How Much do SEO Services Cost?
On average, SEO services cost between $1,500 and $7,500 per month.
However, the price of SEO services varies depending on several factors, like services purchased, payment model, and the service provider.
On the low end, SEO services can cost as little as $50. On the high end, SEO services can cost as much as $30,000.
How are SEO Prices Determined?
Many factors contribute to SEO costs, like the skill set and experience of the SEO contractor or agency and the level of SEO competition in your industry. However, some factors are more important than others. Some critical factors for determining SEO cost are the SEO service provider, the pricing model the provider uses, the scope of your SEO project, and the services purchased.
I will break down these four pricing factors in this article and provide pricing figures for each.
How the SEO Service Provider Impacts the Cost of SEO
SEO services come in all shapes and sizes and so do the people and companies that provide them. SEO service providers can range from single individuals working as freelancers to large digital marketing agencies: Which SEO service provider you choose will considerably impact the cost of SEO.
As a standard rule, SEO agencies charge significantly more than SEO freelancers. SEO agencies, on average, charge twice as much as freelancers. However, they often offer more services as a part of their SEO packages. There are also SEO companies and freelancers overseas that charge considerably less than SEO providers in the United States.
Note: be wary of extremely low SEO pricing, especially if the provider guarantees results. Cheap SEO providers are often low-quality and sometimes outright scams.
How SEO Pricing Models Affect the Price of SEO
Another critical factor in SEO pricing is the payment model.
There are several models for SEO pricing, with the most common being:
- Hourly rate
- Monthly retainer
- Project-based pricing
- Performance-based pricing
Monthly retainer pricing is the most common system used by agencies. According to a survey, 87% of SEO agencies offer monthly retainer pricing, while only 15% offer performance-based pricing.
What pricing model your SEO service provider uses will impact the cost of SEO services.
Average SEO Cost: Broken Down by Pricing Model and Service Provider
How Much Does SEO Cost Per Hour?
- SEO agencies charge an average of $100 – $350 per hour.
- SEO consultants charge an average of $75 – $250 per hour.
- SEO freelancers charge an average of $50 – $100 per hour.
How Much Does SEO Cost Per Month?
- SEO agencies charge an average of $2,500 – $10,000 per month.
- SEO consultants charge an average of $1,000 – $5,000 per month.
- SEO freelancers charge an average of $500 – $2,000 per month.
How Much Does SEO Cost Per Project?
- SEO agencies charge an average of $5,000 – $30,000 per project.
- SEO consultants charge an average of $1,500 – $3,500 per project.
- SEO freelancers charge an average of $1,000 – $2,000 per project.
How SEO Project Scope Impacts the Price of SEO Services
Another factor that will impact SEO pricing is project scope. SEO campaigns generally fall into three categories:
- Local SEO campaigns
- National SEO campaigns
- International SEO campaigns
Local SEO campaigns increase local search visibility and website traffic; these campaigns are generally the cheapest of the three.
National campaigns will cost considerably more than local ones because they work to reach far more people and are more difficult to orchestrate and implement.
International SEO campaigns work to reach audiences in multiple countries and often various languages; these campaigns can be costly. International SEO campaigns are not necessarily more expensive than national campaigns.
SEO pricing: Broken Down by Project Scope
How Much Does Local SEO Cost?
The average local SEO campaign costs approximately $500 – $1,000 per month.
How Much Does National SEO Cost?
The average national SEO campaign cost around $2,500 – $7,500 per month.
How Much Does International SEO Cost?
The average international SEO campaign will cost $1,000 – $8,000 per month. The cost of international SEO campaigns will vary widely depending on the countries and languages targeted in the campaign.
How SEO Services Purchased Impact the Cost of SEO
SEO is a broad category that includes various services and activities. Which SEO services you purchase will considerably impact the price of SEO.
Basic SEO packages will cost less but produce more meager results. In contrast, high-end SEO packages can be pricy but should have a more pronounced impact. Additionally, SEO for eCommerce sites will add additional costs.
SEO Pricing: Broken Down by Services Purchased
How Much Does Basic SEO Cost?
The average basic SEO plan will cost $500 – $2,500 per month.
Services Included:
- Keyword Research
- Search Title Creation
- Meta Description Creation
- Analytics Setup
- Content Optimization
- Listing Distribution
- On-page Optimization
- Basic Technical Optimization
How Much Does Enterprise SEO Cost?
The average enterprise SEO plan will cost $3,000 – $20,000 per month.
Services Included:
- Keyword Research
- Search Title Creation
- Meta Description Creation
- Analytics Setup
- Content Writing & Optimization
- Citation management
- Google Business Profile Management
- On-page Optimization
- Advanced Technical Optimization
- Internal Linking
- Conversion Rate Optimization
- UX/UI Improvements
- Link Building
- Schema Markup
How Much Does eCommerce SEO Cost?
The average eCommerce SEO plan will cost $2,500 – $15,000 per month.
Services Included:
- Keyword Research
- Search Title Creation
- Meta Description Creation
- Analytics Setup
- Content Writing & Optimization
- Citation management
- Google Business Profile Management
- On-page Optimization
- Advanced Technical Optimization
- Internal Linking
- Conversion Rate Optimization
- UX/UI Improvements
- Link Building
- Product Descriptions
- Schema Markup
- Product Page Creation
So, How Much Does SEO Actually Cost in 2022?
The answer: It depends
The quality of SEO services and service providers varies widely, and so do the prices. As a general rule of thumb, you get what you pay for when it comes to SEO.
Suppose you find someone offering SEO for $50 bucks a month; it’s probably not going to be very effective. However, that doesn’t mean you need to spend $30,000 to get results.
When considering what SEO service you want to purchase, first consider your needs and then buy the service that meets those needs.
For example, a local SEO campaign will be ideal if you run a local coffee shop. In contrast, an up-and-coming SaaS company that wants to sell its product nationwide will want to run a national campaign.
Once you know what kind of SEO campaign you need, use the average pricing laid out in this article to shop around for the right service.
Want to Learn More About How SEO Can Help Your Business?
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