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You’ve heard that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital for businesses to get noticed online, especially when competing with larger companies or companies with an already great web presence.

The amount of content and competition is ever-increasing which makes it more difficult to get found by your target audience. Search Engine Optimization is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. The higher the ranking, the more likely people are to find your website. 

SEO isn’t a one-time thing, it’s an ongoing process that should be incorporated into your marketing budget. The cost of SEO depends on several factors such as the size of your business, your location, and your industry. Keep in mind that SEO is an investment. A well-executed SEO campaign can bring a consistent stream of targeted traffic to your website which can lead to increased sales and ROI. 

Research shows that organic search is responsible for 53.3% of all website traffic. Also, according to Search Engine Watch, organic results fare better than paid ads. 

But what exactly is SEO? And more importantly, how much does it cost?

This guide will explain everything you need to know about the costs of SEO for small businesses. We’ll break down hourly rates, project-based rates, monthly retainers, and offer some final thoughts on pricing. By the end of this article, you’ll have a good understanding of how much you should budget for SEO services.

What Is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines like Google and Bing. The higher the ranking, the more likely people are to find the website.

There are multiple aspects to SEO: on-site SEO, off-site SEO, local SEO, and technical SEO, just to name a few. In this article, we’ll focus on two of them: on-site (or on-page) optimization and off-page optimization. On-page optimization refers to things like title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags. Off-page optimization encompasses activities like link building and social media engagement. The goal of both types of optimization is to improve the visibility of a website so that it can attract more visitors from organic search.

Hourly Rates

Many agencies charge by the hour for their SEO services. Hourly rates can range from $60-$300/hour, depending on the experience level of the agency or freelancer. If you’re working with an agency, it’s likely that they will have a team of people working on your account.

• This is a common SEO strategy for small businesses that are looking to try out SEO.
• This also pertains to small businesses that don’t have much of a budget or those who want to work with an SEO consultant that can help direct their in-house SEO projects.
• The fee is charged monthly and scales with the number of hours worked on campaigns.

Average cost: Hourly rates can range from $60-$300/hour

Project-Based Rates

Another common pricing model for SEO services is project-based pricing. With this pricing structure, you’ll pay a flat fee for a specific project or deliverable. For example, you might pay $500-$2000 for an audit of your website’s current SEO state or $1000-$5000 for keyword research and mapping out a targeted keyword strategy. Project-based pricing can be a good option if you have a specific goal in mind and want to work with an agency or freelancer to achieve that goal within a certain timeframe.

• Companies with large or complex websites may find that project-based pricing is a better fit.
• With this type of project, you’ll most likley work with an SEO agency to set up specific goals and milestones at the beginning.

Average cost: Project rates can range from $500-$10000

Monthly Retainer

The most common pricing model for SEO services is a monthly retainer. With this type of arrangement, you’ll pay a set monthly fee in exchange for ongoing SEO work being done on your behalf. Monthly retainers usually range from $500-$5000/month but can be higher or lower depending on your needs and budget. The advantage of this type of pricing structure is that it provides consistency and predictability for both you and the agency you’re working with.

• An SEO monthly retainer is a contract between an SEO agency and a company.
• A company pays a fixed amount of money each month for SEO services.
• Businesses that need to continue receiving the benefits of SEO services on a monthly basis commonly utilize monthly retainers.

Average cost: Monthly retainer rates can range from $500-$5000/month

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SEO worth it for small businesses?

Yes, SEO is definitely worth it for small businesses. By optimizing your website and content for search engines, you can improve your site’s visibility and drive more traffic to your business.

What is the average cost of SEO?

The average cost of SEO varies depending on the size and complexity of your website, as well as the services you need. Generally, you can expect to pay between $500 and $5,000 per month for professional SEO services.

How much should I pay for local SEO?

Local SEO is typically less expensive than traditional SEO because you only need to optimize for a specific geographic area. You can expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 per month for local SEO services.

What does SEO cost per month?

As mentioned above, the cost of SEO varies depending on the size and complexity of your website, as well as the services you need. Generally, you can expect to pay between $500 and $10,000 per month for professional SEO services.

Can I do SEO on my own?

Yes, you can do some basic SEO on your own by optimizing your website and content for search engines. However, if you want to achieve significant results, you will need to hire a professional SEO consultant or agency.

Can you pay Google for SEO?

No, unfortunately you cannot pay Google for SEO services. However, Google does offer a number of free tools and resources that can help you improve your site’s visibility and ranking in search results.

Closing Thoughts on Pricing

No matter what type of pricing structure you choose, make sure that you understand what deliverables are included in the price before signing any contracts. For example, if you’re paying an hourly rate, ask how many hours per month will be dedicated to your account; if you’re paying a monthly retainer, ask what types of SEO and digital marketing tasks will be included each month; if you’re paying for project-based work, ask about timeline and next steps once the project is complete, etc. Pricing may vary depending on the size of your business or website, but these ranges should give you a general idea of what to expect when shopping around for an agency or freelancer to help with your website’s SEO.

When looking for an SEO agency to help improve your website’s search engine ranking, it’s important to do your research. One way to assess an SEO agency’s capabilities is to ask for case studies and reviews from their past clients. Case studies can provide you with specific examples of how the SEO or Digital Marketing Agency was able to improve their clients’ search engine ranking. Reviews can give you an idea of the quality of the agency’s work and whether they are responsive to their clients’ needs.