How Much Does SEO Cost For Small Business?

Aaron Haynes
Apr 29, 2022

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SEO is one of the most effective marketing ventures your small business can invest in; a well-developed SEO strategy will improve online visibility, site traffic, and consequent revenue.

But, before shelling out any money, you’ll want to be clear on one thing.

Your SEO budget.

To be sure you aren’t throwing unnecessary amounts of money at an SEO strategy, here we:

  1. Break down how much search engine optimization is likely to cost
  2. and run through some FAQs that many small business owners have about the cost of SEO.

How Much Does SEO Cost For Small Business? (Quick Answer)

SEO pricing can vary depending on the services offered, the size of a client’s business, and the scope of work.

Typically, costs range from a few hundred dollars – for small, onetime projects or for SEO freelancer services – and up to thousands of dollars per month – for large projects or a heavy hands on approach.

Small Business SEO Cost? (Long Answer)

When it comes to digital marketing, small businesses often wonder how much they should expect to pay for their SEO needs.

The answer, of course, depends on the specific pricing model a company uses, and the work involved.

However, there are some general price ranges that will give you an idea of what an SEO budget may look like.

Generally, SEO pricing models can be broken down into three categories:

Hourly Rates

  • This is common for small businesses that want to test out SEO,
  • It also applies to small businesses who have a limited budget, or wish to work with an SEO consultant that can guide in-house SEO efforts.
  • The cost is typically based on the number of hours spent working on their campaign each month.

Average cost: hourly rates usually start at around $75 per hour and cap out at $200 per hour.

Project-Based Rates

  • For big companies or businesses with larger, more complex sites, project-based pricing may make more sense.
  • This involves setting up specific goals and milestones with an SEO agency at the beginning of the project and then charging a flat fee upon completion.

Average cost: project rates range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Monthly Retainer

  • An SEO monthly retainer is an agreement between an SEO company and a business.
  • The arrangement involves a business agreeing to pay a predetermined amount of money each month for SEO services.
  • Monthly retainers are typically used by businesses who wish to continue to receive the benefits of SEO services on an ongoing basis.

Average cost: monthly retainers ordinarily cost between $500 and $5,000 per month.

Closing thoughts on SEO pricing for small biz owners

Keep in mind that these 3 pricing models are just ballpark figures.

Specific SEO package prices may vary depending on the company or SEO expert you choose to work with and the services your business’s website requires.

Is this cost likely to change overtime?

Yes, most likely.

For instance, as Google continues to change its search algorithms, this will force marketing agencies to adapt their marketing strategies in order to continue achieving high rankings.

Future industry trends are another factor that is likely to change the cost of SEO services.

The availability of resources such as qualified SEO professionals, SEO tool development and refinement, and overall competitor competition are all examples of trends that are likely to affect the cost of SEO campaigns into the future.

FAQs

For greater insight into what SEO work is likely to cost and whether it’s within your online marketing budget, here are some FAQs that will help.

Is SEO worth it for small business?

There’s no doubt that SEO can be a valuable tool for small businesses. However, whether it’s worth the investment depends on several factors, including the goals of the business and its current online presence.

For instance, SEO can help to improve website conversions by increasing targeted traffic. It can also help to improve return on investment (ROI) by generating more conversions at a lower cost per lead. Additionally, SEO can help to build brand awareness and credibility, which can contribute to increased sales in the long run.

However, before investing in SEO, it’s important to consider the current state of your business’s website and online marketing efforts. If a website is outdated or poorly designed, or if there is no content marketing strategy in place, then it may be necessary to invest in these areas before commencing an SEO campaign.

What is the average cost of SEO?

Generally, businesses should expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per month for professional SEO specialist services. However, the amount you’ll need to spend will depend on the size and competitiveness of your market, as well as the level of optimization your site currently has.

If you’re just starting out, it’s important to do some basic keyword research to determine which keywords have the highest potential for organic search traffic. Once you know which keywords you want to target, you can start looking for an SEO company that has years of experience helping businesses achieve success with their online marketing campaigns within your industry or online niche.

How much should I pay for local SEO?

When it comes to local SEO for local businesses, how much you pay will depend on your needs and the current website’s ranking. Generally, you should expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $2,500 per month for services that will help potential customers find your business through local search. Additionally, technical SEO is a critical part of any local SEO campaign and, depending on the provided services, can cost an additional $500 to $1,500 per month.

What does SEO cost per month?

Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per month for a comprehensive SEO campaign that will improve your website’s ranking and boost organic traffic. However, it’s important to note that some businesses may need more aggressive tactics – such as link building or paid search advertising (PPC ads) – in order to achieve the desired results.

A good way to gauge how much you’ll need to spend on SEO is by having your website undergo an SEO audit. This will help you understand where your website stands in terms of SEO health and what specific changes need to be made in order for it to rank higher.

Can I do SEO on my own?

SEO is one of the most important aspects of online marketing, and it’s difficult to do on your own. However, if the right SEO tools are used and a well-developed strategy implemented, you can create quality content that will improve your website’s conversion rates and boost your site to the first page of the search engine results page (SERPs).

To get started, here are a few tips for creating great SEO content:

  • Make sure your content is high quality. This means writing well-researched, informative articles that are relevant to your target audience and sure to attract high-quality backlinks.
  • Write keyword-rich titles and descriptions that accurately reflect the contents of your article.
  • Use effective copywriting techniques to draw readers in and keep them engaged.
  • Incorporate keywords throughout your article, but don’t overdo it – keyword stuffing can actually hurt your SEO efforts.
  • Integrate SEO practices with other marketing efforts, like social media, to create a comprehensive marketing strategy.

Can you pay Google for SEO?

To put it bluntly, no. Google does not offer SEO services. Although the search platform offers a range of free tools that will boost overall SEO success:

  • One of the most important tools is Google Analytics. This tool will help track your website traffic and determine where your visitors are coming from. You can also use Google Analytics to see which pages on your site are the most popular, and which keywords people are using to find your site.
  • Another helpful tool is Google Search Console. GSC provides information about how many people are linking to your website, and how often your website appears in search engine results pages.
  • Google also offers a tool called PageSpeed Insights, which helps you optimize your website’s speed and performance.

Is SEO worth the investment?

While SEO can be a difficult and time-consuming process, it is definitely worth the investment.

Why?

SEO helps boost content creation efforts that apply to search engine user’s searches. When people are searching for information online, they are more likely to find relevant results if those results are high in the search engine rankings. This means that by investing in SEO, businesses can reach more potential customers online.

Another reason SEO is worth the investment is because it can help businesses to save money in the long run. By increasing traffic to their website through SEO, businesses can reduce their advertising costs and improve their ROI.

Summary

SEO can be a valuable investment for small businesses. However, the cost of SEO services can vary widely, so it’s important to do your research and find a reputable company that offers a range of services and pricing options.

At Loganix, we understand the importance of SEO for small businesses and offer a variety of services to fit any budget. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you grow your business online.

Hand off the toughest tasks in SEO, PPC, and content without compromising quality

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Written by Aaron Haynes on April 29, 2022

CEO and partner at Loganix, I believe in taking what you do best and sharing it with the world in the most transparent and powerful way possible. If I am not running the business, I am neck deep in client SEO.