SEO pricing can vary from business to business. SEO costs are also dependant on how aggressive a business owner wants to be when tackling their SEO. When an SEO agency formulates their SEO pricing models, they take into consideration the length of time and manpower involved in the project. 

Long term business contracts are always the goal of any SEO agency. Most SEO consultants will provide feedback on the best course of action to take when maximizing SEO performance. 

When you ask the common question, “how much does SEO cost?” you should be cautious. Doing your research on the subject and be wary of SEO agencies that may take advantage of you. The last thing that you want is to get overcharged for tasks that take a lot less time and effort than these SEO agencies are claiming.

Perhaps getting a second opinion from a trusted SEO consultant is a smart move after receiving a price quote from your SEO agency. 

There are generally four standard SEO pricing models. Let’s take a quick look at these SEO pricing models and which one may be best for your business. 

Project-Based SEO

Project-based SEO services are the most popular SEO pricing model available among SEO companies. Despite its relative popularity, there’s a wide variety of possible prices since the overall cost will be dependant upon the scope of your unique needs. 

Most respondents fall into one of the following SEO pricing ranges: 

• $1,000 – $1,500
• $1,500 – $2,500
• $2,500 – $5,000
• $5,000 – $7,500

Project-based SEO pricing is best for websites with specific needs. If you only need temporary assistance with particular SEO tasks, then project-based SEO pricing is best for you. 

Also, with project-based SEO pricing, you can agree on a contract that describes when the results of the project will be delivered. There are no hourly costs associated with project-based SEO pricing. You’ll never have to worry about additional unforeseen fees coming your way once the project is finished. 

Performance-Based SEO

Performance-based SEO pricing is a relatively new SEO pricing model. There aren’t any set prices for this specific model since it’s entirely dependant on the performance of how well your business ranks on the Google Index. If you don’t rank, then you don’t pay. 

Although it places a rather heavy burden on the SEO agency, it provides them with the motivation to work harder since they only get paid if they deliver results. Clients will only be required to pay if their rankings improve, and it minimizes risk-exposure for clients. 

Most SEO agencies that offer this SEO pricing model are said to be confident in their SEO improvement skills. Depending on where your business currently lies on the SEO spectrum, this may be an excellent choice to consider. 

Small business owners most commonly opt for this choice with an e-commerce website. It offers business owners with much-needed flexibility to target specific products to gain better organic visibility.  

Monthly SEO Retainer 

Monthly SEO services typically favor long-term business partnerships. If a business needs to outsource their SEO completely, then monthly SEO pricing is probably the best choice. It’s one of the most promising ways to deliver meaningful results through search engine optimization. 

With a monthly SEO retainer, you’ll have an SEO agency managing your SEO campaigns from start to finish. This also helps to keep you in business with your SEO agency for a more extended period, which helps to foster a trusting relationship with one another. This aids in having better communication, improved trust, and a stronger overall partnership. 

Monthly retainers are generally tailored to each clients’ specific needs, expected to budget anywhere between $1,000 – $3,000 per month. 

Outsourcing your SEO is the right choice if you have your plate full of typical day-to-day business tasks. It takes away the mental stress of having to perform all of your SEO maximizing efforts and gives you free space to handle more important matters. If you wish to outsource all of your SEO efforts, then a monthly SEO retainer may be the perfect option.

Hourly SEO

Hourly SEO pricing may seem like a worthwhile investment if you know what you’re going to pay for in the long run. Depending on how many hours were spent on your project will be the determining factor on the final cost. If you choose the hourly SEO pricing model, then you can expect to pay anywhere from $75 – $150 per hour. 

This specific SEO pricing model is ideal for those that need limited assistance that typically doesn’t take up a lot of time. The only risk factor involved with this pricing is that the SEO project may take longer than expected, which then affects the cost later on. 

So if you’re more of a DIY business owner that likes to be hands-on, then hourly SEO pricing is best for you. It’s also idyllic for small websites that need minor adjustments to the SEO platform. 

Whenever an SEO agency is getting paid hourly, they ensure that all of the time worked is logged. You can easily track where your SEO agency is spending most of their time and effort. Also, knowing what you’re going to pay gives you direct control over your budgeting so that you can keep track of how much your spending on SEO.