SEO Pricing: How Much Does SEO Cost?

SEO pricing can be a puzzle, with costs varying widely depending on business needs, industry and goals. Understanding how much SEO costs helps you make informed decisions driving your bottom line. 

With over a decade of experience delivering impactful SEO strategies, we’re here to cut through the noise and demystify SEO pricing so you can invest confidently and see real results.

How Much Does SEO Cost?

SEO costs from $3,000 to $10,000+ a month for an experienced SEO agency. But, the honest answer is there’s no one set price and there shouldn’t be. Every project is different and SEO should always work with your budget, not the other way around. 

 

Before we work with our clients we’ll arrange a free site audit and call so that we can understand what your website needs and what you want. This ensures that both parties are on the same page and we can work to a budget. 

 

If you only take away one piece of advice from this article, it would be to ensure every SEO company does the same. To speak to our team, simply send us a message and we can take a look at your website. 

Understanding SEO Pricing Models

To better understand SEO pricing, knowing the models companies use can help. Here are the main pricing models for SEO services and some things to watch out for. 

Hourly Rates

Hourly rates are a straightforward pricing model. You pay an SEO professional or agency for each hour they work on your project. 

This is well-suited to short-term tasks or when specialised expertise is needed. 

For medium—to enterprise-level companies, hourly rates can range from $150 to $500 an hour, depending on the agency’s experience and reputation.

The model is flexible, but you do have to monitor hours billed.

Monthly Retainers

Monthly retainers are the most common model for ongoing SEO services to drive website traffic. With a retainer, you pay a fixed monthly SEO cost for keyword research, content creation for search engines, technical SEO and regular reporting.

The approach is ideal for larger companies needing continuous SEO work to stay competitive.

Monthly retainers can range from AUD 3,000 to 10,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the work and the enterprise’s size.

The predictability of costs and sustained focus on long-term goals favour the model among larger businesses.

Project-Based Pricing

Project-based pricing is used for one-off SEO tasks or short-term projects with a defined beginning and end. Examples include a technical SEO overhaul, content strategy revamp or website audit.

The SEO cost in Australia for these projects varies widely depending on scope and complexity, with average SEO costs ranging from AUD 3,000 to AUD 10,000 for medium—to enterprise-level projects.

Project-based pricing provides clear deliverables and timelines, so it’s a good choice for a company that wants to tackle specific SEO challenges without a long-term commitment.

Performance-Based Pricing

Pricing based on performance ties the cost of SEO services to results such as higher rankings or increased traffic.

Initially, this model can sound appealing, but it comes with risks, especially for enterprise clients.

The challenge lies in accurately defining and measuring success metrics, which is difficult in the ever-changing landscape of SEO.

Performance-based pricing could encourage SEO companies or an SEO consultant to focus on quick wins instead of sustained growth. While these models might work for smaller businesses with narrower goals, they are generally not recommended for enterprise-level SEO because of their unpredictability and potential for misaligned priorities.

Factors Influencing SEO Costs

Some of the most impactful factors that influence the cost of SEO include:

Industry Competition

In highly competitive industries, SEO costs are driven by the need to outperform numerous competitors vying for the same keywords and visibility. Industries like finance, real estate and e-commerce often require more aggressive, resource-intensive SEO strategies.

SEO professionals spend more time on advanced keyword research, high-quality content creation, and robust link-building efforts.

The more competition within an industry, the more investment is needed to gain and maintain a competitive edge in search rankings.

Scope of Services

The scope of services needed plays a significant role in determining SEO costs. SEO is not one-size-fits-all. Rather, it encompasses a range of activities, each with its own cost implications.

• Technical SEO: Ensuring your website is fast, error-free, and crawlable can involve a deep audit and the implementation of complex fixes, which can be a significant investment, especially for large sites.
• Content marketing: Creating high-quality, SEO-friendly content to resonate with your audience is an ongoing and labour-intensive effort, with costs depending on the frequency and depth of content produced.
• Link building: Acquiring high-authority backlinks is necessary to improve your website’s domain authority, but it’s also one of the most challenging and expensive parts of SEO.

Each of these services can add layers of cost. The more comprehensive your SEO strategy, the higher your costs.

Geographical Targeting

Your SEO costs will rise accordingly if your business targets multiple locations or operates in international markets.

Geographical targeting requires customised strategies and an SEO campaign for each location, including localised keyword research, region-specific content and local link-building efforts.

Managing an SEO strategy across multiple regions or countries requires significant additional resources to ensure every target market is effectively reached and engaged. For enterprises looking to dominate in multiple geographical areas, this can substantially increase overall SEO costs.

Agency Experience and Expertise

Working with a reputable, experienced SEO agency is invaluable, but it does come at a price. Agencies with a proven track record, especially in handling complex enterprise-level projects, often charge more because they bring specialised knowledge, advanced tools, and a successful delivery history.

While opting for a lower-cost provider can be tempting, with SEO, you get what you paid for.

