How much does SEO Cost for Small Businesses?
As a small business owner, you are always looking to maximize your investment in your business. Every dollar needs to count, and deliver. You are an expert in getting the most value out of your money and when it comes to marketing you keep the focus on strategies that deliver a high ROI (return on investment). One such strategy that is often a staple for small business owners is search engine optimization or SEO. The question that we get asked all the time though as a digital marketing company for small businesses, is how much does SEO cost for Small Businesses. This is a great question!
The reason it is a great question because it really depends on what you get out of your SEO campaign. If you are establishing strong rankings online, continuing to attract qualified leads, and driving new business through your website, SEO is an indispensable tool. That is not to say that you should be spending thousands of dollars each month on SEO, but it does beg the question how much are you willing to spend on SEO? The answer can be found by looking at the common SEO pricing models out there, and more importantly the results they can deliver for your business.
How much does SEO cost small businesses? Is it a one-time thing? Monthly? Yearly?
As you begin to investigate just how much SEO costs small businesses it is important to remember that there is no “standard” price for SEO. Often times companies and agencies can charge based on their experience and quality of work. It is up to the business owner and marketing managers investing the SEO company to determine how much they are willing to spend.
At MarketKeep, we have discovered that each SEO agency’s rates are based on the services they offer, their level of experience, and the overall size of the company. A larger company with years of experience will be able to charge more than a smaller, younger agency that needs to bring in new clients to hit their revenue goals.
As you research your options you will begin to notice that most SEO agencies offer a few basic pricing models when it comes to their SEO packages for small businesses.
1. Monthly Retainer
Many SEO companies utilize the monthly retainer option for clients. This means that each client will pay a flat rate each month for on-going work. Monthly SEO contracts vary based on the services a business needs, but contracts typically range from $500 to $1,500 per month. For more aggressive campaigns some companies may even charge more.
Again the price will change depending on the needs of your business and the capabilities of the SEO agency.
2. Contract Services
Often initiated by business owners who are unsure of a company. A contract SEO contract will start and stop depending on the needs of the client.
3. Project-based
Similar to contract services a project-based SEO contract focuses more on one specific item or request. For example, your contract can focus on short-term goals like boosting your social media presence or launching a new blog for your website. The cost of these projects can range depending on the scope of work, but it really depends upon the type of project and the amount of work needed.
3. Hourly Rate
Some SEO professionals charge an hourly rate for their services. Typically you will find this with freelance SEO consultants and website designers.
Maximizing your ROI With SEO
If you are a small business owner responsible for marketing your business, it really makes sense to hire an SEO agency to manage your SEO campaign because it is so specialized. Depending on what you can afford, the size of your website, and your target audience, you will want to budget between $500 to $2,500 per month towards search engine optimization.