June 24, 2025
A recent study by Ahrefs revealed that the average page ranking #1 in the search results is five years old and 72.9% of pages in the top 10 are more than three years old.
This may be a daunting figure if you’re new to the world of SEO, but there’s no need to feel defeated before you’ve even begun. When done right, you will typically see results from your SEO efforts within three to six months. However, this timeline can vary from site to site depending on several factors, including your resources, the amount of time you have to invest in SEO, and how much competition there is in your niche.
SEO is a long-term strategy and there are several reasons why SEO can take months to come into effect. The major reason being search engines rely on many different factors when deciding where a page will rank in the SERPs (search engine results pages). This includes your backlink profile, content quality, page experience, core web vitals, keywords, and so much more.
In addition, algorithms have become more complex and are updated frequently to provide users with the best search experience. The adjustments in the way pages are ranked can result in longer timescales for SEO results.
Search engines typically prioritise pages with newer content because this is usually more useful and relevant to users.
While the top-ranking pages may be old, the content has likely been updated to keep the page fresh, relevant, and optimised. So, by focusing on creating evergreen content that can be updated semi-regularly and taking into account the numerous ranking factors, you can set yourself up for future success.
If you’re worried you’re not seeing the results you’d hoped for, or you want expert guidance with SEO, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
