108: How to Stop Feeling Like an SEO Failure

Summary

In this episode, Meredith's husband addresses common frustrations website owners feel with SEO, likening it to feeling like a failure due to unrealistic expectations. He explains that SEO is a gradual process, much like building a brick house, and encourages focusing on long-term strategies rather than quick fixes. Website owners can improve their SEO efforts by adjusting their mindset, being patient, and recognizing that real success takes time, just as constructing a strong SEO foundation does.

Overcoming the Frustrations of SEO: Patience is Key to Success

Search engine optimization (SEO) can often feel like a long and frustrating journey, especially when your website isn’t appearing at the top of Google search results as quickly as you’d hoped. Many business owners, particularly those new to SEO, often fall into the trap of unrealistic expectations, leading to feelings of failure. However, understanding how SEO truly works can ease your concerns and help you make steady progress over time.

Understanding SEO Expectations

Many website owners approach SEO with the wrong expectations. We live in a fast-paced world where instant gratification is the norm, and SEO is often seen through the same lens. Promises of "quick wins" and overnight success are alluring but not rooted in reality. SEO is more of a long-term investment than a quick fix, requiring continuous effort and patience.

As Meredith's husband points out, the problem often stems from societal influences that emphasize rapid success. We are conditioned to expect quick results, whether it’s in business, fitness, or personal goals. In SEO, however, the road to success is more like building a brick house, where every effort (or brick) contributes to the eventual structure, but no single brick magically completes the house.

Why SEO Takes Time

When it comes to improving SEO, it’s important to recognize that results won’t happen overnight. Search engines like Google consider numerous factors in determining where to rank a website. Even after making SEO improvements, it takes time for search engines to crawl, index, and rank new or updated content. Additionally, the SEO landscape is dynamic, with competitors, algorithm updates, and user behavior constantly shifting.

The following key points from Meredith’s husband highlight why it’s important to adjust expectations for SEO:

• Patience Pays Off: SEO progress is incremental. You’re building a foundation, and while it may take time to see results, consistent effort will eventually lead to success.

• Don’t Obsess Over Rankings: Constantly checking your ranking position can be discouraging. Rankings fluctuate regularly, and a quick jump to the first page can easily be followed by a drop.

• Avoid Comparisons: Comparing your website to others constantly at the top of search results won’t help. You might not notice that competitors change frequently, or that they’ve taken risks that may not lead to lasting success.

Practical Steps to Stay on Course

So how can website owners maintain a healthy approach to SEO? Here are some practical steps to guide your efforts:

• Focus on Building a Strong Foundation: Like building a brick house, each SEO action you take—whether it’s optimizing keywords, creating high-quality content, or earning backlinks—is a building block for long-term success.

• Track Progress with the Right Metrics: Instead of obsessing over rankings, look at other important metrics such as website traffic, engagement, and conversions. These metrics show the broader picture of your SEO efforts.

• Keep Learning and Adapting: Stay ahead of the curve by continually learning about SEO trends and best practices. This will help you make informed decisions and avoid common SEO pitfalls.

The Brick House Approach to SEO

The brick house analogy is a great way to view SEO. It reminds us that no single action will bring about instant success. Instead, success comes from laying one brick at a time, with each brick building on the foundation of your previous efforts. Over time, these bricks will form a solid structure that can withstand the competition and algorithm changes, leading to long-term success in the digital world.

In conclusion, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. By managing your expectations, consistently applying best practices, and viewing SEO as a long-term investment, you’ll avoid frustration and ultimately build a strong foundation for your website’s success.

Resources

Meredith's husband mentions helpful SEO insights in his past blog posts. Check out his blog for more tips on building your SEO strategy.