The cost of SEO depends on various factors. Before determining a price, the SEO company will evaluate your current brand awareness and visibility in organic search results, as well as your business goals and target demographics.
Pricing also depends on the expertise of the SEO provider; like many other things in life, you get what you pay for. The average cost for U.S.-based organizations is $100 to $300 per hour, or $1,000 to $20,000 per month, but this range fluctuates widely.
Here is a summary of the primary price points:
| Type | Cost | Who uses it? | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY SEO | Free | Sole Proprietor | Doesn’t cost a dime. You’ll pick up new technical skills along the way | It takes a lot of time and effort to master SEO |
| Cheap SEO | $500 to $3,000 per month | Small businesses | Affordable service helps you get started with content marketing and basic SEO recommendations | Agencies offering cheap deals may lack experience and take risky shortcuts (see below) |
| Mid-range SEO | $3,000 to $15,000 per month | Established businesses | A reputable service with more features, such as content and website audits | It’s still important to make sure the agency delivers value for money |
| High-end SEO | $15,000-$30,000 per month | Websites with high traffic volumes | High-end agencies can resolve tech issues and help you with niche marketing | Limited pool of agencies with the right expertise |
| Enterprise SEO | $30,000-1 Million + per month | Enterprises with large amounts of content and high traffic | Agencies can handle large volumes of content, ensure the site is technically optimized, and handle all SEO needs. | You need a dedicated contact or two within your own team, otherwise DIY SEO communication can be a challenge. |
DIY SEO
If you are a sole proprietor, you may choose to handle your own SEO. And this may be feasible, but only if you are willing to invest a lot of time and effort.
Keyword research and content development can be self-taught to a certain extent due to the abundance of resources available online. However, you may struggle with more technical aspects such as analytics, link building and site architecture optimization.
DIY search engine optimization is really only an option for the most financially distressed businesses. Invest even a small portion of your marketing budget in skilled SEO.
Cheap SEO
Small businesses may be tempted to go with the cheapest option, but buyers beware “cheap SEO” is often too good to be true. Search engine optimization is time-consuming and labor-intensive, so if a company promises ridiculously low fees, it’s probably because they’re cutting corners. Prices for “affordable search engine optimization” often range from $200 to $500 per month.
A company that charges such low fees will not take the time to produce quality content. Creating effective blog material takes work and working with external sites that build authority. “Cheap SEO” companies lack the time and money to invest in blogging material that drives growth.
Not only is this a waste of money, but it can also be detrimental to your website. Black hat SEO tactics include hidden content, unnatural links and keyword stuffing in an effort to artificially improve a website’s search engine rankings.
Google’s algorithm is aware of this behavior and they may penalize you by lowering your rankings or removing your listing altogether. This leads to a decrease in organic visitors, which can negatively impact your revenue.
This is not the result you want when you are trying to increase your SEO. Here are some examples of “black hat” and “white hat” SEO techniques.
Mid-range SEO
Therefore, we know that low-cost SEO is not worth the risk. While mid-range costs are safer, you should always do your research and verify the credentials of the agency. Expect to pay between $4,000 and $8,000 per month or per project for mid-level SEO.
Mid-level SEO usually focuses on solving current problems with a website, such as optimizing site architecture and revising content. It is suitable for tiny websites in areas where there is little competition.
At the apex of this industry, an SEO company will provide a content marketing strategy. They will regularly develop new content and update existing content. They may also offer digital PR services to build backlinks through outreach and social amplification.
Mid-range SEO content will fit some business goals, but it won’t be lasting or compelling. If your budget allows, there will be superior options that will take into account the larger context of your company’s story.
High-end SEO
If you have a sizable budget and lofty goals, it’s worth investing in high-end SEO. These SEO experts have the resources and knowledge to provide comprehensive services at every stage of the process.
This kind of SEO is usually done by huge e-commerce companies in highly competitive industries. A premium agency may be responsible for fixing technical SEO issues, refining your analytics tools, or mitigating the effects of a Google penalty.
The quality content provided by a premium SEO service will be finely tailored to the customer journey of your target demographic. Expect informative content and instructive resources to reduce customer churn and increase conversion rates.
Typically, you will sign up for a long-term plan tailored to your specific SEO goals. Quality SEO companies are usually reputable and established, but you should verify that they can deliver everything they offer.
Enterprise SEO
Enterprise SEO is a completely different animal. Regardless of the size of the website or organization, enterprise SEO requires a greater sense of responsibility. You can expect increased traffic, conversion rates and stakeholder input. This amount of SEO work will cost you between $30,000 and $1,000,000 per month.
Managing enterprise SEO requires a shift in strategy, not just a scaling up of your small business SEO approach. The process, mindset and frame of reference for enterprise SEO requires expertise and vision. You must choose a company that can develop a full pipeline strategy that produces long-term results.
This enterprise-level full-pipeline strategy must include unique content, high-authority digital PR, sponsored search, link development and deep site optimization. You may be able to drive a lot of organic traffic to your site, but only if you work with an experienced senior SEO expert.
This is where we get into the picture. Our SEO practitioners are all product managers and SEO senior experts with years of experience and full capabilities, and we have the results to prove it. We have assisted our clients in increasing their organic traffic by tens to thousands of times.
How did it happen? First, we assess the particular difficulties and opportunities your business faces. We compare this information with in-depth competitor intelligence to determine where your strengths lie.
Next, we develop a strategic plan for your Internet presence. We consider the big picture in order to develop a comprehensive solution across all touch points. Every inch of your website is optimized with unique content and a network of backlinks with high authority and value.
