You need an SEO when your website isn’t ranking, traffic isn’t converting, or competitors consistently outrank you. It’s also essential during website launches, redesigns, or when your business growth has plateaued.
Let’s be honest—most business owners don’t wake up thinking, “I need an SEO expert today.”
It usually starts with something else.
Your website isn’t getting traffic.
Leads have slowed down.
Or worse—you search your own service on Google… and your competitors are everywhere.
Here’s the thing: SEO isn’t something you “add later.” It becomes critical at specific moments in your business journey. Let’s break this down in a practical way so you can decide if it’s the right time for you.
Why is my website not showing up on Google?
If your website isn’t showing on Google, it’s usually due to poor keyword targeting, weak page structure, missing SEO basics, or lack of authority signals like backlinks and content relevance.
If your business doesn’t appear when someone searches for:
- Your service + city
- Your brand name
- Your core offerings
…then you don’t just need SEO—you’re already losing business.
We’ve worked with businesses that had great-looking websites but zero visibility. The issue wasn’t design—it was structure. No keyword targeting, no clear page focus, no signals for Google.
Once those basics were fixed, rankings started moving.
If Google can’t understand your website, it won’t rank it.
Why am I getting traffic but no leads?
You’re getting traffic but no leads because your content is targeting informational searches instead of high-intent keywords, or your pages lack clear conversion paths.
This one frustrates a lot of business owners.
You might see:
- Traffic increasing
- Blog visits growing
- Impressions going up
But leads? Still low.
Here’s the thing…
This is usually not a traffic issue—it’s a search intent issue.
A common pattern:
- Informational blogs ranking
- No service-focused pages
- Weak or missing CTAs
Simple example:
Ranking for “what is SEO” brings readers.
Ranking for “SEO company in Ahmedabad” brings clients.
The goal isn’t more traffic—it’s the right traffic.
Should I hire an SEO before launching a website?
Yes, hiring an SEO before launching a website helps ensure proper structure, keyword mapping, and technical setup, preventing ranking drops after launch.
They focus on:
- Design
- Branding
- Layout
And skip SEO during development.
After launch? Rankings drop.
Why?
- No keyword mapping
- Poor URL structure
- Missing headings
- Slow loading pages
Fixing SEO after launch takes more time, effort, and cost.
This is one stage where bringing in SEO early makes a massive difference.
Why are my competitors ranking higher than me?
Competitors rank higher because they have stronger content, better keyword targeting, higher-quality backlinks, and clearer site structure aligned with search intent.
Search your main service.
If you see the same competitors again and again, that’s not random.
They’ve built stronger SEO signals.
From what we’ve seen while working on multiple client projects at Thanksweb, top-ranking pages usually win because they:
- Cover the topic in depth
- Match search intent better
- Have stronger backlinks
- Are structured clearly for Google
Where most businesses go wrong:
They make small changes and expect big ranking jumps.
SEO is not about tweaks. It’s about building overall authority.
Your Rankings Dropped Suddenly
This is where things get serious.
If you notice:
- Traffic dropping
- Rankings disappearing
- Pages not indexing
There’s usually a deeper issue.
It could be:
- Algorithm updates
- Duplicate or thin content
- Technical errors
We’ve seen cases where businesses lost a huge portion of traffic just because of content quality issues or indexing problems.
This isn’t something to ignore—you need to diagnose it properly.
You’ve Hit a Growth Plateau
Everything feels stable… but stuck.
- Traffic isn’t growing
- Leads are consistent but not increasing
- Ads are doing most of the work
Here’s the thing…
SEO becomes powerful when you want long-term, scalable growth.
At this stage, the focus usually shifts to:
- Expanding keyword coverage
- Building topical authority
- Improving internal linking
- Optimising conversion paths
This is where SEO starts compounding.
You Run an E-commerce or Multi-Service Business
The more pages you have, the more SEO complexity increases.
You’re dealing with:
- Product or service duplication
- Category structure
- Indexing issues
Common mistakes businesses make:
- Using supplier descriptions
- Ignoring schema
- Poor internal linking
Without structured SEO, most pages won’t rank—even if your offerings are strong.
You Don’t Have Time to Learn SEO Yourself
Let’s be practical.
SEO today involves:
- Technical audits
- Content strategy
- Continuous updates
And it’s always evolving.
From experience, most business owners start learning SEO—but struggle to stay consistent.
The smarter move is often focusing on your business while experts handle growth.
So… Do You Need an SEO Right Now?
Quick self-check:
- You’re not ranking for your services
- You’re getting traffic but no leads
- You’re launching or redesigning a website
- Competitors dominate search results
- Growth has slowed
If you said yes to even two of these, it’s probably time.
Final Thought
SEO isn’t instant. And it’s not a one-time task.
But when done right, it builds:
- Consistent traffic
- Better quality leads
- Long-term visibility
Businesses that invest early tend to rely less on ads over time—and grow more sustainably. That’s something we consistently observe across projects handled by Thanksweb.
FAQ’s
1. How do I know if my business needs SEO or ads?
Ads give quick results. SEO builds long-term visibility and reduces dependency on paid traffic.
2. How long does SEO take to work?
Typically 3–6 months, depending on competition and your website’s current state.
3. Can I handle SEO myself?
You can manage basics, but scaling requires deeper expertise and consistency.
4. What’s the biggest mistake businesses make?
Targeting keywords without understanding search intent.
5. Is SEO worth it for local businesses in India?
Yes. Local searches bring high-intent users who are ready to take action.
[ Don’t forget to read: How to Choose the Right SEO Agency? ]