How much does SEO cost?
How much does SEO cost?
$500 – $1,500 average monthly cost (basic SEO)
$1,500 – $5,000 average monthly cost (comprehensive SEO)
$50 – $300 per hour (individual SEO projects)
Average SEO pricing
SEO pricing runs $500 to $1,500 per month for basic SEO services for small businesses or startups just beginning their SEO journey. SEO marketing costs $1,500 to $5,000 per month for more comprehensive ongoing SEO services. Individual SEO services cost $50 to $300 per hour or $500 to $5,000 per project.
| SEO service level | Average cost per month | Common for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic SEO | $500 – $1,500 | Micro-enterprises, startups, small businesses with limited budgets |
| Comprehensive SEO | $1,500 – $5,000 | Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with greater SEO needs |
| Enterprise SEO | $5,000 – $10,000+ | Enterprise-level or eCommerce businesses with complex SEO requirements |
Search engine optimization, or SEO, helps more people find your website online. SEO works by making changes to your site's content, layout, and user-friendliness to match what search engines like Google value.
SEO leads to higher rankings for relevant keywords related to your business, bringing in more visitors searching for what you offer.
SEO pricing packages
SEO is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort. That is why many SEO agencies charge a monthly fee to perform ongoing services. Costs range from $500 to $5,000+ per month, with different pricing tiers based on the level or number of services included.
Basic SEO
Basic SEO costs $500 to $1,500 per month and focuses on evaluating your website's overall health and performance to identify areas for improvement in SEO and user experience.
Services may include:
Keyword research
On-page optimization
Local SEO setup
Comprehensive SEO
Comprehensive SEO is a more in-depth approach that costs $1,500 to $5,000 per month. This is for businesses that want to expand their current SEO to further increase website traffic, improve search engine rankings, and enhance online sales. Comprehensive SEO plans include these types of services:
Technical audits
Content creation
Link building
Conversion optimization
Technical health
Enterprise SEO
Enterprise SEO packages typically have custom pricing tailored to the company’s specific situation, with costs ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000+ per month. Designed for larger, well-established websites in highly competitive industries, these custom plans can include everything in a comprehensive package, plus:
Dedicated account manager
In-depth competitor analysis
Ongoing link-building campaigns
Conversion rate optimization strategies
Paid search management
Advanced reporting with adjustments based on results
SEO services pricing breakdown
SEO pricing isn't a one-size-fits-all model. SEO professionals offer various packages tailored to your business's specific needs for increased online visibility. The cost of SEO reflects the services included, ranging from basic options like keyword research and website tweaks to more comprehensive strategies that involve building backlinks, creating content, and other tactics.
The following table outlines common SEO services along with typical investment levels to help guide your budgeting.
| Service | Average cost* | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword research and on-page optimization | $500 – $2,000 per project | Discover what terms people search for to find businesses or information like yours and make your website content and structure more relevant. |
| Competitive analysis | $500 – $2,000 per project | Analyze your competitor's SEO strategies and identify opportunities for improvement. |
| Mobile SEO optimization | $500 – $2,000+ per project | Optimize your website for optimal performance on mobile devices. |
| Content creation | $0.10 – $2.00 per word | Craft informative and engaging content that attracts visitors and helps with SEO. |
| Link building | $100 – $1,500 per link | Get high-quality websites to link back to yours, which heightens your website's authority. |
| Technical SEO audit | Per audit: $650 – $1,000+ (small site) $1,000 – $4,000+ (mid-size) $4,000 – $14,000+ (large or complex) |
Identify and fix technical issues that can hurt search engine ranking, like slow site speed, duplicate content, or indexing issues. |
| Technical SEO health monitoring | $500 – $2,000 per month | Monitor your website's technical health for ongoing SEO performance. |
| Conversion rate optimization (CRO) | $800 – $10,000 per month | Improve your website to get visitors to take desired actions, like buying a product. |
| Local SEO | $300 – $5,000 per month | Optimize your online presence for local searches, like maps and local business listings. |
| Penalty recovery | $2,000 – $10,000+ | Service to recover from search engine penalties imposed on your website. |
*Prices are estimates only and vary depending on location, competition, project scope, and the experience level and pricing structure of the SEO agency or consultant.
Some services, like link building and conversion optimization, are typically offered only on a retainer basis rather than a per-project basis.
SEO cost by business goal
SEO costs range anywhere from $500 to $10,000 per month, depending on the objectives. Businesses with ambitious online goals require more comprehensive SEO strategies, which come at a higher cost. For businesses with more targeted goals, like increasing website traffic or improving search rankings, a tailored SEO plan can be more affordable.
| Business goal | Average monthly cost* | SEO services* |
|---|---|---|
| Increase website traffic | $500 – $1,500 |
|
| Improve search rankings | $1,500 – $5,000 |
|
| Enhance online visibility | $3,000 – $5,000 |
|
| Boost conversions | $4,000 – $8,000 |
|
| Enterprise SEO strategy | $5,000 – $10,000+ | All of the above services combined into a comprehensive SEO strategy for enterprise-level businesses with aggressive goals |
*Costs and services may vary.
