Updated 13-Mar-2023
This article discusses digital marketing results and how soon should businesses expect results. Looking for quick results with digital marketing? Snooping around for “hacks” that can boost your sales and improve lead generation? First, let’s demystify a few things. You cannot get immediate results in digital marketing. If you are in a rush to see results, digital marketing (and just marketing in general) is not for you.
If you have heard stories of quick turnarounds believe that links can be manipulated, content can be automated, and other search engine optimization tactics can be used – know that someone is probably misleading you. Though these tactics assure quick results, they are not well-respected practices in the industry. In fact, the penalty for indulging in black-hat SEO (yes, that’s what they are called) is severe so much so that your website can be banned for life!
But if you want the real deal, you must be patient. The real customers will eventually come, the conversions will be long-lasting, and the revenue generated will also be for the long term. All this can happen with digital marketing but only when you invest in meaningful strategies. So, if you are asking how long to see digital marketing results – understand that it takes time. It takes a lot of time.
Digital Marketing Means Long-Term Investment
An important thing to understand about digital marketing is that it isn’t a one-time thing. If you are here, you must stay committed for the long haul.
It takes both effort and expertise to ace digital marketing. To be successful, you must focus on long-term strategies instead of relying on quick fixes. This means that when you invest in digital marketing, you must plan well for the future.
If you are in touch with an agency that is promising you quick results, be wary of their promises. They are possibly employing black-hat SEO tactics. This isn’t something you should get involved with – no matter how much you want the quick marketing results.
It Will Be Months Before You See Your Efforts Paying Off
Yes, you read that right. It takes at least 9-12 months – but most often at least 6 months – to see some traction in the right direction for your digital marketing efforts (especially SEO). We like to map things out for an 9-12 month duration, as that is when you can really begin to reap all rewards of your marketing efforts. During this intervening time, you must stick to your strategy. But, it can take longer to see meaningful results if you are not employing an all-around strategy. From back-linking to regularly posting relevant content to continuously improving user experience – you must employ many solutions to get maximum results within the first 12 months.
Factors That Determine How Quickly You See Results
Though we say that it can take you 9 to 12 months to see results, the time it takes actually depends on several factors. Your budget, the agency you employ, your industry, and your online competitors all play a crucial role in the turnaround time here. If all align, the results will start showing within a few months. If it’s a shooting-in-the-dark approach, it can take years to see any meaningful results. So, what are these factors that can determine digital marketing results?
#1 Your Reputation
How well are you recognized by Google and other search engines will determine your digital marketing success. If you are new to the game, it will take you more than six months to see any results but if you have already earned some level of trust and credibility, the journey may be easier. Remember that you cannot alter your reputation overnight, especially in the eyes of the search engine giants (Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo).
#2 Competition Within Your Industry
Competition within your industry will largely decide your digital marketing fate. If your competitors have a strong presence then it will be a tough journey for you. In such a case, your aim must be to outbid their rankings and presence. For that, you need not be perfect but must strive to continuously become better over time.
Remember, that if the product or service you are offering is poor, any amount of digital marketing efforts will not show results. On the other hand, if you have a strong product or service, you can use digital marketing to reach out to new people and convert them into paying customers.
#3 Budget You Allocate for Digital Marketing
Oftentimes, businesses fail to realize the magnitude of the commitment that digital marketing demands. If you want your campaign to be successful, you must be willing to allocate more funds over the long term. The more money you put into your digital marketing campaign the results are likely to come faster because more work hours are committed to your campaign.
#4 Area of Focus
Digital marketing isn’t just one thing. It is a combination of using multiple solutions – handled by a team – all at the same time. If you focus on using just one solution, you risk jeopardizing the entire campaign. For example, if you only use PPC campaigns and think it is enough to get you leads, see conversions, and more revenue – you must understand that once you stop the advertising campaign, your business will be adversely affected. However, if you use multiple solutions such as PPC, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, etc. at the same time, the results will be more long-lasting.
Join Hands with A Competent Digital Marketing Agency
For your digital marketing efforts to be successful, you need to join hands with a competent marketing agency – one that understands your needs and assists in achieving your goals.
Cyrusson Inc. is just the digital marketing agency for you. As a boutique digital marketing agency, we aim to empower small and mid-sized businesses to find their foothold in the competitive digital ecosystem. Since we have been around for some time now, we understand the changing ecosystem completely.
We offer a holistic marketing strategy that is based on achieving personalized goals. We have specialized departments for each marketing function such as –
- Digital Ads Team
- Search Engine Optimization Team
- Listings Team
- Social Media Marketing Team
- Content Writing Team
- Web Design Team
If you are looking for a holistic approach to your marketing needs, contact us today. Let’s discuss how best we can improve your digital marketing presence. Book an appointment or call us. We will reach back to you immediately.