Timelines depend on starting point and objectives.
Starting from nothing (no website, no online presence, no existing audience) means building foundations first. Getting a professional website live, establishing basic SEO, and creating initial content typically takes 2-3 months before meaningful traffic appears. First leads from organic search usually appear 4-6 months in, assuming consistent effort.
With existing foundations (working website, some traffic, established brand), results come faster. Paid advertising can generate leads within weeks. Improvements to existing SEO or conversion rates might show impact in 1-2 months.
Other variables matter: sector competition (legal services take longer than local trades), budget (more investment accelerates timelines), and how "results" is defined. Brand awareness differs from lead generation, which differs from closing sales.
Quick wins exist. Fixing obvious website problems, launching targeted paid campaigns, or optimising existing traffic for conversions can show impact quickly. But sustainable growth through content, SEO, and reputation building takes 6-12 months to gain real momentum.
Agencies promising results in 30 days are typically either selling paid advertising (which stops when spending stops) or overpromising.
