Regardless of whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, you’ll likely be looking for a reasonable price for SEO. In fact, the average cost for SEO is between $500 and $1,000 per month, but the costs can vary dramatically depending on your needs. If you want to see improvements in your website’s rankings, it’s a good idea to set aside at least $500 per month.

Although some agencies charge a one-time fee for a particular SEO project, most SEO contractors will charge a monthly retainer. This is because SEO is a constant process that requires consistent attention. When the agency agrees to your SEO request, they will discuss your needs and agree on the overall costs of the campaign.

A basic SEO campaign will take about eight to sixteen months to produce a positive ROI. However, the costs for SEO can be quite variable, especially if you are doing localized SEO in a competitive market. Generally, it’s best to invest in a comprehensive program that includes keyword targeting, optimization of meta-tags and titles, as well as updates to Google Analytics.

Larger, more competitive metropolitan areas can have more competition. Therefore, the more competitive the area, the more expensive the package will be. While this means that smaller businesses in more rural areas can get a better deal, it also means that you’ll have to spend more on SEO services.

The survey of over 1,200 business owners included over 350 consultants and SEO agencies. One-third of respondents charged less than $1,000 per month, while 18% paid up to $1,000 and over half paid up to $5,000.