How Much Does SEO Cost?

Knowing what you are paying for matters

At CadenceSEO we believe that you should know what you are paying for when it comes to your SEO Consulting services. By removing the “secret sauce” or behind-the-scenes stuff our clients know what to expect when to expect it and what’s going on at all times. SEO is not a cookie-cutter service because every client has a different situation.  Although difficult to lay out an exact price we have created some sample plans below to help you understand what to expect. Let us build out a custom plan to fit your exact needs.

Although every packing is unique to each client in execution we have outlined three basic packages and what is included so you can get an idea of the type of work that is being down with one of our SEO plans. Each plan is subject to change to fit your company’s unique goals and needs. Check out the plans below for more information on how we operate and what you can expect when working with CadenceSEO. 

See our Sample Plans Below

SMB/Local SEO

SINGLE LOCATION OR SMALL BUSINES LOOKING TO DRIVE LOCAL TRAFFIC (MULTI-LOCATION ADDITIONAL)

Monthly Cost: $1500

Month 1 – Research, Fix, Plan
  • SEO Audit (Implementation of high impact findings depending on Platform)
  • Keyword Research
  • Competitive Research
  • Marketing Dashboard Set Up 

Ongoing

  • SEO  Consulting (Bi-Weekly Account Calls)
  • Technical Fixes (Based on Audit or additional Crawls)
  • Existing  Content Optimization (core- supporting)
    • Position Zero 
    • Internal Linking
  • Local Citations
    • NAP Listing Updates 
    • Citation Building (Data Ag, Local Listings) 
    • Custom Listings (Industry Specific)
  • Marketing  Dashboard

Consulting

OUR MOST POPULAR PLAN: FULL ON CONSULTING 

Monthly Cost: $2900

Month 1 – Research, Fix, Plan
  • SEO Audit (Implementation of high impact findings depending on Platform)
  • Keyword Research and Planning
  • Competitive Research
  • Marketing Dashboard Set Up 

Ongoing

  • SEO Consulting (Bi-Weekly Account Calls)
  • Technical Fixes (Based on Audit or additional Crawls)
  • Content Ideation and Topics (4-6 Topics per month your team to write. Including Title, H1, H2 Suggestions)
  • Existing  Content Optimization (core- supporting)
    • Position Zero 
    • Internal Linking
  • Authority Development
    • Backlink Building  
    • Local Citations (where applicable)
    • Digital PR Strategy
  • Marketing  Dashboard

Consulting Plus

SAME GREAT PLAN AS CONSULTING WITH CONTENT WRITING INCLUDED

Monthly Cost: $4200

Month 1 – Research, Fix, Plan
  • SEO Audit (Implementation of high impact findings depending on Platform)
  • Keyword Research
  • Competitive Research
  • Content Topic Ideation and Topics (For approval and our team to write) 
  • Marketing Dashboard Set Up

Ongoing

  • SEO Consulting (Bi-Weekly Account Calls)
  • Technical Fixes (Based on Audit or additional Crawls)
  • Content Ideation and Creation
    • Content Ideation for Approval
    • Content Creation
    • 1x 1500 Word Pillar Post (Including Meta Data, Markup, Internal links, and Stock images)
    • 3 x 800 Word Blog Posts (Including Meta Data, Markup, Internal links, and Stock images)
  • Existing  Content Optimization (core- supporting)
    • Position Zero
    • Internal Linking
  • Authority Development
    • Backlink Building
    • Local Citations (where applicable)
    •  Digital PR Strategy
  • Marketing  Dashboard

Free LIVE SEO Audit

Let our expert team walk you though your website!

The cost of SEO depends on a variety of factors, including the size and complexity of your website, the current state of your SEO, and the goals you’re hoping to accomplish.

On average, businesses spend an average of $500 per month. However, this is just a starting point, and the costs can vary widely depending on your needs.

For instance, one study by Ahrefs noted that 6% of SEO providers charge around $200/hour. Although, other sources do state that the average can fall between $50-$150 per hour.

However, if you choose to work with an SEO agency, those numbers are typically converted into prices per project or monthly service fees.

With the cost of SEO varying so widely, the next question on most marketers’ minds is why actually goes into establishing the cost of SEO services.

A vast array of things come into play when determining the cost of SEO. Some of the most significant factors include:

  • The complexity of your website
  • The current state of your SEO
  • The goals you hope to accomplish.
  • The size, scope, and experience of your SEO provider.
  • The quality of the content, links, and citations that are being produced.
  • The amount of time, materials, and energy your SEO provider can invest into the project.
  • The market value of your keywords and their competitiveness.
  • The consultant or agency’s pricing model
  • Their experience in the industry

Again, this is only a small list of what determines how much SEO can cost. This is why it can be tough to pinpoint just how much SEO could cost for a given business.

To get a better idea of how much SEO costs, you’ll want to do some research and get in touch with some potential providers. It’s also important to note that the pricing of an SEO agency or consultant will often depend on their pricing model.

Some agencies will charge a set monthly fee for their services, while others will charge per project. It all depends on the terms of the agreement that is being made.

