Investing in search engine optimization (SEO) is among the smartest decisions a business owner can make in the digital era. According to a Statista survey, in 2022, professionals generally reported that SEO investments continue to deliver increasingly strong returns.
Knowing that SEO can deliver a high return-on-investment (ROI) may help you better appreciate why you should devote part of your budget to it. You may also be more willing to spend on SEO if you understand how a wide range of variables can influence its cost.
Factors that affect SEO optimization cost include:
How Competitive Your Industry Is
The purpose of SEO is to ensure your website’s content ranks high on search results pages. When members of your target audience perform relevant searches, you want them to find your website fairly easily.
How difficult it is to achieve this goal can vary significantly from one industry to another. If you have many competitors, there are many websites for yours to outrank. Thus, you may expect to spend more on SEO than someone who owns a niche business serving a very limited geographic area. Competition is among the main factors contributing to SEO optimization cost.
Starting Position
The nature of your current online presence can play a major role in the cost of SEO. For instance, maybe you’re starting from the very beginning. You have no website, no social media accounts, and no app.
Investing in SEO may require building your website first in this scenario. If you’re starting from the ground up, your SEO costs are likely to be relatively high compared to those of other business owners. On the other hand, if you merely need to adjust your current SEO strategy, you may spend less.
Your Chosen Pricing Model
Companies and professionals offering SEO services may use a range of pricing models. Common examples include:
- Monthly retainer fees
- Project-based pricing
- Hourly rates
The right type of pricing model for you will depend on your needs. If your business is a thriving enterprise that’s constantly growing, you may benefit from keeping an SEO professional on retainer.
On the other hand, maybe you’re just beginning to explore SEO. At this stage, all you need is to speak with someone who can answer your SEO questions. Enlisting the help of someone who charges by the hour may be the better option in these circumstances. Regardless, the SEO pricing model of the specialist you hire will also influence the cost.
SEO Costs: Investing in Your Business’ Future
Every SEO project is different. Other factors that may affect the cost of SEO include:
- The size of your site
- The specific services you need
- How long a project may take
- Your business goals
- The technical condition of your current website
- Whether you’re improving your entire site or just specific pages
An SEO specialist can provide you with more information about the potential cost of your project when you discuss it with them. The main point to remember is that surveys indicate an investment in SEO will pay off. As more businesses cultivate their web presences, the importance of investing in SEO to remain competitive will only grow.
Main Street ROI offers SEO, advertising, social media, and related digital services to businesses across various industries.