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How much is SEO for a small business?
You’ve likely heard how SEO (search engine optimization) is the backbone of any digital marketing strategy to drive business growth and online visibility.
But for small business owners, the reality is that setting up and monetizing your online business can be costly.
Which leaves many business owners wondering….how much does SEO actually cost?
Read more: My Top Recommended Tools For Small Business.
Quick Summary
● There is no ‘quick answer’ regarding how much SEO will cost you and your small business. It all depends on your business type, if you choose to hire an expert or do it yourself, and the types of services you require.
● Doing SEO yourself is entirely achievable if you’re willing to invest your time!
● SEO can take months or even years to see results (but it is worth it!) I recommend engaging in other digital marketing strategies, such as pay-per-click campaigns.
● SEO as a service managed by a professional SEO expert can be anywhere from $500-$2500 monthly (this is for a small business). Monthly cost go up depending on the size and requirements of the businesss.
How Much Is SEO For A Small Business?
SEO for small businesses can vary depending on several factors.
Firstly, if you hire a seasoned SEO expert, your costs will be much higher than if you do SEO on your own (yes, it is possible to do SEO on your own, but more on this soon!)
As an estimate, a professional SEO guru can charge anywhere from $500-$2500 monthly, depending on:
● Their technical experience.
● The services you require.
● The size of your business.
● Your country.
If you do SEO for yourself, the cost will be lower, but you may still need to invest in paid SEO tools such as SEMrush or Ahrefs to help you.
In saying that, there are some awesome free SEO tools out there!
Read more: 3 Best Keyword Research Services.
What Is SEO?
SEO is essentially optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
By employing a range of strategies, techniques, and optimizations, SEO aims to drive organic traffic from popular search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
The core objective of SEO is to optimize your website’s content, structure, and user experience in accordance with the ever-changing algorithms employed by search engines.
This involves thorough keyword research, on-page optimization, competitor analysis, technical SEO enhancements, and effective link-building strategies.
Implementing effective SEO practices can significantly amplify your online visibility and drive a steady stream of website traffic!
This increased exposure can lead to enhanced bookings, increased calls, greater sales conversions, and overall achievement of your online objectives.
Read more: How To Do Keyword Research.
Is It Worth It To Pay For SEO?
If you’re a busy business owner and don’t have the time or patience to invest in SEO, then absolutely hiring an SEO expert is the way to go!
SEO encompasses many activities, including keyword research, on-page optimization, content development, link building, and more.
And learning about these strategies is so important. SEO is so much more than just placing sporadic keywords within your content!
You might be thinking….what if I hire an SEO expert and don’t see any changes?
Remember that SEO is a long-term game, so don’t expect to see results immediately!
Another thing to remember is that investing in quality SEO services can yield long-term benefits and a higher return on investment for a small business.
So, if you do choose to invest in an SEO expert, do your research.
Read more: Is Google Sites Good For SEO?
Can You Do SEO On Your Own?
As mentioned above, you absolutely can do your own SEO! Just keep in mind that you’ll need to invest a decent chunk of time into learning SEO strategies for yourself.
To effectively implement DIY (do-it-yourself) SEO strategies, you’ll need some help.
Fortunately, numerous free and paid SEO tools are available to assist with comprehensive keyword research, competitive analysis, rank monitoring, website audits, and more.
Some of my favorite SEO include:
● Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest for free keyword research tools.
● Keywords Everywhere for paid keyword research.
● Google Analytics and Google Search Console to measure SEO performance.
● SEMrush for keyword research, backlink analysis and competitor analysis.
How Long Does SEO Take To Show Results?
The timeline for achieving rankings on Google can vary based on various factors, including your industry and competition.
As I mentioned, SEO is a long-term strategy that requires time and effort; it is not an overnight process!
Even when focusing on low or medium-competition keywords, immediate results should not be expected.
So, how does it work?
Basically, Google uses various algorithms to determine the value and relevance of the content you provide on your website.
It assesses your website’s performance at different positions, and if it performs well, your website may gradually move up the rankings within a few weeks (or months).
SEO involves strategically optimizing your content to signal to Google that your website should be ranked for important keywords related to your business.
The process requires careful planning and implementation!
Basically, there is no fixed timeframe for SEO to deliver results.
However, you may start to see visible results within a few weeks or months, depending on the level of competition in your industry.
Read more: SEMrush vs SpyFu
What Is The Difference Between SEO vs SEM?
SEM (search engine marketing) is a term that includes both SEO and paid marketing strategies.
Basically, SEO involves organically optimizing your website to rank on search engines, and SEM refers to paid advertising (PPC) on search engines like Google, YouTube, or Bing.
PPC (pay-per-click) involves inserting your ads onto different search engines, marketplaces, or social media platforms.
These ads will appear at the top or bottom of search engines and can help drive traffic to your website.
With PPC, you pay a certain amount every time someone clicks on your ad.
The main differences between SEO vs SEM are as follows:
● As mentioned, SEO can take several months to see results. But conversely, SEM (PPC) can provide instant traffic once you launch an ad campaign!
● SEO can have higher click-through rates (CTR) than SEM because people tend to trust organic results more than ads. However, ads still receive clicks!
● PPC campaigns allow precise targeting based on audience interests, demographics, and more. SEO has basic targeting but lacks specific audience targeting.
Read more: How Does PPC Work?
My Final Thoughts
And there you go!
As you can see, the cost required for SEO services can significantly vary depending on the services required, your business size, and whether you or a professional does the SEO.
No matter your budget or requirements, there is one thing that I know for sure – SEO is a truly valuable investment for any business type, no matter the size!
So, if you’re serious about driving online visibility and growth, I seriously recommend you implement a strong SEO strategy as part of your digital marketing efforts!
I hope I’ve answered your question: How much is SEO for a small business?
Thanks for reading.