One of the most common pricing models for agencies is a flat fee per month, with a percentage of the revenue generated by the client’s SEO being returned. This is especially common with agencies that offer a guarantee.

Other agencies will provide a fixed-cost service, with the price being dependent on the size and

With the cost of SEO varying so widely, the next question on most marketers’ minds is why actually goes into establishing the cost of SEO services.

A vast array of things come into play when determining the cost of SEO. Some of the most significant factors include:

  • The complexity of your website
  • The current state of your SEO
  • The goals you hope to accomplish.
  • The size, scope, and experience of your SEO provider.
  • The quality of the content, links, and citations that are being produced.
  • The amount of time, materials, and energy your SEO provider can invest into the project.
  • The market value of your keywords and their competitiveness.
  • The consultant or agency’s pricing model
  • Their experience in the industry

 

Let’s take a look at some of the major factors.

The challenges specific to your website.

First, you need to determine what kind of website you have and what type of content your site has. This will help us estimate how much time it will take to optimize your site so that it ranks high on search engines like Google and Bing

The number of keywords.

If you have a brand new site with no backlinks, then it’s going to be much easier for us to rank your website for specific terms than if you already had thousands of pages and years worth of backlinks pointing to your domain name.

The size of your website.

We’re not talking about physical size here; we’re talking about how many pages are on your site, what types of content they contain, and whether or not those pages are easy or difficult to navigate (i.e., are there any broken links?).

The complexity in which each page was created.

Did it use any custom code? Was this content hand-coded by someone who knew what they were doing? Or did someone randomly throw together some HTML tags randomly without knowing how everything works together?

Being aware of these factors allows us as consultants to better explain why certain clients pay what they do for us during the initial consultation process, so there are no misunderstandings later down the road.

Again, this is only a small list of what determines how much SEO can cost. This is why it can be tough to pinpoint just how much SEO could cost for a given business.

To get a better idea of how much SEO costs, you’ll want to do some research and get in touch with some potential providers. It’s also important to note that the pricing of an SEO agency or consultant will often depend on their pricing model.

Some agencies will charge a set monthly fee for their services, while others will charge per project. It all depends on the terms of the agreement that is being made.

One of the most common pricing models for agencies is a flat fee per month, with a percentage of the revenue generated by the client’s SEO being returned. This is especially common with agencies that offer a guarantee.

Other agencies will provide a fixed-cost service, with the price being dependent on the size and .

Search engine optimization is an integral part of your marketing strategy. The right SEO will help expose your brand to more people, improve your conversion rates, and generate more leads.

However, getting started can be quite a tedious process for those who aren’t quite sure where to get started. Even if you have an existing strategy or are trying to improve your results, it can be challenging to determine what’s working, what needs improving, etc.

This is why thousands of brands turn to the services of an SEO agency or consultant. An agency can provide a valuable service by providing a comprehensive analysis of your current SEO, providing recommendations for improvement, and providing the services necessary to implement those changes.

This saves you time and allows you to focus on other aspects of your business while the SEO is being handled. It also gives you a chance to get some expert advice and insights into what’s working and what’s not.

So, what can you expect to pay for SEO services from an agency? The cost of SEO services will vary significantly from business to business and from agency to agency. However, on average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 or more for a basic package. However, depending on who you choose to do business with, there are several pricing models that you may be presented with.

What Does it Cost for SEO Work?

If you’ve decided to invest in the help of a professional SEO agency or consultant – congratulations! This is a great way to get the help you need to improve your online presence and search results. One of the first questions you’re likely to have is: “How much does SEO cost?”

This is a fair question, but unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer. Again, many factors go into this pricing, and it will vary by agency/consultant. However, there are three common pricing models that you can expect to encounter:

Hourly

One common pricing model that you may encounter is a traditional hourly rate. This model is often used when working with consultants/freelance SEO professionals.

In an hourly pricing model, you will pay a set amount of money for each hour that the consultant is working on your project. It’s important to note that the amount of time it takes to complete a project varies depending on the complexity of the work needing to be done and the experience of the individual/agency working on the project.

If this is the model presented to you, you can expect to pay anywhere between $35 and $200 per hour.

By Project

Another standard pricing model you’ll see from both SEO agencies and consultants/freelancers is a by-project pricing model.

In a by-project model, you pay a fixed price for each project that’s delivered to your account. This model is often preferred when working with an agency because it provides a clear contract that can be referenced throughout the process, ensuring transparency and accountability.

If this is the model that is most appealing to you, then you can expect to pay anywhere between $5000 to well over $30,000 – again, this is dependent on the agency and the complexity of the work being done.

Monthly

Finally, you may also encounter a monthly pricing model. In a monthly pricing model, you agree to pay a set amount of money every month for the services provided to your business.

This model is often preferred by SEO agencies that are providing a long-term service or package to a customer. This is because it gives a clear expectation for both parties on a monthly basis. It also allows the agency to plan and budget in advance, knowing exactly how much work needs to be done to meet the agreed monthly goals. This also allows the agency to provide you with consistent and reliable service without the risk of over-spending or under-delivering. 