SEO prices can fluctuate quite a bit. Get personalized quotes rather than general pricing to ensure you get the right cost information for your specific SEO requirements.
SEO agency pricing per hour
SEO consultant hourly rates range from $50 to $300 per hour depending on who you hire, their experience level, location, and the specific services they offer. Freelancers are a common choice for startups and small businesses needing basic SEO services. Larger and more established businesses rely on large-scale agencies to handle their more complex needs.
| Provider | Average hourly rate* | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | $50 – $200 | Startups and small businesses with a limited budget |
| Small agency | $75 – $200 | Small and medium businesses with growing needs |
| Large agency | $100 – $300+ | Large enterprises and complex projects |
*Costs and rates vary based on experience and services offered.
SEO freelancers: Self-employed SEO experts provide personalized attention and cost-effective solutions, often focusing on one area of SEO only.
Small SEO agencies: Often called a boutique digital marketing firm, these small agencies have lean teams specializing in SEO-related services.
Large / Enterprise SEO agencies: These full-service marketing firms provide comprehensive SEO services with a sizable team. Their broad expertise and resources cater to companies with complex SEO requirements.
For businesses on a tight budget with some SEO knowledge, consider software platforms or web-based applications to perform SEO tasks in-house. These DIY tools can run keyword research, site audits, rank tracking, analyze backlines, and monitor metrics like traffic and conversions for $100 to $1,000 per month.
SEO cost factors
Several factors determine the pricing of SEO services:
Website size & complexity: Larger websites with more pages require more extensive optimization efforts, increasing the workload and associated costs.
SEO project scope: A full-service SEO strategy involving on-page optimization, keyword research, content creation, link building, and technical SEO costs more than a single service like a one-time site audit.
Competition level: Highly competitive niches require more advanced and resource-intensive strategies to outrank competitors, leading to higher costs.
Geographic targeting: Businesses that operate in multiple locations or target different geographic regions need tailored SEO strategies, which increases the cost.
Agency experience & location: Established agencies in high-cost areas tend to charge more for their services.
Current SEO performance: Sites with minimal existing optimization may need more extensive initial work, increasing costs.
FAQs about SEO
What is SEO?
SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of improving your website to rank higher in search results on Google and other search engines. The goal is to attract more visitors from organic searches, meaning people find your site through unpaid searches rather than ads or clicking directly on a link.
Why is SEO important?
SEO helps users find your website by using terms that people search for. SEO helps you climb the ranks and appear on the first page, where most users click. The higher you rank, the more likely people will find your site.
How can I boost my website's SEO?
Boosting SEO requires an ongoing effort. The key is to build a user-friendly website with valuable content, technical optimization, building authority through backlinks, and utilizing local SEO. Continuous monitoring and adjusting your strategy are essential to success.
When can I expect improved SEO results?
SEO is a long-term investment, not a quick fix. SEO experts recommend sticking with an SEO program for at least 6 to 12 months to see results that impact your business metrics. New websites with no domain authority or search engine rankings take more time to see major results.
How to choose an SEO agency
By evaluating an agency's expertise, pricing, and reviews, you can increase your chances of picking an SEO partner that drives real results for your business:
Define your goals and metrics: Clearly define your SEO goals before contacting agencies. Also, determine how you'll measure success through metrics like rankings, traffic, leads, or revenue.
Evaluate their experience: Look for an agency that has experience working with businesses in your industry and understands your niche. Review their portfolio, case studies, and client testimonials.
Check reviews and references: Look for authentic client reviews and testimonials and reach out to references to inquire about their experience working with the agency.
Assess their strategy and process: Ask potential agencies to explain their overall SEO strategy, methods, and process. A good agency should cover on-page optimization, technical SEO, content strategy, link-building tactics, etc.
Ask about pricing and contracts: Get clear pricing details up front, including any setup fees, monthly retainers, and services included. Ask about contract terms, length, cancellation policies, etc.
Verify reporting and communication: Find out what reporting and communication processes they follow. Expect regular reports analyzing your SEO performance, plus consistent updates and transparency.
Discuss roles and responsibilities: Understand what will be expected of you and your team in terms of involvement, content creation, approvals, etc. Ensure you have a dedicated point of contact.
Questions to ask an SEO consultant
Before hiring an SEO agency, remember to ask these important questions:
What is your overall SEO strategy and methods for improving my search rankings?
What areas of SEO will you focus on optimizing for my website?
How do you define and measure success for SEO?
Have you worked with clients in my industry before? How will you learn about my business?
What SEO tools and resources do you use?
Can you provide examples of your reporting and communication process?
What is your pricing model, and what services/deliverables are included?
When can I expect to see results from the SEO work?
Do you require a contract? What are the terms?
Can you provide client references or case studies?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.