how much is SEO per month 

Not all SEO programs are created equal, and not every program is priced the same. Marketing is one of those realms where the lines get blurry. Some companies provide fantastic work for affordable rates, while others offer minimal services without tangible results. And no – we’re not bashing marketing companies; we are a marketing company! But understanding SEO programs and who to hire is tough – we get it. That’s why we’ve created this guide to (hopefully) help break through the clutter and allow clients like you to better understand what you a purchasing with an SEO program and how much to expect for a program.

If you still have questions at the end, we’ve left our direct emails and are happy to answer any additional questions you might have regarding SEO programs and pricing!

 

How Much is SEO Per Month: Part I 

Quality vs. Quantity with SEO Pricing 

Before we hop into pricing, it’s important to understand quality vs. quantity regarding SEO programs. 

I won’t rant on in marketing language that makes it hard for you to understand because it’s a simple concept. Let’s say you receive two SEO proposals for $1000/month, but one includes one blog and the other includes 5-7 blogs. When you first read through the proposal, you’ll probably think that the company proposing one blog is ripping you off.

But if you get a quote from an SEO company that is a blogging program with 5-7 monthly blogs, there are two questions you need to ask:

  1. How long are the blogs?
  2. How do you format content to ensure they do not turn into Zombie Pages?

Three years ago, we had clients that were getting eight monthly blogs between 300-500 words. That’s because Google’s algorithm wanted blogs produced consistently and frequently throughout the month. A few years ago, they began to favor quality blogs over the quantity of blogs.

In 2022, short-form blogs that provide no real value quickly turn into zombie pages (Okay, I know I said no marketing language, but bear with me!) Zombie pages are pages that do not rank and that Google flags as ‘dead pages’ on your website. Simply put, they add no real value to rankings and provide no favors getting you on the good side of Google. Every website probably has a few zombie pages but get too many, and the content can hurt your rankings instead of helping them.

How much is SEO per month

Here are the answers you should look for to the two questions above

How long are the blogs?

Blogs should be a minimum of 800 words. They are still practicing outdated SEO strategies if they tell you the blogs will be 300-500 words. Long-form blogs are what needs to be created in order to compete in 2022. 

How do you format content so they do not turn into zombie pages?

Pictures, videos, infographics, and multimedia. They should also talk about interlinking between pages and setting up each blog to become a pillar page or support a pillar page. If their blog format is one title image + text, that should be a significant red flag. 

So when you compare and look at the one blog vs. the 5-7 blogs again, if the one blog is 1000-1500 words with graphics, images, schema, interlinking, etc., it probably is the better program with a company that understands the kind of content Google is looking for. If they don’t outline what kind of blogs they will be creating in your proposal, you should always ask for details before signing a program.  

 

 

How Much is SEO Per Month: Part II

How Much is SEO Per Month? Let’s Break it Down. 

It’s important to note that every SEO company will offer different pricing options. However, as an SEO company that knows the business and is about bringing fair value to clients – this is what we believe SEO packages SHOULD be priced at in 2022.

 

Minimal SEO Program – $600-$850 

These programs are minimal and focus more on maintaining rankings instead of increasing them. Some SEO companies do not even offer programs in this price range, but for some small businesses, it’s all they can afford. With a minimal SEO program, it’s essential to understand that progress and optimization of keywords is much slower and take longer to achieve. If a client who doesn’t currently rank for any keyword mentions they want to rank #1 for ‘property manager in Tampa in one year but then wishes to purchase a $700 program, we will be the first to let them know the program will not have the ROI they are looking for.

With a minimal SEO program, you can expect: 

  • One blog a month (long-form content 800-1200 words) 
  • 0 face-to-face client calls monthly 
  • Monthly traffic and ranking reports and keyword ranking management. 
  • Backend and frontend SEO audit and updates (update metadata, keywords, root domains)
  • Blog shared to 2 social media platforms (Instagram not included) 
  • Google Business Profile management, optimization, and posting

How Much is SEO Per Month

Mid-Tier SEO Program – $900-$2000 

This is a great starting point for many clients, and it’s our most popular package range. The mid-tier SEO program incorporates growth strategies for keywords and focuses on getting blogs to rank at the top of Google in the rich snippet location, which is the highest position on Google. All of our clients on programs in this range see massive keyword growth within the first 12 months of the program due to advanced SEO strategies and optimal hours. 

