SEO Pricing: How Much Does SEO Cost in 2024?

Ever wondered how much it costs to hire an SEO agency? You know the benefits of SEO, but how much do you have to pay to get real results?

Plenty of factors affect the cost of SEO, and choosing the right service model is key to hitting your marketing goals. 

If you plan on investing in search engine optimization this year, this guide will show you how much SEO costs, the factors that affect the price, and how to choose the right service model for your business. 

How Much Does SEO Cost?

The cost of SEO varies depending on the service model, location, niche, and many other factors. Organic SEO efforts can cost zero dollars, whereas a professional, done-for-you campaign can cost $500+ monthly. 

The key to finding the right SEO service is understanding what you want to achieve. This will allow you to choose the right service model and get the best ROI for your investment. 

But for those looking for solid stats, there was some interesting research published by Ahrefs in late 2023 that showed:

• Monthly retainers range from $500 to $1500 a month. 
• Project fees range from $2000 to $5000.
• The most popular hourly rate for SEO services is $75 to $100.

8 Factors That Affect the Cost of SEO Services

Let’s take a closer look at the factors that affect the cost of SEO so you can create a realistic marketing budget. 

On-Page Optimization

How much optimization does your website need to succeed? The better optimized your website is, the less you’ll spend on SEO services to get it up to scratch. On-page SEO includes title tags, meta descriptions, headings, content, graphics, and more. 

The size of your website and the level of work required to optimize it will both affect the cost of SEO. 

Keyword Research and Analysis

Another fundamental aspect of a successful SEO strategy is keyword analysis. If you already have a strategic list of keywords and phrases that you want to target, you’ll spend less on SEO services. 

However, conducting thorough keyword research takes time and specific tools, which adds to the SEO pricing. 

Content Creation

Are you looking for optimized content to add to your website? This is the backbone of your SEO strategy, and you’ll struggle to get results without a bank of well-optimized, valuable blog content on your website. 

If you struggle to write content yourself, you’ll need to pay an expert to write it for you. The cost of this service varies, but you’ll usually get it included in the cost of SEO services with any marketing company. 

Technical SEO

Addressing technical issues requires expertise and time, both of which will drive up your budget. If your website is slow, unresponsive, or not mobile-friendly, this needs optimization for your SEO strategy to get results. 

Addressing technical issues prior to hiring an SEO expert can speed up the process and allow you to focus your time on content creation and organic SEO. 

Backlink Building

Getting backlinks from high-authority websites is one of the most effective ways to boost your SEO. However, without expert help, it’s incredibly difficult to do. 

At Linkifi, we provide digital PR services that guarantee backlinks from some of the top publications (with an average domain authority of 70 or more). Our prices start at $3,750 a month, and our case studies speak for themselves. 

Local vs. Gloabal SEO

For businesses targeting local customers, local SEO is essential. This involves optimizing your content for local searches, which usually costs less than global SEO efforts. However, the cost does vary greatly depending on the competition in your area. Likewise, the cost of global SEO varies depending on your niche. 

Competition Level

Are you in a highly saturated market? Unsurprisingly, SEO pricing can sharply rise if you’re up against a lot of competition. Targeting competitive keywords is expensive and takes more time and effort to get results. 

Even so, you can get great results in a competitive market with strategic SEO efforts. By finding the right keywords and avoiding over-saturated ones, you’ll see results without spending thousands to outrank giants in your industry. 

Geographic Targeting

Finally, if your business operates in multiple locations, the cost of SEO will be higher. Targeting different regions with different marketing strategies involves more time and effort, which means higher service charges. 

SEO Pricing Models 

Before hiring an SEO company, it’s important to understand the different pricing models available to know what will work best for your company. 

Fixed Pricing

Some SEO agencies offer fixed-price packages, which means you know exactly what you’re paying for the services involved. This model works well for small businesses with limited budgets since you know your costs won’t run over. 

Hourly Pricing

With hourly pricing, you’re charged based on how many hours your SEO specialist spends on your project. If you’re looking for flexible, project-based assistance, this model can be ideal. 

Monthly Retainers

If you’re looking for long-term, ongoing support, a monthly retainer is usually the best option. In this case, you’ll pay a monthly fee to an agency in exchange for comprehensive services. This is usually the most expensive option, but many agencies do offer guarantees. 

Performance-Based Pricing

Some SEO agencies incur a fee based on the results achieved by their services. This means the agency is incentivized to get you results, but it’s tough to set clear, defined goals for the project. 

How Much Should You Spend on SEO Services?

The final question is, how much should you spend on SEO to see real results? Unfortunately, there’s no standard answer. You need to figure out a marketing budget that works for your business and set tangible goals you’d like to achieve. 

If you’re just starting out and you have no budget for SEO services, begin with DIY efforts. Although your progress will be slower, this will allow you to build up your experience and determine where your marketing budget would be best spent. 

Get Started With A Single, Effective SEO Service

No matter the cost of SEO for your business, it’s always a smart investment. Boosting SEO helps to expand market reach, establish brand trust, and build credibility. But with so many options, where do you start?

If you’re looking for measurable, impressive results from your SEO efforts, start with digital PR. We’ll help you get featured in top publications to boost your SEO, increase your domain authority, and spike website traffic. Contact us today, and we’ll walk you through the process.