SEO is compound interest for attention

Most founders treat SEO as a tap: spend money, get traffic. Turn it off, traffic stops.

But that’s not how it works. SEO is more like compound interest. Early efforts feel invisible. Six months in, you’re wondering if it’s working at all.

Then the curve bends. Old content starts ranking. New content ranks faster because of existing authority. Internal links create rising tides.

The compounding effect means:
- Year 1: Feels like nothing
- Year 2: Noticeable traffic
- Year 3: Traffic becomes a moat

This is why most startups fail at SEO. They expect advertising returns on an investment timeline.

The patient ones win.