HOW MUCH DOES SEO COST?

If you’ve ever investigated SEO services and thought, "Why does it cost so much just to rank on Google?" you’re not alone. SEO pricing is one of the most confusing things in digital marketing because, unlike Pay Per Click (PPC) ads where you pay per click, SEO doesn’t have a fixed price tag. The cost of SEO depends on several factors, including the level of service you need, the competition in your industry and whether you go for a DIY approach, hire a freelancer or invest in a full-service agency.

For businesses on a tight budget, DIY SEO is technically free, unless you count the time, effort and occasional frustration involved. There are plenty of online resources, free tools and SEO guides that can help you optimise your website without spending a penny. However, SEO is a long-term game, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you might spend months making little progress.

If you want professional help but don’t have a huge budget, freelance SEO specialists typically charge between £50 to £150 per hour or offer monthly packages ranging from £300 to £1,500. Freelancers are great for businesses that need targeted help with specific SEO tasks, such as keyword research, technical audits or content optimisation. The downside? Results can vary depending on experience, and freelancers may not offer the same level of support as an agency.

For businesses that want a comprehensive SEO strategy, agencies are the way to go. A small SEO agency may charge £500 to £2,000 per month, while larger agencies working with high-profile clients can charge upwards of £5,000 per month or more. Agencies offer full-service SEO, including on-page and off-page optimisation, technical SEO, link building and ongoing content strategy. The benefit of hiring an agency is that you get a dedicated team working to improve your rankings, but at a higher price.

Enterprise SEO, which is for large companies and competitive industries, can cost anywhere from £10,000 to £50,000 per month. This level of SEO involves advanced strategies, high-end content marketing and aggressive link-building campaigns. If you’re a small business owner, you don’t need enterprise-level SEO, but for global brands, it’s essential.

So, is SEO worth the cost? Absolutely. Unlike paid ads, which stop working the moment you stop paying, SEO provides long-term results. A well-optimised website can continue to generate traffic for years, making SEO one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies overall. However, SEO isn’t a quick fix, it takes months to see results, and businesses should be wary of agencies promising "instant rankings" (they’re usually using dodgy tactics that can get your site penalised).

At the end of the day, SEO is an investment. Whether you choose to do it yourself, hire a freelancer or work with an agency, the key is to find the right balance between cost, quality and long-term value. The more you put into SEO, the more you get out of it, just make sure you’re collaborating with experts who know what they’re doing.