Local SEO results appear on two timelines. Basic Google Business Profile fixes—updating hours, categories, adding photos, collecting your first 10-15 reviews—can boost visibility in 2-4 weeks. These are low-hanging fruit that signal freshness to Google. The heavier lifting takes longer. Climbing into the top 3 map pack for moderately competitive terms usually requires 3-6 months of consistent work: building citations across 40-60 directories, earning quality local backlinks, publishing location-specific content, and accumulating 30+ authentic reviews. In competitive verticals like personal injury law, dentistry, or real estate in Ottawa or Toronto, expect 6-12 months before you crack page one organically and secure a stable map pack position. Timeline factors include your starting point, competition density, and execution quality. A brand-new business with zero online presence needs more runway than an established company optimizing an existing foundation. A plumber in a small Ontario town might rank in 8 weeks; a downtown Toronto HVAC company could take 10 months against 20+ aggressive competitors. What slows things down: inconsistent NAP data across the web, thin or duplicate content, review velocity that looks unnatural, and low-authority backlink profiles. Google's local algorithm updates also cause temporary flux—we've seen clients drop 4-5 positions overnight, then recover within 3 weeks as the dust settles. At Ottawa SEO, we set client expectations around the 90-day mark for initial traction and 6 months for measurable ROI. We front-load the technical work in month one, then layer in content and link acquisition through month six. Clients who pause efforts after 2-3 months rarely see compounding returns. Local SEO isn't a switch you flip; it's a compounding asset that pays dividends once it hits critical mass. Track GMB insights weekly, organic rankings monthly, and lead volume quarterly to gauge real progress beyond vanity metrics.