SEO Cost Calculator: How Much Does the Typical SEO Service Cost?

Wondering about the true cost of SEO services? In this blog post, we’ll explore the typical expenses for SEO and why opting for cheap services can be risky. We will also introduce our SEO Cost Calculator to help you budget effectively. Discover what you should expect to pay for quality SEO services.

How Much Does the Typical SEO Service Cost?

For many businesses, particularly in the current climate, investing more funds into outsourced marketing services like SEO may be overwhelming. The cost of SEO services can vary widely depending on various factors, including the size of the project, the experience of your chosen SEO provider and the needs of your business.

For freelancers or smaller agencies, rates might start at around £50 to £150 per hour. Larger agencies with more extensive resources and a proven track record might charge between £100 and £300 per hour (this is a ball park figure but helpful for you to get your head around).

Whilst it may be tempting to go straight for the cheaper option, it’s essential to consider potential risks. In most cases, investing in low-cost SEO services often means cutting some corners and implementing SEO tactics that can lead to penalties from search engines like Google and Bing. Instead, investing in a quality SEO service or agency can ensure that an considered, ethical and effective strategy is deployed to maximise your plan without hindering any pre-established online success.

To help you estimate the costs of your SEO services, we’ve included a handy calculator below. This calculator takes into account your business size, goals, and the level of competition in your industry, giving you a clearer picture of what to expect.

Remember, good SEO is an investment in your business’s future. Spending more on quality services can save you from headaches and potential penalties.

“Wow, Your SEO is So Cheap!”

I love a bargain, and I am not afraid to admit it. Cheap SEO might feel like a bargain at first, but the financial strain it can cause could be severe. In today’s digital sphere, the online competition is fierce, so your business should aim to invest in high-quality SEO services from a trusted SEO provider.

It’s usually a red flag when an SEO agency or freelancer attaches ‘cheap’ to their offerings. When you add this to your online search for SEO services, you open yourself up to spammy and untrustworthy agencies that can harm your online performance and, in turn, decimate your brand’s reputation.

Cheap SEO services usually mean a one-size-fits-all approach. This means that your business’s individual needs will usually not be considered, but regular, basic practices may be implemented that have yielded results for companies in the past. When looking for an SEO agency, you should seek a team that will research your industry and business to understand your audience and their online behaviour and craft a strategy around them.

Sometimes, you may find that with cheaper SEO services, you may be dealing with inexperienced account managers.  That is not on the account managers themselves but on larger companies who onboard new hires remarkably quickly and provide them with a basic plan of how to optimise a site and input SEO basics. These agencies do not see the need for SEO specialists and bring in newcomers, piling the pressure on and setting unrealistic targets through basic training.

One of the most prevalent concerns when opting for a cheap SEO service is the fear of combining black-hate SEO tactics into your marketing strategy. With cheaper SEO solutions resulting in more of a copy-and-paste approach, it’s difficult for cheaper SEOs to secure results and impact clients. That is why many low-cost options use black hat tactics, which is when a strategy or tactic is used for deception and to trick search engines into improving your search rankings. An SEO agency or freelancer who opts for black hat techniques has no desire to stay up-to-date on industry standards and, even worse, doesn’t care about potentially penalising their clients.

The SEO Cost Calculator

When navigating the cost of SEO, it is crucial to use a calculation that considers the average lifetime profits from new customers in one month divided by monthly organic marketing spend.

Here’s a simple example of the calculator in action: Say you have a business selling unique jewellery.

OR – You can also calculate this for a one-off purchase by using the formula below:

As you can see, that one variable makes a huge difference in how the ROI is stated.

Our Final Thoughts

Understanding the cost of SEO services is crucial for any business looking to improve its online presence. While the temptation to opt for cheaper services is strong, it’s important to consider the potential risks and long-term impacts on your website’s performance and reputation. Investing in high-quality SEO ensures that ethical, effective strategies are used, protecting your site from penalties and maximising your online success.

Our SEO Cost Calculator can be an invaluable tool for helping you budget effectively, taking into account your business size, goals, and industry competition. This tool can give you a clearer picture of what to expect and help you make informed decisions about your SEO investments.

Remember, quality SEO is an investment in your business’s future. Spending a bit more on professional services can save you from headaches and financial strain down the line, ensuring your online efforts yield the best possible results.

Ready to dominate the search engine rankings? Contact ROAR and let our SEO specialists curate a seamless strategy designed for success.