What is Compound SEO?

Compound SEO is a long-term success strategy that takes time, technical work, content creation & more for organic traffic results.

May 14, 2024
What is Compound SEO?

“Compound SEO refers to the cumulative effect of ongoing search engine optimization efforts exponentially increasing organic search visibility and traffic over time. "


Much like the financial concept of compound interest, compound SEO means steady, compounding growth over time through consistent and strategic optimizations. Essentially, it is a long-term strategy designed to continuously improve your website's performance and visibility in search engine results.

Compound SEO, while being a highly rewarding strategy, requires patience and consistency. The most important part to remember is that results often take time to build up. This is because search engines do not instantly index changes made to a website. Instead, search engines periodically crawl every site, indexing new content and noting changes to pre-existing content, to generate search results that are as accurate and up-to-date as possible. 

With our extensive experience in search engine optimization strategies and our comprehensive suite of services, we aim to make SEO easy for you.

Infographic for 20North about the timeline of SEO

Why Compound SEO Takes Time: Playing the Long Game

Though it may be tempting to crave instant gratification and fast results, compound SEO's magic truly lies in its slow and steady growth. If you're looking for rapid, quick wins, you may find yourself asking why SEO takes time. Here are some reasons for this necessary patience.

Understanding the Timeline of SEO 

The most fundamental thing to understand about SEO is that it's an investment—much like planting a tree. You cannot expect a seed to grow into a tree and bear fruits overnight. SEO is a long and ongoing process that requires consistent efforts in the right direction. Therefore, the timeline for SEO can typically range from 3 to 6 months to start seeing optimal results.

Google’s Crawling and Indexing Process 

Search engines use spiders (a type of software) to crawl web pages, initially starting with a list of known web pages. They follow links on these pages to discover new pages to add to their index so that they can be recalled later. Changes made to the website, such as the addition of new pages or modification of existing ones, aren't immediately indexed by these spiders. They are periodically re-indexed, and thus, the results of your SEO efforts can sometimes take time to surface. 

The Compound Effect 

Just like compound interest in the banking world, compound SEO refers to the exponential growth in your results over time. Small, regular improvements continue to build upon themselves, leading to significant growth after a certain point in time. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “compounding effect.” The longer you invest in SEO, the higher the growth and return on your investment. 

When you invest in SEO you are committing to getting a long-term spot on Google’s territory versus buying that spot instantly through ads. 

The many various methods used to attract organic traffic underline why SEO is a long-tail strategy, and consistency is key. The idea is not just to achieve high rankings and increased website traffic but to sustain them over time. This ensures a steady flow of organic search results, improving your online visibility forever. You also want to target quality traffic that may actually be interested in your product or service offerings.

Infographic for 20North showing the many components that go into SEO

The Core Components of Successful SEO

For compound SEO to be successful, the core components within must be executed strategically and precisely, adhering to SEO best practices.

Keyword Research and Optimization

Arguably, the most crucial step in any SEO strategy lies in finding the right keywords. These are the very phrases and terms your potential customers use when searching for products, services, or information. Keyword optimization then involves strategically placing these relevant keywords within your content, from the headers and titles to the body of the text and image descriptions, creating the optimal structure for improved search engine rankings.

Quality Content Strategy

When it comes to a website's content, Google prioritizes updated, relevant, and above all helpful content. Useful, engaging content that provides value to the reader not only enhances your search rankings but also establishes your brand as an industry authority and a reliable source of information. High-quality content, especially blog posts, crafted around identified keywords answers user queries, captures organic visibility, decreases bounce rates, and ultimately helps to build a loyal audience.

Researching & Staying Ahead of Search Engine Algorithms 

SEO is an extremely dynamic field, with search engine algorithms constantly evolving. Staying ahead of these ever-changing algorithms and understanding their metrics can significantly impact your online visibility. It's vital to stay informed about updates and adapt your strategy accordingly to maintain and improve your keyword rankings. We update our strategy regularly as the algorithm changes to represent our clients’ authority in their given spaces and cater to Google’s values.

