So, you have the urge to boost your online presence, visibility and attract more customers through the Internet. Consequently, you came across SEO. Search Engine Optimisation, the process of improving a website’s visibility on search engines, such as Google. 

The big questions of today are “How much should SEO cost?” and “How much should you spend on it?” To give you a simple answer to these questions, we can’t. However, explaining to you that SEO costs aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation and that they are dependent upon your business size and goals is something we can do.

How Much Does SEO Cost?

The majority of businesses pay approximately £500 to £5,000 for their SEO (monthly). However,  you could pay anywhere from £100 to £30,000. SEO prices not only depend on your business size and goals. They can depend on your marketing provider and the scale of the project can have a big impact on SEO costs.

The Factors That Impact SEO Costs

SEO prices are influenced by the following factors: 

🔍 1. Business Size and Industry

  • Competition: If your business is in a highly competitive industry such as legal, finance or real estate, you’ll require more aggressive SEO strategies. This will increase costs.
  • Business Radius: Local businesses typically pay less than national or international companies due to the narrower target audience and a less complex SEO strategy.

🧱 2. Website Condition and Size

  • Website Health: A site with present technical issues (broken links, slow loading, poor mobile usability) requires more upfront work.
  • Amount of Existing Pages: More pages = more time required for optimisation (metadata, content, internal linking).

🛠️ 3. Service Scope

  • On-Page SEO
  • Technical SEO
  • Off-Page SEO
  • Content Strategy and Creation
  • SEO Analytics and Reporting

The more depth there is to your required SEO strategy, the higher your SEO costs.

🎯 4. Business Goals and Growth Ambitions

  • Goals: The broader your target audience and desired geographic reach (national or global), the more extensive the SEO strategy needs to be. Again, this will increase overall costs.
  • Ambitious growth: Big growth goals often require faster results. This may involve more aggressive tactics such as advanced content creation, link building and digital PR, leading to higher SEO prices.

📄 5. Contract Type 

Ongoing Monthly Retainer: Common for businesses who require ongoing optimisation (ranges from £500-£5,000+/month).

One-time Audit: One-time audits or site migrations can range from £1,000–£30,000, depending on project complexity

Hourly Rate: Typically £60-£200/hour depending on expertise and region.

👨‍💼 6. Experience and Reputation of SEO Provider

Freelancer or Agency: Freelancers may be more affordable, but agencies may offer broader capabilities and higher prices.

Track Record and Reviews: More experienced freelancers or agencies, with proven success, usually charge premium rates.

One-Time SEO vs Ongoing Monthly Packages 

Think of your website and SEO like a car and its fuel. Your website is the car, sleek, well-designed, maybe even impressive. But without fuel, it’s not going anywhere. That’s where SEO comes in.

You could have the most visually stunning website, but if no one can find it, it’s just sitting there. Pretty? Yes, but not very useful. SEO is what gets it moving. 

Now, imagine filling your tank once. You’ll get somewhere, sure. But eventually, you’ll run out of fuel. The car stops. The same goes for a one-off SEO strategy.

If you keep fueling your car regularly, it keeps moving, mile after mile. That’s exactly why many businesses choose to work with marketing providers on a monthly retainer. It allows them to stay consistent, adapt to algorithm changes and stay ahead of competitors trying to outrank them.

If you’re ready to fuel your website and stay ahead of the competition, investing in monthly SEO might be the smartest move you make.

Why Businesses Trust Pod Digital for Long-Term SEO Success

At Pod Digital, we understand that SEO doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it works best when it’s part of a joined-up, strategic marketing approach. That’s why we combine SEO with your broader digital marketing goals. 

The team ensures everything from content to social media campaigns is aligned for maximum impact. With us, you get the full package.

Ready to see what a future-ready SEO strategy can do for your business? Get in touch today and book your free strategy meeting.