If you’re the proud owner of a brand new website created by a managed service provider or MSP, you want to know when your website will start attention, or start ranking on a search engine like Google.
Let’s talk about MSPs, the reasons a website ranks, about how long it will take it to start ranking, and what ranking really means.
How Does Google Rank Websites?
Information on Google’s ranking algorithm is secret, it’s true. Then how do we figure out how Google ranks websites? We know that about 97% of people never click past the first page of Google search engine results. That’s right -- only 3% of us even glance at page 2. (Was there a page 2? What about a page 3?) The magic number -- businesses want their websites to rank in the first three results when they pop up on Google, and that’s no mean feat.
Google ranks websites by consistently changing its algorithm, which automatically adapts to give users the best search experience without allowing the manipulation of search results. Google is basically trained to consider a very large number of ranking signals before displaying the results a searcher is looking for. This raises the likelihood that your search will turn up what you want when you type in “Chocolate mousse,” and only put moose molded from chocolate on the second or third page of search results (which we all know you’ll never look at anyhow).
Google bases its answers on know queries, do queries, website queries, and visit-in-person queries, which are the most commonly asked queries. Google’s mobile search engine is also designed to perform based on whether you just want to know something, where you want to go, what you want to do right now, and helping you buy something you need or want. Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s the magic question:
When Will My MSP Website Rank on Google?
I’d love to give you a simple answer here, but if it was that simple, everyone’s website would consistently rank on Google, which we all know isn’t possible. It depends on a few different things, such as: how long has your business been around? How long have you had your domain? How recognizable is your website domain or your brand? How many people are searching for it or will recognize it when they see it?
A new MSP website consistent, excellent, and engaging blogs and content will probably take an average of 35 weeks to see 90% of optimal traffic. When we say “optimal traffic,” that doesn’t mean this is how long your website will take to appear in the top three of the Google search term you are going for; just that you should be seeing 90% of your website’s optimal traffic within this timeframe. If your domain name has been around for a while and people recognize it, you may see optimal traffic in about 18 weeks
Why Does My Google Website Ranking Fluctuate?
This is another good question. If you’re keeping a weather eye on your Google website rankings and notice sudden, seemingly unprovoked dips in rankings, know that this is utterly normal. These ups and downs are actually a part of Google’s algorithm and are not something you should worry about. While your MSP is changing things on your website, the algorithm is forced to adjust, creating change. Some other reasons your website ranking may change:
The algorithm was updated
- You updated your website content
- Your competitors moved their websites
- Your website is new
- Your links are low quality
You have little control over most of these issues, and if your links are low quality, you’re with the wrong MSP. Take control of your website ranking, trust that a reliable MSP will manage it well for you, and rest easy.
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