How much does SEO cost?
SEO, or search engine optimisation, is the practice of optimising content, webpages and websites so they rank higher in search engines like Bing and Google. SEO is used to improve a range of content like web pages, images, business listings, video media and more.
Organic search on search engines like Google is where most people find and access content—and if you want to be found, you need to rank highly on search engine results pages (SERPs). But how much does SEO cost? The truth is, it can vary, but we’ll try and give you an idea in this blog post.
How much does SEO cost?
How much you pay will depend on many factors like the complexity of your website, the size of your business and what services you require. Startups or smaller businesses might expect to pay £200 per month while larger organisations could pay as much as £5,500 per month.
Several other important factors also influence the amount you’ll pay. If yours is a local project, you’ll pay less than a business who wants a global SEO reach. SEO can also include elements such as content delivery and website fixes—both one-off and ongoing.
Why can the cost of SEO vary?
Just like no two businesses are the same, no two SEO needs are either. Here are the reasons why SEO prices vary:
Business Size
The size of the business will affect the level of service required. Startups and small businesses will likely need low-cost services like on-page optimisation, keyword research and some link building. These services will offer more short-term gains, but they are more affordable.
For SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises), you could pay in the middle of the price range. The package would typically be a more comprehensive approach with in-depth keyword research, technical SEO, content creation, link building and reporting.
For larger enterprises and especially those in industries with lots of competition, SEO would involve extensive marketing and content optimisation, advanced analytics, quality link building, advanced keyword research and detailed analytics. Larger businesses have higher needs. They may have multiple websites or large website but they also have more to invest.
Project Scope
Some businesses may require content to be created for them while others might want their existing content optimising. The scope of the project will also vary depending on whether the business is targeting locally, nationally or internationally.
Website Size
A compact website is simpler to optimise and so won’t require as much time as a larger one. Also, if the website is already performing well, there won’t be as much work required compared to one that is performing poorly.
Is SEO expensive?
The cost of it depends largely on what your goals are, how competitive your industry is and how much you want to invest. While it might seem expensive initially, it’s important to think of SEO as a long-term investment. The real measure of SEO is all about return on investment (ROI).
SEO is also about long-term results. It can be very profitable but at first, it’s rather slow-moving. Investing upfront may feel less cost-effective in the short term but once your website gets strong rankings, it is a cost-effective source of organic traffic without ongoing ad spending.
Should you outsource or do it in-house?
SEO is quite a specialist niche and while you can absolutely do some in-house SEO, if it’s not getting you the results you need, it might be wise to find an expect. Hiring someone in-house is a large investment and ongoing commitment whereas using an SEO agency may cost you a fraction of the price. If your SEO is already well-established, however, and you’re paying an agency a lot of money per month, then it might be a better investment to hire a skilled full-time member of staff instead.
How much should you spend on SEO?
As we’ve established, this will depend on the size of your business, your industry, goals and the level of competition. Some people say you should allocate 5-10% of your revenue to digital marketing with up to 30% of that going to SEO. Ultimately, a well-planned investment in SEO can generate significant long-term value. If you’re unsure about the right investment for your business or need expert guidance, reach out to Epic to discuss your SEO project.