Implementing Technical SEO

Another essential component on the road to successful SEO is the technical aspect. This mainly includes web design and structure, site speed, mobile-friendliness, site maps, and error management. Technical optimization enhances your site's ranking by ensuring search engines can effectively crawl and index it without obstacles.

Elevating User Experience (UX) 

Search engines like Google prioritize user satisfaction and the overall user journey. Therefore, having an optimized UX design enhances the likelihood of an improved search position. User-friendly navigation, fast loading times, and mobile compatibility are all key factors in offering a superior user experience.

By understanding, implementing, and consistently refining these core components, website owners can see a marked improvement in their website's performance, brand recognition, and online visibility.

20North Marketing: Your Partner in Effective Compound SEO Strategy

While understanding and implementing the strategies for compound SEO might seem overwhelming, the great news is you do not have to do it alone. 20North Marketing specializes in providing premier SEO services, tailored to meet your unique business needs and drive your digital marketing strategies.

1. Knowledge in Keyword Research, On-Page SEO, and Technical SEO

Our team at 20North Marketing is fueled by industry experts who live and breathe SEO. We work meticulously to uncover high-potential keywords that resonate with your target audience, ensuring your website gets noticed by the right people at the right time. Our on-page optimization service aims to elevate your website's appeal to both users and search engines alike, crafting strategically optimized:

  • Title tags
  • Meta descriptions
  • Headers
  • Schema
  • Images
  • And of course, content quality

But our work doesn't end there. We deeply understand the need for technical SEO, ensuring nothing is holding back your site from achieving high search engine rankings and a seamless user experience.

2. Comprehensive Range of Services

Beyond the realm of SEO, we also offer an array of additional services such as Google and Meta Ads each designed to boost your online presence further. We also specialize in insightful reporting and Google Analytics to highlight the strength of your digital marketing efforts. 

3. Holistic Approach

At 20North Marketing, we believe SEO isn't just about driving traffic; it's about attracting the right kind of traffic. Our holistic approach focuses on creating content and keywords that resonate deeply with your target audience. We're not just after quick wins; we aim for continuous, sustainable growth.

Our role as your partner is to demystify SEO, help you understand its value, and leverage its power for your business. 

Key Takeaways

There's no denying that compound SEO is a game-changer in the digital marketing landscape. While it calls for careful attention to multiple facets of SEO and time investment, the gains in organic traffic, brand reputation, and long-term online presence are unmatched. 

Some main points to remember when approaching a compound SEO strategy are:

1. Compound SEO works much like compound interest—the benefits stack up and exponentially grow over time using a compounding effect, creating long-term success and a sturdy foundation for your digital presence.

2. Patience and consistency are key. Search engine optimization is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of optimization and adaptation to evolving search engine algorithms.

3. An effective SEO strategy involves meticulous keyword research, crafting high-quality, valuable content, staying ahead of search engine algorithm updates, implementing technical SEO, and providing optimum user experience.

4. Your success in reaping the full potential of compound SEO is a function of who you partner with on this journey. 20North Marketing brings to you comprehensive, expert-driven SEO services, ensuring you leverage the best of digital marketing strategies and SEO tools.

With the digital landscape growing at a lightning-fast pace, SEO is no longer an option but a necessity. It is an absolute must-have as part of your marketing toolbox. At 20North Marketing, we are committed to helping you navigate the nuances of SEO and making informed, strategic decisions that help you clinch that coveted top spot in search results.

Remember that the journey toward successful SEO is all about playing the long game. Invest now, and reap compounded benefits in time. The best time to invest in SEO would have been twenty years ago, the second best time is today.

Reach out to start building your brand’s SEO plan.

References

Morville, Peter. "User Experience Basics." Usability.gov, https://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/user-experience.html. Accessed 20 April 2024.

Ashford, Kate. "The Life-Changing Magic Of Compound Interest." Forbes Advisor, 28 Mar. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/compound-interest/. Accessed 20 April 2024.

“What Is a Web Crawler? | How Web Spiders Work.” CloudFlare, www.cloudflare.com/learning/bots/what-is-a-web-crawler/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2024.