How much does SEO cost in 2024? (Realistically)
SEO is one of the most challenging forms of Digital Marketing.
The majority of businesses spend between $2,500 and $7,500 per month on SEO services. This wide range accounts for differences in company size, goals, and the complexity of the SEO strategies required. Small businesses might spend as little as $500 monthly, while larger enterprises could see costs exceeding $10,000 per month (Source: WebFX).
Key Components of SEO Costs
There are many 6 things that go into SEO.
1. Auditing
An SEO audit is essential for analysing your current position, including backlinks, traffic, site health, and content. Professional SEO audits typically cost between $500 and $5,000, depending on the complexity and size of your website (Source: WebFX).
2. Content Creation
Creating high-quality, relevant content is crucial for SEO success. This includes blog posts, website copy, and multimedia content.
Price Range:
Keyword Research and Content Strategy: $500 – $2,000+
The average is around $700.Blog Posts (500–2,000 words): $75 – $1,000+
The average is around $200.Website Copywriting: $50 – $200 per page (Source: uSERP, WebFX).
The average is around $120.
3. Link Building
Link building remains a critical factor in SEO, enhancing your site's authority and status. Costs per link can range from $100 to over $1,500, depending on the quality and source of the link (Source: Forbes, Ahrefs).
4. Technical Configuration
Technical SEO focuses on optimising the backend of your website to improve its performance and visibility.
Price Range:
Technical SEO Audit: $500 – $5,000
Optimisation Services: $100 – $300 per hour (Source: WebFX, uSERP).
5. SEO Research Tools
Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs are vital for keyword research and content writing. These tools provide extensive data for optimizing your site. Ahrefs and Semrush subscriptions start at around $129 per month.
6. Ongoing SEO Management
Ongoing SEO management ensures that your website maintains its rankings and adapts to algorithm changes. This typically involves monthly retainers, ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 per month, depending on the complexity and scope of services required. (Source: WebFX)
SEO Pricing
SEO prices can vary quite a lot.
On one hand there are freelancers charging just $20 - $30 per hour.
On the other hand you have retainer agencies that charge form $1,500.
SEO Pricing Tiers
Statistic: Average Monthly SEO Spend by Business Size
Small Businesses
Pricing starts at around $100 here. Ususally it doesn’t get much more expensive than $2,500 per month.
Medium-Sized Businesses
In this category it’s usually an agency. They will be on a monthly retainer and charge between $2,500 and $5,000 per month.
Large Enterprises
In this area it’s mostly large agencies that can provide lots of value or have other advantages that enterprises get over hiring their own inhouse team.
Pricing starts at $5,000 a month and can exceed over $10,000.
Hourly SEO Rates
SEO services can also be billed on an hourly basis, which is often used for specific tasks or consultations. According to recent data, the distribution of hourly rates is as follows:
Statistic: Distribution of Hourly SEO Rates
Less than $50 per hour: 28.95% of businesses
$51 - $100 per hour: 64.04% of businesses
More than $100 per hour: 6.75% of businesses
The average hourly rate varies significantly based on experience and geographical location:
New SEOs (2 years or less): $73.05 per hour
Experienced SEOs (5-10 years): $102.03 per hour
Highly experienced SEOs (10+ years): $118.35 per hour
In terms of geographical differences, SEOs serving local markets charge around $93.89 per hour, while those serving international markets charge approximately $106.69 per hour (Ahrefs) (SE Ranking).
Is SEO Worth the Investment?
SEO is widely regarded as a cost-effective digital marketing strategy that provides long-term benefits. It delivers long-term benefits by enhancing brand visibility and driving organic traffic, which can lead to substantial increases in revenue. Although SEO requires significant investment, the potential return in terms of organic traffic and conversions makes it a worthwhile endeavor.
However, for small business owners who may find it challenging to afford professional SEO services, there is a valuable alternative. You can invest your time in learning and applying SEO techniques yourself. To support you in this endeavor, we have created a comprehensive free SEO guide that covers all the essential aspects of SEO. This guide is specifically designed for small business owners who want to improve their online presence without incurring high costs.
Get Your Free SEO Guide: Visit lcnt-media.com/seo-guide to access our free SEO guide. This resource will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to implement effective SEO strategies on your own, helping you to grow your business organically and sustainably.