With a mid-tier SEO program, you can expect: 

  • 1-2 blogs a month (long-form content 800-1200 words) 
  • Two face-to-face client calls monthly 
  • Ongoing rich snippet and blog optimization for zero-point ranking. (Re-indexing of new blogs for faster visibility)
  • Monthly traffic and ranking reports and keyword ranking management.
  • Backend and frontend SEO audit and updates (update metadata, keywords, root domains)
  • Blog shared to 2 social media platforms
  • Product, FAQ, and Local Business Schema markup across all pages 
  • Google Business Profile management, optimization, and posting
  • Ongoing website content updates (adding new content, updating current content for optimal fresh indexing, and building website credibility)

How Much is SEO Per Month 

Advanced SEO Program – $2000+

If you’re looking to be aggressive and hit the ground running regarding an SEO program with all the bells and whistles, advanced SEO programs are worth the investment. In addition to all the SEO benefits of multiple high-quality pieces going to your blog a month, advanced SEO programs offer pillar page building, management of funnels, newsletter creation, etc. It’s the best package for those to house all their marketing needs under one roof. 

This is also the best program for those who work in highly competitive industries. More attention is needed to outrank competitors and land coveted #1 positions in Google. Our most popular clients on this package include lawyers, dentists, doctors, and real estate agents. 

With a mid-tier SEO program, you can expect:

  • 2-4 blogs a month (long-form content 1000-1800 words) 
  • Weekly face-to-face client calls monthly 
  • Ongoing rich snippet and blog optimization for zero-point ranking. (Re-indexing of new blogs for faster visibility)
  • Monthly traffic and ranking reports and keyword ranking management. 
  • Backend and frontend SEO audit and updates (update metadata, keywords, root domains)
  • Blog shared to 2 social media platforms.
  • Ongoing website content updates (adding new content, updating current content for optimal fresh indexing, and building website credibility)
  • Product, FAQ, and Local Business Schema markup across all pages 
  • Google Business Profile management, optimization, and posting
  • Pillar page building, linking, and design 
  • Creation, optimization, and management of funnels 
  • Google Local Service Ad setup & management 

How much is SEO per month

SEO Program Add Ons 

In addition to the above services, it is common for these add-ons to be offered. Some SEO companies solely focus on SEO, but it is not uncommon for internet marketing companies to also offer additional marketing services, such as:

  • Web maintenance ($200-$400 monthly)
  • Google Ads Management (price based on monthly budget)
  • Facebook Ads Management (price based on monthly budget)
  • Google Local Service Ads (price based on monthly budget)
  • Website design (price based on website size)

 

How Much is SEO Per Month: Part III 

how much is SEO per month

Example case study from Send it Rising

Understand contracts & expectations

One of the other major factors to understand before signing an SEO program is contracts. Some SEO companies require clients to sign on for 3, 6, or even 12 months; on the contrary, other SEO companies require no contracts. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but it’s essential to ask and understand WHY companies choose to do one or the other.

For example, we choose not to make our clients sign contracts. For us, it makes sense solely because Google is constantly changing and updating how they rank websites on Google. When those changes occur, we automatically adjust and reallocate hours for clients based on the new updates. If a client is locked into an eight blog/month contract, but Google suddenly wants two blogs/month with higher quality, the last thing we want our clients to feel is that they have no flexibility in their contract.

Furthermore, giving clients the opportunity to see our work if of the utmost importance and requiring 6 months up front is not, in our opinion, starting off on the right foot.

It is also essential to understand how pricing is billed out. Here are some additional questions to prepare for a call or conversation with an SEO company you are considering hiring

How is the price of a program determined? Is it based on hours?

Are phone/web meetings included in the package price? If so, how many per month?

What happens if we need additional hours for a month?

 

So, there you have it! Real SEO advice from a real SEO company. And with any major business investment, it’s essential to shop around and find someone you trust who is the ideal fit for your company. SEO is one of those things that the cheapest option isn’t always the best, and you always want to ask questions before signing onto any program.

And although most believe the most important aspect of an SEO program is price, it’s actually trust.