Investing in a skilled agency can mean the difference between campaigns that just tick the boxes and ones that drive substantial, measurable growth. The higher upfront cost can lead to a greater return on investment, making it a smart choice for companies looking for results.

Common SEO Service Packages

Examples of SEO service packages that may be available include:

Basic SEO Package

Basic packages are meant for businesses starting with SEO or those with a limited budget. Basic packages might include fundamental services like:

• Keyword research.
• On-page optimisation, including meta tags, headers and content for target keywords.
• Basic technical SEO addressing issues like site speed, mobile responsiveness, and crawl errors.
• Monthly reporting on keyword rankings and traffic.

A basic package may cover essential aspects of SEO but might need to be more for larger businesses with more complex needs or highly competitive industries.

Comprehensive SEO Package

While they can vary in specifics, comprehensive packages are more robust and suited to businesses that want to significantly boost their online presence. 

Along with the services you can expect with a basic-level package, comprehensive options might include:

• Content marketing including regular creation and optimisation of blog posts, articles and other content.
• Advanced technical SEO audit, including fixes like optimising site architecture and implementing structured data.
• Link building includes creating a strategy to acquire high-quality backlinks and improving domain authority.
• Local SEO to optimise for local search, including Google My Business management.
• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) to improve the user experience and increase conversions.

These packages might meet the needs of businesses in competitive markets or those seeking to grow significantly through their digital channels.

Enterprise SEO Package

These packages are tailored for large companies with complex needs and a focus on custom strategies. Additional features might include:

• A fully bespoke SEO plan designed to meet specific goals and challenges of an enterprise.
• A dedicated team of specialists working exclusively on your account, providing ongoing adjustments and support.
• Optimising your site for international SEO, including multiple languages and regions.
• Deep dive into competitor strategies to identify opportunities and threats.

These packages are best suited for companies that need a high-impact, tailored SEO strategy to maintain a competitive edge.

Additional Services

Specialised services like local SEO and e-commerce SEO may be added to standard packages.

Technical audits, which are comprehensive reviews of your website’s technical health, are also available.

These additional services let businesses fine-tune SEO efforts and address specific needs.

How to Determine the Right SEO Budget

To determine your SEO budget, keep a few considerations in mind.

Assess Your Goals

The first step in determining your budget is aligning it with business objectives. Do you want to increase your brand visibility, drive traffic, or boost conversions?

Understanding specific goals will help you decide how much to invest in SEO.

For example, if you’re launching a new product and want to see quick results, you’ll need a more aggressive SEO strategy and a higher budget.

On the other hand, if your goal is steady growth over time, your budget could be moderate and focused on long-term results.

The key is matching your SEO spend with desired outcomes to ensure your investment directly supports your business goals.

Calculating ROI

When determining your SEO budget, consider your return on investment.

Start by estimating the value of the additional traffic you expect to gain from improved search rankings. Compare this to the cost of your SEO investment.

Remember that SEO’s impact compounds over time, so your ROI could increase as your rankings improve and you see more traffic flowing in.

Long-Term vs. Short-Term Investment

SEO is a long game, and your budget needs to be viewed as an investment in sustained growth instead of a quick fix.

While you might see some immediate improvements, the real benefits of SEO can take months to materialise.

While a short-term investment may yield temporary gains, you need to commit to SEO for the long haul for lasting impact.

Think about how much you will invest over the next 6-12 months and beyond.

Treating SEO as a long-term strategy helps you build a strong foundation, so your investment pays off over time.

Common Pitfalls When Choosing an SEO Provider

Avoid these pitfalls when you’re budgeting for SEO and choosing a provider:

Choosing Only Based on Price

One of the biggest mistakes when choosing an SEO provider is only considering price. Opting for cheap SEO services can mean they cut corners, use outdated or unethical practices, and even harm your site’s rankings. 

Quality SEO requires time, expertise and resources. Investing in an experienced, reputable agency can cost more upfront but is more likely to deliver sustainable long-term results.

Lack of Transparency

Transparency is crucial when you’re working with an SEO provider.

Without detailed deliverables, clear pricing, and regular updates, you could end up paying for unnecessary services or those that don’t deliver results.

A reputable SEO agency will clearly explain what you’re paying for and how it aligns with your goals. This includes regular progress reports, challenges and next steps.

If an agency is vague about processes or hesitant to share results, it’s a red flag.

Clear communication and transparency build trust, ensuring you get value from your investment.

Over-Promising Results

Be wary of SEO agencies promising unrealistic outcomes or quick fixes. SEO is a complex and always-evolving field; no legitimate agency can control search engine algorithms. 

Look for providers who set realistic expectations and emphasise a strategic, long-term approach.

A good agency will be upfront about challenges and timelines for achieving meaningful results.

What’s the Next Step?

Understanding SEO pricing is crucial to making informed decisions that align with your business objectives. Recognising the factors influencing costs and choosing the right investment level ensures your SEO strategy drives meaningful, long-term results.

We offer transparent, results-driven SEO services that are tailored to your needs.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals.