The Average Cost of SEO: What to Expect for Your Business

Are you looking for the right SEO budget for your business? You need to consider the cost of SEO services, as well as the return on investment (ROI). 

Fortunately, there are tools like an SEO cost calculator that can help you determine how much to allocate to SEO. This calculator takes into account factors such as your current position in the search engine results pages (SERPs), how fast you want to make progress, and the competition in your industry. It then provides a customized budget recommendation based on your input. This can help you create a budget that fits your needs and goals in the most cost-effective way possible. 

However, it’s important to note that the cost of SEO services varies greatly, depending on the agency or freelancer you hire and the plan you choose. Generally, small and midsize companies can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 per month on an SEO project. For larger companies, costs can be even higher. If you’re not sure how much to spend on SEO, it’s best to seek expert advice. An experienced SEO agency or consultant can provide insight into the best strategies and resources to get the highest ROI on your SEO budget. They can also help you develop a budget and pricing plan that fits your business’s needs and goals.

What Costs To Expect

Expectations and reality often differ when it comes to SEO services. Many business owners believe that they can get great results with a minimal investment. However, the reality is that SEO takes time, effort, and money to execute properly. In order to get the highest return on investment, it is important to understand the cost of SEO services and the factors that determine the pricing model. SEO costs can range from $1,500 to $30,000 a month, depending on the type of service, the targeted keywords, the size of the business, and the SEO provider. 

There are several pricing models available, including ongoing monthly SEO, one-time projects, fixed contracts, hourly consulting, and copywriting services. Smaller businesses may be able to get away with spending less on SEO services, with a range of $100 to $2,000 per month. However, it is important to remember that in order to get the best ROI, experienced professionals should be hired. With the right agency, businesses can benefit from the latest technology, comprehensive reports, and ongoing optimizations that ensure their strategies are constantly driving results.

What Determines The Price Of SEO

The cost of SEO heavily depends on the business itself and the goals they are trying to achieve. Depending on the size of the business, the scale of the project, the chosen SEO pricing model, the current SEO performance, the timeline, and the tools and software needed all play a part in the overall cost of SEO. For example, a large enterprise may need a more customized approach to their SEO campaign and therefore require more resources than a small business. 

Additionally, the experience level of the agency or consultant and their location can also impact the cost of SEO. Experienced professionals may charge more for their services, however, the results of their work can often be worth the extra cost. The same goes for agencies in more expensive cities or states, like NYC or California, where overhead costs are higher. 

Ultimately, the cost of SEO should be seen as an investment in the success of your business. While it might require more upfront cost than other digital marketing strategies, like PPC advertising, SEO is a long-term investment that continues to deliver a return on investment, even after the initial cost is paid. When looking for an agency or consultant to partner with, make sure you find someone with the right experience and expertise for your business. Don't settle for the cheapest option, as low-cost SEO can do more harm than good. Quality SEO services will help you achieve your goals, generate more traffic, leads, and sales, and set your business up for success.

SEO Is Worth it

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a powerful tool for small businesses that are looking to maximize their online presence and generate more leads. Despite the many benefits of SEO, the majority of small businesses are still not taking advantage of it, with only half of them allocating any budget to SEO services. 

It's clear that SEO is an important part of any digital marketing strategy. SEO can generate a high ROI when done correctly, but it can be difficult to know where to start. That's why it's essential to do your research and understand the basics of SEO or hire an agency to do your SEO. 

A comprehensive SEO campaign includes a combination of technical SEO, content marketing, and link-building. It's important to realize that even with a perfect SEO strategy, it will take some time for Google to recognize and reward the efforts. However, organic search traffic is often the most consistent and best converting of all channels.

When it comes to SEO, small businesses often have to decide whether it’s worth investing in. The answer is an emphatic yes. With over 5 billion daily searches, it's essential to be in front of customers when they’re looking for your services or products. The first organic search result on Google will get around 30% of the clicks. For a keyword that is searched 10,000 times per month, that could result in 2,500 visits to your website. Unless you have a massive paid search budget, ranking organically is vital.

It is important to understand that SEO is a long-term strategy and requires an investment of both time and money to yield results. SEO is not a quick fix like paid search, and there is no guarantee of success. However, SEO can generate organic traffic that is often more consistent and better converting than any other channel.

blog author kyle roof

Co-Founder & Lead SEO at POP

Kyle Roof is an SEO expert, speaker and trainer. Kyle currently resides in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his family.

Questions or comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

Related articles:

Read next: