Cost vs. Value of Working with an SEO Consultant
Article by Colette Nichol, Story Strategist and Organic SEO Consultant
How much does an SEO consultant charge for a strategy?
In short, an SEO strategy that you execute on your own can range in cost from $3000 on the low end to $15,000 on the high end. If the SEO consultant will also be providing feedback and ongoing guidance, expect to pay more. If the SEO consultant will also be providing comprehensive outlines for all the content you need to create, expect to pay on the higher end of the spectrum.
When thinking about SEO and what you need it’s important to realize that most people don’t know how to create content that can rank on the first page of Google.
It’s not enough to have a list of keywords. But at a minimum, you need to know what type of content to create, the structure of the content, and the words to include.
Done-for-you SEO services typically cost at least $2000 per month. If you’re in a competitive niche, then expect to pay more. In addition, if you’re going to do video SEO to create a stronger foundation that will bring you traffic for years, expect to pay at least $5000 per month or more.
Keep in mind that when assessing if SEO is right for your business, you need data.
You need to know what the value of SEO could be for your business to see if you’re going to get a good ROI. So you need to find out how big the opportunity is for your business and how competitive your niche is. One way to figure out if you should be doing SEO is by looking at your competitors.
Are your competitors doing SEO?
And are they coming up on the first page of Google?
If so, then it’s likely that your niche has growth potential.
SEO has a cost. But you should think about that cost in relation to the potential gain.
Before you can decide whether or not to do SEO, you need to know what the potential is in your niche and how competitive it is.
It’s critical you speak with a consultant to find this out before you go any further.
In today’s evolving marketplace, SEO i.e. Search Engine Optimization is a critical marketing channel for businesses that want to grow beyond word of mouth, social media or traditional advertising. But it isn’t feasible for every single business. It might not be within your budget. Or you niche might be so competitive that it’s just not worth it.
What’s the Purpose of SEO?
When you work with an SEO consultant or team, the goal is usually to increase your website’s visibility in search so that the right people find your business at the right times.
The main goal is usually to increase traffic and revenue.
How much an SEO consultant charges for a strategy will depend on a few factors including how competitive your niche is online, the level of growth you desire, how fast you want to grow, and whether video and PR will be included in your plan. In addition, whether you’re just paying for a plan vs having it done for you will affect the cost.
Price Range for SEO Consulting and Done-for-You Services
CONSULTING
If you’re just paying for SEO Consulting, the hourly rate of an SEO consultant will likely range from $250 to $1000 per hour.
Some SEO consultants do not do hourly consulting; instead, they work on a project basis only.
For example, I typically only work with clients on a long-term basis and don’t currently do hourly consulting.
Businesses typically need to be committed to SEO for a bare minimum of one year for it to be a logical investment. In fact, you should think of SEO as a forever strategy not a one-off one-and-done strategy. Once you gain momentum with SEO, there’s no reason to stop.
You can see such dramatic results with long-term SEO strategies that stopping just doesn’t make sense.
I like to see long-term growth and help my clients grow their business over the course of a few years because that’s much more satisfying. However, some consultants prefer working with clients on an hourly or one-off basis.
DONE-FOR-YOU SERVICE PLANS
For monthly SEO service plans, you can usually expect to pay $1000 to $5000 per month for SEO services which include content and optimization based on a big-picture strategy.
If you’re aiming to achieve your SEO goals faster, you can expect to pay over $5000 per month for SEO.
If your SEO strategy also includes video, which will allow you to create a more aggressive “moat” for your website, then you should also expect to pay over $5000 per month for SEO.
If you’re representing an enterprise-level business with a complex website, you may be paying closer to $20,000 per month for SEO services and $5000 per month to have a consultant on a retainer.
Factors Influencing SEO Strategy Cost
1. Consultant’s Experience and Reputation
The level of expertise of the SEO consultant plays a significant role in determining the cost.
So does the demand on their time. Since consulting is not a leveraged service, the more in-demand the consultant, the more working with them will cost.
2. Project Complexity
The complexity of the SEO project is another critical factor.
A straightforward project targeting a local market with minimal competition will cost less compared to a complex project aiming for high-competition keywords or a global market.
3. Business Size and Industry
Larger businesses often require a more comprehensive SEO strategy, covering multiple products or services across various markets. The industry also plays a role, as some sectors are more competitive online, necessitating a more aggressive SEO approach.
4. Specific Services Required
The scope of services required will impact the cost.
If you just want a strategy and some training for your team on how to implement the strategy, this will cost less than if you opt to get a full-suite offering that includes content creation, video, and link building.
Addressing Common Questions
How much does an SEO strategy cost?
If you’re paying a consultant to create an SEO strategy for you the bare minimum you can expect to pay is $5000. If you’re paying less, you won’t be getting instructions or training no how to implement the strategy or templates that show you exactly what to do. Unless you’re already familiar with SEO, you’ll need something comprehensive to follow if your team is going to do it in house.
In most cases, it’s best to hire an SEO consultant and their team to implement the strategy for you.
This typically costs $12,000 to $50,000 for a year-long project. There’s typically no point in doing SEO if you’re not going to go all-in for at least a year. It’s not a fast strategy.
That’s exactly why most businesses don’t do it!
Which is why there’s still such a massive opportunity for businesses who are patient and willing to get in the game. When you do SEO you’re planning on winning over the long-term. So you have to be running a business that you still want to see flourishing three years from now.
In other words, SEO is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a get rich slow strategy.
How much should I pay someone for SEO?
Your budget for SEO should align with your business goals, the competitive landscape of your industry, and the potential ROI of doing SEO.
You should allocate anywhere between 25% and 100% of your marketing budget to SEO. Most businesses that want to grow allocate at least 10% of their revenue to marketing.
If you want to grow aggressively with SEO, put as much of your marketing budget towards SEO as is feasible.
SEO is all about deliverables, so the more strategic content you put out the faster you’ll grow. That’s why budget does indeed matter.
Do you pay for SEO strategies? Is it like advertising?
Yes, you pay for SEO strategies, but it’s different from traditional advertising.
With SEO, you’re usually paying for content. But sometimes if you have a technical issue, you may be paying to have things on your website fixed. There may be things that are preventing you from ranking.
But in most cases, if you have a small website of 10-25 pages, what you need is content.
You need blogs and pages optimized for search in order to grow. You need video to improve your growth. And you need your content to be reasonably well optimized for conversions.
Think of SEO as creating strategic content and it will make a lot more sense to you.
What is SEM?
SEM (Search Engine Marketing) encompasses both SEO and paid search tactics like PPC (Pay-Per-Click).
While SEO focuses on improving organic rankings, SEM includes paid advertising strategies to increase visibility on search engines.
Final Thoughts
Investing in SEO is the best way for high-ticket businesses to grow.
If you have a product or service that sells well and you know your audience, SEO is probably going to be a very high ROI strategy for your business.
The cost of an SEO strategy varies based on the consultant’s expertise, the complexity of the project, your business size, industry, and the specific services you need.
Understanding these factors will help you budget appropriately and choose the right consultant for your needs.
Remember, a well-planned SEO strategy is an investment in the long-term growth of your business.
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About the Author
Hi! I’m Colette Nichol. I’m a solo filmmaker, SEO, story strategist, and digital marketer based out of rainy Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been helping small local businesses and global brands since 2014.
In 2017, I started applying SEO to my work with clients and in my own business. The results were extraordinary, and I got obsessed!
If you’re interested in working together, please reach out. I’d love to hear about your business goals to see if we can help.
We currently take on a maximum of one new client per month and are typically booked 3-months in advance, so please reach out early.
