SEO services can range from as low as $200 for a specific task like a Google My Business listing setup to over $10,000 on a monthly retainer focusing on on-page SEO updates, off-page SEO, backlinking, content creation, and more.
If you’re a business owner looking to improve your website’s search engine ranking on Google, you’ve researched what SEO is. You’ve probably gone as far as trying to find an SEO agency not based in a foreign country. We know small business owners who’ve tried to find small ways to do it themselves.
While SEO can be a powerful tool for driving traffic and increasing revenue, it’s important to understand the costs involved in an SEO campaign.
General SEO Pricing Models
Before we dive into the specifics of SEO pricing, it’s important to understand the different pricing models that SEO companies use. There are three main pricing models that you’re likely to encounter.
Hourly SEO Services
There is no real way to get ‘cheap SEO.’ An hourly pricing model is the closest you’ll get. With this SEO pricing model, you pay an SEO agency or freelance SEO specialist a set hourly rate for their time working on your project. This can be a good option for smaller projects or businesses wanting to try out SEO on a limited budget.
Monthly Retainer SEO Services
With a monthly retainer, you pay a fixed fee each month for a set number of work hours or a select number of keywords. This pricing model is often used for ongoing SEO campaigns, where the SEO company will be working on your project for an extended period of time.
Any agency you approach will have multiple SEO packages to choose from. Our agency has multiple packages, but every client has specific needs and goals. Therefore, we will consider add-ons or even bundling SEO work with other digital marketing options.
Project-Based SEO Services
With a project-based pricing model, you pay a fixed fee for a specific SEO project. This pricing model is often used for smaller, one-off projects. Project-based SEO options include:
- A comprehensive SEO Audit
- SEO Strategy Development
- Blog Content Optimization
- Local SEO Enhancement – Google My Business and other local business listing options.
- YouTube Video Content Enhancement
Factors That Affect SEO Cost
Several factors can affect the cost of SEO. Some of the main factors include:
- Industry Competitiveness: The more competitive your industry is, the more difficult and time-consuming it will be to achieve a high search engine ranking. This means that SEO for highly competitive industries, such as legal or healthcare, will generally be more expensive than for less competitive industries.
- Geographical Location: The cost of SEO can also vary depending on your geographical location. SEO services in major cities like New York or Los Angeles are typically more expensive than in smaller towns or rural areas.
- Website Size and Complexity: The size and complexity of your website will also affect the cost of SEO. Larger websites with more pages and complex navigation will generally require more time and effort to optimize.
- Level of SEO Expertise: The level of expertise required for your SEO project will also affect the cost. More complex projects, such as international SEO or technical SEO, may require a higher level of expertise and, therefore a higher cost.
- SEO Goals: Finally, the specific goals of your SEO campaign will also affect the cost. For example, if you’re looking to achieve a top ranking for a highly competitive keyword, it will likely take more time and effort than if you’re targeting less competitive keywords.
SEO Cost Breakdown
So, what can you expect to pay for SEO services? The cost of SEO can vary widely depending on the factors we’ve discussed. However, here are some general guidelines for SEO pricing:
- An average hourly rate for SEO can range from $75 to $200 per hour.
- Monthly SEO retainers typically range from $750 to $10,000 per month.
- Project-based SEO services can range from $1,000 to $30,000.
It’s important to remember that these are just general guidelines, and the actual cost of your SEO project may be higher or lower depending on the specific factors involved. Some include the project’s complexity, industry competition, and keywords volume.