take to rank in search results? Understanding what goes into ranking and setting realistic expectations is key to building a successful online presence.

Here’s what you need to know about the timeline for ranking and the various factors that can speed up or slow down the process.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a conversation about your website’s visibility on Google and someone starts throwing around the term "SEO keywords," you might feel your eyes glazing over. It’s easy to think they’re just using jargon that’s hard to follow. Don’t worry — I’m here to break it down for you!

If you already have a website appearing on Google but not ranking as well as you'd like, you're not alone. Many website owners face this challenge, and the solution often lies in refining your SEO strategy. Here are three actionable tips to help your website climb the ranks on Google and attract more organic traffic.