How Long Does it Take for an Article to Rank on Google? (2024)

I recently embarked on a journey to share my writing with the world. Sometimes it feels like shouting into the void. Many writers insist this is part of the process and that you should trust it, but I often wonder: Does the process know we are trusting it? This uncertainty has driven me to explore ways to produce useful articles that reach people, rather than feeling like I’m just shouting into the void.

Then I came across the term SEO — Search Engine Optimized content. To be seen quickly, you need to optimize your work so that people that are actually looking for it can actually find it. It’s a mixture of trusting the algorithms — the angels of computing — and believing that someone out there is looking for what you’re sharing. Hopefully, your work will be found, engaged with, and shared. The more this happens, the stronger your page grows, which helps you rank higher in search results and probably your name or brand becomes a familiar name to the people.

But I have a question: Is it possible to rush the process and get in front of the audience faster? This is what I am about to explore.

This led me to the following question:

So apparently, based on what I have seen online, it takes between 3–6 months to see significant ranking improvements on Google. I needed to know what dictates this specific timeline.

Here are my finding:

The time it takes to rank on Google can vary widely depending on several factors.

Here are 8 key points to consider:

1. Competition and Niche: If you are targeting highly competitive keywords, it may take longer to rank compared to targeting niche or less competitive keywords.
2. Quality of Content: High-quality, well-researched, and valuable content that addresses user intent rank faster.
3. Domain Authority: Websites with higher domain authority (DA) tend to rank faster. New websites or those with lower DA may take longer.
4. Backlinks: Quality backlinks from reputable sites can significantly boost your ranking. The more authoritative the backlinks, the better.
5. On-Page SEO: Proper use of keywords, meta tags, headers, and internal linking can speed up the ranking process.
6. User Experience: Google considers factors like page load speed, mobile-friendliness, and user engagement metrics (e.g., bounce rate, time on site).
7. Frequency of Updates: Regularly updating your content can signal to Google that your site is active and relevant, potentially improving your ranking speed.
8. Technical SEO: Proper site structure, use of sitemaps, and resolving any technical issues (e.g., broken links, duplicate content) are crucial.

In general, for a new website, it can take anywhere from three to six months to start seeing significant ranking improvements. However, this timeline can vary:

• Short-term (1–3 months): For low-competition keywords and well-optimized content, you might see initial ranking improvements.
• Medium-term (3–6 months): Steady progress, especially with consistent content updates and backlink acquisition.
• Long-term (6+ months): More competitive keywords and higher domain authority goals can take longer to achieve.

So i am reminded that SEO is a long-term strategy, and patience and persistence are key. Regularly monitoring your progress and adjusting your strategy based on performance data is essential for sustained success.

Using platforms like LinkedIn and Medium can impact the time it takes to rank on Google, primarily because these platforms have high domain authority.

Here’s how leveraging LinkedIn and Medium can affect your ranking timeline:

LinkedIn:

• High Domain Authority: LinkedIn has a high domain authority, which means content published here can rank quickly on Google, often within a few days to a few weeks.
• Network Effect: Sharing your articles on LinkedIn can result in quick engagement (likes, comments, shares) from your professional network, boosting visibility and potentially accelerating ranking.
• SEO Optimized Profiles: Optimizing your LinkedIn profile and posts with relevant keywords can enhance discoverability both within LinkedIn and on Google.

Medium:

• High Domain Authority: Similar to LinkedIn, Medium also has high domain authority. Articles published on Medium can rank on Google relatively quickly, often within a few days to a few weeks.
• Built-In Audience: Medium has a large and active reader base, which can result in immediate engagement and shares, potentially speeding up the ranking process.
• Tagging System: Utilizing relevant tags on Medium can improve the discoverability of your articles within Medium and on Google.

Factors Influencing Ranking Timeline on LinkedIn and Medium:

1. Quality of Content: High-quality, engaging, and well-optimized content can rank faster.
2. Engagement Levels: Higher engagement (likes, shares, comments) on your articles can boost their visibility and ranking speed.
3. Keyword Optimization: Proper use of relevant keywords can enhance the chances of your content being discovered by search engines.
4. Frequency of Posting: Regularly posting content can help maintain visibility and relevance, potentially speeding up the ranking process.

Estimated Timeline:

• Short-term (1–4 weeks): Due to the high domain authority of LinkedIn and Medium, you can see initial ranking improvements relatively quickly, often within a few days to a few weeks.
• Medium-term (1–3 months): Continued engagement and consistent posting can help maintain and improve rankings over a few months.
• Long-term (3+ months): For more competitive keywords or topics, it might take longer to achieve and sustain top rankings, even on high-authority platforms.

As you begin your writing journey, Medium and LinkedIn can be excellent platforms to start building an audience. From there, you can direct traffic to your website. While a website is a long-term game for many, media spaces where people already actively engage, like Medium and LinkedIn, provide a faster way to gain attention. This approach can organically create traffic to your page.

Rodger that!