What Can I Expect to Pay for SEO Monthly?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital marketing element for any business. If you are contemplating this aspect of marketing for your company, don’t wait too long to get started. You can be sure that many of your competitors are already employing SEO to remain relevant in your industry.

SEO is a worthwhile investment for a variety of reasons. It’s a cost-effective marketing tool, and numerous consumers now look to the internet to search for goods and services.

If you are already aware of how powerful a tool SEO can be, then your next logical concern might be how much it will cost. Since many businesses budget for such expenses on a monthly basis, the following information focuses on the cost of paying for monthly organic SEO.

What Is the Cost of SEO? Things You Need to Consider

First, it’s important to understand some of the primary factors that an SEO campaign might cover. These components may have much to do with the overall success of your optimization efforts. These are the details that can have a considerable impact on how appealing your brand is to your targeted customers. They can also affect how well your business ranks in search engine results. When an SEO freelancer or company (also referred to as an SEO) works to improve your rankings by optimizing your content, the following factors are likely part of the equation:

Website Design & Structure

The layout and structure of your website are crucial when considering SEO. If your web pages as a whole are a disorganized mess, your website won’t achieve the results that a well-structured one does. As digital marketing influencer Neil Patel explains, the way that your website is structured has an effect on the user experience. In addition, Mr. Patel points out that a site with great structure will likely be rewarded by Google’s algorithms. This is critical if you want your business or website to be discovered by your desired audience. You might also employ various design functions to boost your rankings. A couple of examples include infographics, which help to keep users engaged, and infinite scrolling, which is more convenient for readers.

Website Speed

It makes sense that the faster a person can navigate a website, the better the experience will be. In fact, site speed is so significant that it officially affects your rankings in Google mobile searches. Since over 60 percent of internet users worldwide use mobile devices, virtually all businesses can benefit from optimizing their sites via website speed.

On-site Content

Content is an integral aspect of what your website, business, and brand can offer your followers. The content you provide must be optimized for search engines to ensure traffic to your web pages. On-site content, which is also referred to as on-page SEO, combines content with technical details to improve the quality of your pages. This not only serves to draw traffic to your website; it also helps appeal to traffic that is more relevant to your business. Your on-site content might include a wide variety of items, such as blogs, podcasts, web page copy, and how-to articles.

Off-site Content

Off-site content, which may also be called off-page SEO, is another part of the optimization process. This type of content is actually an SEO strategy, and it generally involves creating content to be used in publications covering a variety of niches. The content might be a guest blog, or it can be a more in-depth piece. To effectively support an SEO project, off-site content typically requires a team of experienced talent.

Link Building

Building links goes hand-in-hand with off-site content. In the past, the guidelines for using backlinks were far less stringent than they are now. Today, backlinks must be presented in a natural manner to pass Google’s standards. They should be quality links that lead back to authoritative, reputable sources.

Reputation Management

SEO can also be used to protect the reputation of your business. A broad assortment of tactics may be applied in this area. You can associate your name with positive web pages by having it tagged in their titles, for example. Another option is to create an alternative blog and share the content via social media.

Why Is the Cost of SEO so Difficult to Estimate?

Once you know how many elements are utilized in search engine optimization, you can probably guess that there is no set monthly cost for these services. While you can pay a professional to approach your SEO needs as a one-off project, most SEOs are more likely to charge a monthly retainer.

As Measurable SEO founder Chuck Price discusses at Search Engine Journal, SEO campaigns take time to make an impact. Mr. Price asserts that it may take many months to make the necessary changes. Although the immediate return on your investment might not seem significant, the lifetime returns can be much higher. This is because a single conversion can lead to multiple sales over time.

Mr. Price also points out that while cheaper SEO packages might be tempting, they could cause more harm than good. Low-quality SEO tactics can result in a Google penalty, which may have a devastating effect on your site’s online presence.

Because your specific circumstances are unique, various factors will affect the cost of your investment. You can start by taking a look at your current needs and objectives. You should also consider how quickly you want to experience results. These factors are connected to an array of variables that can alter the amount you might spend on monthly SEO. Analyzing your particular situation also helps to calculate how much SEO services should cost your business each month. Once an SEO pro understands your needs and expectations, it is easier to determine how many backlinks may be necessary to improve your optimization, for instance.

According to an article posted by columnist Marcus Miller at Search Engine Land in 2017, a Moz survey of SEO service providers revealed that the monthly billing prices of those surveyed ranged from less than $500 to $10,000. He went on to assert, however, that most U.S. businesses spend less than $5,000 monthly for SEO.

Joshua Hardwick, head of content at Ahrefs, talks about a survey conducted by their team. Mr. Hardwick makes it clear that the survey was relatively in-depth, and it was reviewed manually to weed out false entries, as well as duplicates. The results of the survey support the Moz survey findings that most SEOs charge no more than $5,000 per month. Among those surveyed by Hardwick’s team, the most popular monthly price range was $501 to $1,000.

As Hardwick also points out, variables on the part of SEO service providers also impact fees. According to the survey, companies charge more than freelancers, and those who provide services globally cost more than SEO providers who don’t. Those with less experience generally charge less than SEOs with more experience. However, more experienced providers are probably more likely to produce the desired outcome in a more efficient manner.

Be Careful About Being Overcharged!

Because SEO involves so many varying factors, it’s important that you avoid being overcharged for these services. One red flag is when a company guarantees high rankings based on search terms that are competitive or common. Another sign that you’re wasting your money is when an SEO employs a complex link scheme, which then results in your website suddenly getting numerous links that weren’t earned organically. In general, you should be wary of any freelancer or company that makes remarkable claims or guarantees. Also, those who offer extraordinarily low fees probably won’t deliver positive, lasting results.

Final Thoughts on the Cost of SEO in 2019

Generally speaking, your marketing budget should include funds dedicated to SEO. How much you should allocate to this service depends on your needs and your circumstances. Just keep in mind that an SEO campaign may not produce measurable results as quickly as other strategies. However, effective search engine optimization can lead to a very positive outcome over time.

As Chuck Price notes, even a perfectly executed SEO campaign can take time to be recognized by Google. Fortunately, the rewards can be well worth the investment. In fact, the additional traffic from quality SEO can be some of the most consistent, leading to higher conversions than other methods.

Although SEO prices vary, you can reasonably expect to pay between $500 and $5,000 monthly for quality SEO. If this is not in your budget, you may want to consider other options. Price suggests that a one-time SEO audit of your website can help to increase organic traffic. Remember to steer clear of outlandish claims, questionable guarantees, and rock-bottom fees.

When you are shopping for SEO professionals, be sure to communicate what your current situation is, as well as your expectations. You should be able to find a reputable SEO who can meet your needs for relatively affordable rates. Once you have a solid SEO campaign in place, you might be able to reduce spending on other marketing strategies.