Surprisingly enough, most people believe this to be the most expensive option for hiring an agency to perform SEO services for their business. However, the monthly pricing model is one of the most affordable options. This is because it allows the agency to scale their services as needed, which will enable them to continue providing you with a high-quality service at an affordable cost.

Depending on the contract agreed upon between the agency and the client, the monthly SEO package can range between $500 to $5,000 per month, with the average typically falling between $750 and $2000.

 

As you can see, there are a variety of pricing models that you can expect to encounter when working with an SEO agency or consultant. However, if you already have a well-established marketing team or have someone on staff that understands all the inner workings of SEO, then you may be considering the cost of SEO when done in-house.

The good news? Plenty of tools are available to help you with your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. From keyword research tools to content creation tools to analytics solutions – there’s something out there for everyone.

The bad news? It can be challenging to know how much these tools will cost. This is because some are free to use, while others require a paid subscription. This can cause a lot of confusion for business owners trying to figure out how to budget for everything and still see a return.

That said, it’s impossible to price out how much in-house SEO will cost if you’re basing it off the cost of the necessary tools needed. However, suppose you’re basing it on the idea of hiring an SEO specialist. In that case, you can expect to pay an average of $47,752 in an annual salary – with leading specialist salaries totaling near $72,000 a year.

If you’re still not sure if SEO is the right strategy for your brand, then it’s time to start doing some research. One of the best ways to learn more about SEO and how it can benefit your business is to speak to a professional who has experience working with similar clients. This way, you can get a better idea of what to expect when it comes to pricing and the offered level of service.               

Just remember, before speaking with a professional, you’ll want to take some time and ask some questions to ensure that you’re able to get everything that you need and expect from an SEO strategy for your brand. This will help you feel confident about the investment you’re about to make.

Some questions you may consider asking include:

  • What kind of SEO projects have you worked on in the past?
  • What are my SEO consultant’s qualifications?
  • What is the timeline for completing the project?
  • What will the SEO consultant be responsible for?
  • Will I be interacting with the consultant regularly?
  • What are the different pricing models that you offer?
  • Can I get a quote based on my budget?

How We Determine Our Prices

We start with a conversation about your goals and your budget. We’ll ask questions like:

What are your top three keywords? What would success look like for each of those keywords? (For example, if one keyword was “Porsche,” success could be increased traffic from search engines.)

What is your timeline? Do you want to see results in three months or six months? Will there be any other changes happening on your site during this time period? (You might be launching a new product line, for instance.)

We take all this information into account when calculating an estimate for our services and an outline of what we’ll do together. Then we send an audit report that outlines exactly what steps need to be taken in order to meet your company’s SEO goals.

There are many reasons why it’s important to budget for SEO services.

First, SEO is not a one-time project. It’s an ongoing strategy that requires consistent maintenance and monitoring.

Second, SEO is a long-term investment. You should expect that you’ll get the most out of your investment over time as you see your site grow in organic traffic and continue to rank well in search engines.

Third, because of this long-term investment, it can be expensive–and worth every penny!

Now that we’ve covered why it’s important for you (and your business) to budget for SEO services, let’s take a look at how much those services actually cost…

 

Yes! Most SEO agencies (the good ones) will provide you with an estimate of their rates, but they’re not going to quote you a specific price unless they’ve done an analysis of your website and determined what kind of work needs to be done.

The short answer is: yes! We’ve found that when you’re a smaller business, you need to work with an agency that understands the unique challenges of your situation—and how to overcome them.

That’s why we created Cadence SEO. We believe that every company deserves to be treated like the best in the world, regardless of size or budget. And we have the experience and expertise to help your company achieve its goals, no matter what they are.

Don’t worry—most small businesses can afford SEO services! If your budget is tight, there are plenty of ways to get started with SEO without breaking the bank. There are some great services out there that are priced on a per-month basis, so even if you’re just starting out and don’t have a lot of cash, it’s still possible for your business to get started on the right foot with search engine optimization.

SEO companies offer different types of packages based on their experience and expertise with different types of businesses. Some companies specialize in working with small businesses and offer lower-priced plans because they don’t have as much overhead (or because they want to make sure that everyone has access). Other companies may offer more expensive plans because they want to work with larger enterprises that have more complex needs and require more time from the company’s employees.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your website traffic and increase the number of customers that visit your site. It’s a great way to increase your organic traffic and help your business grow. It involves a lot of strategic planning and hard work, but the payoffs are well worth it.

Studies show that organic search is the digital marketing channel with the highest ROI, with 49% saying that organic search was the most effective channel with the highest ROI, followed by paid search at 19%, and social media at 18%.

Growing Your SEO Strategy with CadenceSEO

When it comes to growing your SEO strategy, one of the best things that you can do is find a company that will be able to provide you with the right kind of help at the right price.

Here at CadenceSEO, we believe that investing in a long-term SEO strategy is the best way to ensure that you can continue to improve your search engine rankings over time and continuously improve your organic search results. This not only ensures that you’re able to get more eyes on your brand and increase your overall bottom line.

Are you ready to see what a robust SEO strategy can do for your business? Contact the CadenceSEO team today!

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