If you've finally realized the benefits from inbound marketing this year, then you'll see some outstanding results if you've applied the proper techniques. Regardless, you're still probably wondering one thing after realizing you have deadlines: How long does it take to see results with inbound marketing?
The answer to this question is: you can't expect results overnight. When you consider that inbound marketing attracts customers to you, it's important to remember it's part of a customer journey. With the keyword "journey" in mind, it doesn't mean results in days or even weeks.
Overall, it could take 6 to 12 months to start seeing real results from your conversions. What's important through the process is to keep your leads on this journey so you don't lose them before they become customers.
This works by continually creating quality content combined with other digital marketing techniques to increase interest through the inbound funnel. The best way to keep on top of this is to do a quarterly analysis of how your marketing performs.
Let's look at each stage to give you a better idea of why it takes time to grow inbound marketing.
Allowing Google To Rank Your Content
To get started in your inbound marketing plan, there isn't any better time than now to begin creating content. Whether it's a blog, videos about your services, or general copy on your website, don't waste time creating something with quality and exclusivity.
You've already passed a major hurdle is your content is being found on multiple search engines. Next, pay attention to SEO like using proper keywords and similar optimization techniques to assure your placement on Google stays and moves up in rank.
It takes time for your content to rank on the search engines. If you make a change in your content, it'll take even longer to see the results from organic traffic.
Many call this the "SEO Slog", even if the payoff later is more than worth it. When you're in a hurry for results, try focusing on social media content in the interim to get more immediate responses.
Lead Nurturing
It's worth remembering the exact definition of "nurturing" is "caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something." Doing so takes more time, but is valuable because the end result is a conversion and a potential partnership if you play your cards right.
The lead nurturing process starts at the beginning of the sales funnel and goes all the way past the final sale by continuing to delight your customers once they have closed. This works by creating content addressing pain points and carefully researching your leads so you know what they want. Also, by communicating with them regularly through emails and engaging with them on social media to keep the conversation going.
All your leads are going to convert at different times, depending on how they react to material you create. Keep your content consistent, and then start looking at the true signs of where your inbound marketing is actually working.
What Are The Signs Your Inbound Content Is Effective?
Once your web pages’ start getting indexed on Google and other search engines, you know your inbound marketing plan is successfully underway. When you notice an increase in organic traffic and social reach, you'll also see your recurring efforts begin to pay off.
The same goes for how many subscribers you start getting for your newsletter or blog. To keep your inbound cycle going to interested leads, it's important to publish at least one to three blogs per week of information that educates and solves your lead’s problems simultaneously.
Publishing original content every time isn't always necessary, though creating something exclusive as often as possible can matter in conversion rates. Even so, curating quality content helps fill in on days when you simply don't have time to write something new.
If you have a little patience and a true understanding that good quality business relationships take time, you are on the right track with your inbound marketing. There are a lot of moving parts to digital marketing so it’s important to stay abreast of trends and keep improving while remembering it’s all about your audience.
