Weeks 1–4: setup and audit
Most of the work happens but nothing visible moves. Don't panic.
Weeks 6–12: local-pack lift
For local businesses, this is when you start seeing map-pack movement and the first new enquiries from "near me" searches.
Months 4–6: organic traffic shifts
Pages start ranking for the keywords they were targeted at. Real organic traffic begins arriving.
Months 6–12: compound
Authority builds. Pages move up. New content earns rankings faster. This is where SEO starts to feel like compound interest.
