How much should I pay for SEO? is one of the first questions most business owners ask before deciding to invest time and money in SEO. You too may be wondering how much to allocate for SEO costs. When it comes to SEO, it’s generally more important to focus on the intended return on investment (ROI) instead of getting caught up in concrete dollar amounts. Of course, you’re here because you’re looking for an actual number. The average monthly cost for SEO is between $2,000 and $6,000. To make an informed decision, there are certain factors that determine the cost and expected results from SEO.
HOW IS THE SEO COST DETERMINED?
SEO pricing takes a whole-picture approach. Two companies will have vastly different SEO spending budgets if they have different business goals. Here’s a look at the major factors that determine SEO cost when creating a digital marketing plan.
Return on Investment
Your expected ROI is a big determining factor in SEO cost. When you work with an SEO company, they’ll help you come up with a figure that represents how much revenue you expect to be driven by your upcoming SEO spending. They will then tell you how much you need to spend to get in that zone.
Services Provided
Not all SEO services are created the same! When assessing SEO pricing, it’s important to look at the number of services provided. Simple SEO consulting services will be the cheapest. Meanwhile, a full-service approach that includes PR campaigns, videos, UI, UX design, ongoing support, and continual optimization will cost more. Of course, the second option offers the cost savings of bundling complete SEO services into a flat rate.
Size and Number of Business Locations
Your business scope influences your SEO scope. If you need location-specific or service-specific SEO, the price will be higher because this is actually multiple SEO projects in one. The good news is that many of the SEO techniques that work for single-focus businesses can be tweaked and replicated across your brand umbrella.
Your Competition or Location
Yes, the competition in your market determines the cost of your SEO. In high-competition locations, ranking for specific keywords will cost more because of the number of campaigns that need to be implemented in order to outrank your competition. Businesses in metro areas pay higher SEO costs than businesses in low-population areas.
Aside from physical location, your market position can also determine cost. Niche businesses are simply going to pay less for keywords compared to businesses in saturated markets. Luckily, there are some techniques and workarounds that can still help you to stay within budget without feeling like you are rolling over for the competition.
HOW TO GET A HIGH ROI FROM SEO
SEO is the chosen method for high ROI for everything from multinational corporations to small mom-and-pop shops around the world. The reason why is that nothing else works like SEO when it comes to boosting visibility and accessibility for your target audience. Let’s cover some of the ways to maximize your SEO cost ROI.
Determine the Right KPIs
A KPI is a key performance indicator. KPIs serve as your quantifiable metrics for determining how your SEO is performing. If you’re working with a qualified SEO company, KPIs will be baked into your overall plan for using SEO to boost business and get strong ROI from every SEO dollar spent from your budget. For most businesses, the right KPIs include leads, signups, inquiries, and other engagement measurements.
Focus On Experience
Don’t leave your brand’s SEO strategy up to someone who is just figuring out digital marketing for the first time. This is an industry that’s full of buzzwords and fly-by-night experts. The solution? Ask to see proof of experience and expertise. Your ROI can be so much greater when you choose an agency with the experience and integrity needed to push your brand into the SEO race.
Look At SEO As An Investment
Patience is a virtue that’s needed with SEO. SEO success takes time to build. Don’t expect results overnight! One common mistake that brands make is to hire and fire agencies or SEO specialists every now and then. This prevents your newly implemented SEO techniques from building the way they should build. When an agency is working on KPIs with you, you’ll be able to see a steady and gradual buildup toward your goals!
Implement Full-Service SEO
A scattered SEO and marketing plan isn’t just a headache to manage. It can also dash your ROI by leaving out important components that search engines like to see when ranking websites. Full-service SEO services increase the likelihood of ranking for competitive keywords and avoid being penalized by Google and other search engines.
By investing in proven SEO strategies by an experienced agency, you can gain a competitive advantage over your competition. Contact X Design Solutions for a free consultation.
