How Much Does Search Engine Optimisation Cost?
The cost of SEO in the UK varies widely, depending on factors such as the size of your business, the type of service provider chosen, and the specific SEO services required.
SEO Costs in the UK
If you are a sole trader or business owner planning to establish your online presence and showcase your trade, services, or products, you may wonder: How much does SEO cost in the UK? Understanding SEO costs can help you make informed decisions about your online visibility and potentially boost your business’s revenue and success.
In short, SEO costs in the UK vary significantly, ranging from less than £100 per month up to several thousand pounds per month for larger businesses; or from as little as £30 or £40 per hour for a Freelancer or small agency in some parts of the UK up to a much higher hourly rate, depending on the size, type and complexity of your business and your website. It is very hard to give precise numbers or to compare apples with apples.
Some SEO freelancers and agencies charge by the hour or day; others have a “monthly” fee, which may, in fact, buy you 1 day’s work, or a set of activities or deliverables; and others offer a range of “SEO Packages” at different prices. While this vast range might seem daunting, being aware of some of the options and different pricing models can help you prepare better for your potential investment in SEO, and know some of the questions it may be useful to ask.
Before we delve into more detail about the factors that can affect SEO costs in the UK, you might not know exactly what SEO is, so let’s start there.
What Is SEO?
Essentially, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. In simple terms, it is the process that helps your website appear higher in search engine results when someone searches for a relevant keyword or keyphrase. For instance, if you had searched for the term “SEO Cost in the UK” on Google or Bing, you might have even found yourself here! Understanding SEO can help you appreciate the potential impact it can have on your website’s visibility and, consequently, your business’s success.
The more valuable and relevant the information on the page is, the more likely it is to rank higher on search engines and the more likely potential clients and customers will visit your website. This is what we call organic traffic. While businesses can spend their hard-earned money on Google Paid Ads (PPC), SEO can drive organic traffic to your website. And the best part? It is entirely free!
The higher your web page ranks, the more visibility you have and, in turn, the more organic traffic comes to your website. Ultimately, this contributes to more leads, conversions, and revenue for your business. (Win, win, win!)
What Are the Benefits of SEO?
SEO not only helps generate more leads, conversations, and revenue but also plays a crucial role in enhancing various aspects of your online presence. It improves the visibility of your website, builds a positive reputation, and ensures greater accountability.
Additionally, by securing a top position on Google, SEO establishes trust among potential customers and allows you to get ahead of your competition. It also offers a cost-effective alternative to paid advertising while simultaneously enhancing the overall quality of your website and driving increased engagement. Need we say more?
Hiring For SEO
If you are considering hiring for SEO, whether as a one-time task, monthly contract, hourly rate, or complete project, you can opt for a freelancer, a local or national agency, an off-shore provider, or an in-house team. Whichever you choose, make sure to conduct thorough research before making a decision, such as looking at their reviews or website. Ideally, check out some of their existing clients to see how their websites are performing on Google’s organic search results.
Freelancers
Freelancers are often a more affordable option while still getting value for your money. Plus, you might get their individual attention on your website, or they may be flexible to work on your terms. However, while they specialise in certain parts of SEO, they may need to outsource some work or more expertise in other types of SEO due to working alone. Additionally, getting in touch with them if they are ill or on holiday may be tricky.
Agencies
Agencies typically boast a comprehensive team of professionals who are well-versed in all aspects of SEO. This includes web developers, copywriters, and marketing experts, ensuring a holistic approach to optimising your online presence. While their services may come at a higher price than freelancers, the breadth and depth of expertise offered by agencies can often yield impactful results.
In-House Team
An in-house team is typically utilised by larger companies and is significantly more expensive in terms of SEO. This is due to being directly employed by your business. However, they will be entirely dedicated to your SEO needs, ensuring loyalty and avoiding any conflicts of interest.
The Different Types of SEO
There are several different types of SEO, including local and e-commerce, as well as on-site and off-site SEO. If you want to learn more, please feel free to check out our more extensive guide to SEO. Let’s take a quick look to see what these might involve.
Local SEO
Local SEO is all about optimising a website to appear in local search results, whether for a broader area like Devon or a specific location like Plymouth. If you are a tradesperson or a local service provider, using local SEO can be beneficial for your business. Local SEO includes:
- Google Business Profiles
- Local Listings
- Website Optimisation for Target Areas
- Geotagging Images & Video
- Geopages and Areas We Serve pages
- Web Content about Local Projects, for example
- Connecting and Interacting with Local Groups on Social Media
SEO for E-commerce
You have likely heard of Amazon or eBay, as they are among the largest e-commerce websites. These platforms facilitate the online sales of products and goods. This involves implementing strategies to enhance the visibility of e-commerce websites in search engine results. Strategies include:
- Keyword research
- Creating product categories
- Optimising product titles
- Unique, helpful and informative descriptions
On-site SEO
On-site SEO (also known as on-page SEO) includes various practices. Good on-site SEO should include the following:
- A well-designed website
- Images and videos
- Quick site speed
- Regularly updated and high-quality content
- Website security
- Optimisation of copy and images
- And much more…
Off-site SEO
On the other hand, off-site SEO (or off-page SEO) focuses on optimising your business’s overall online presence outside your website. Like all aspects of SEO, quality is more important than quantity. Off-site SEO should include the following:
- Listings and citations
- Consistency and accuracy
- Quality backlinks
- Social media marketing
- Customer reviews
Does SEO Need to Be Ongoing?
The short answer is a definite yes. Whilst ongoing SEO adds to the cost of your website, you must continuously work on it to truly benefit from its rewarding nature. It is not just a one-off task you can complete and then forget about. Think of SEO as the tortoise and the hare scenario; slow and steady wins the race.
Not to mention, your competitors are also likely investing in SEO, just like you. While you are working hard to stand out from the crowd, others may outperform you in search results and attract your potential customers. This is why it is vital to maintain SEO before you fall behind and lose valuable organic traffic. The repercussions of having a website without regular or ongoing SEO are not worth thinking about, especially if you rely solely on it to attract new customers.
Just Keep SEO-ing
Search engines value websites that consistently provide high-quality, up-to-date, and relevant content for their users. Fresh and informative content improves user experience and keeps visitors engaged. Regularly updating your website with new and exciting content satisfies search engine algorithms and helps build trust and authority with your audience.
By continuously optimising your content for search engines, you can ensure that your website remains competitive in search rankings and attracts organic traffic. Consistent SEO efforts will enable you to analyse user behaviour, identify effective content types, and enhance your website’s overall visibility.
Ever-Evolving Search Engines
Search engines constantly refine their algorithms to deliver the most relevant search results to users. What may have been influential in the past may no longer hold true today, and strategies that work presently may not work in the future. Therefore, it is essential to regularly update your SEO strategy to ensure your website remains aligned with the latest search engine updates.
This significance of continuous SEO cannot be emphasised enough. It is an endlessly evolving field that requires consistent attention. By keeping pace with search engine algorithm fluctuations, adapting to changing user behaviour, and frequently updating your content, you can establish and sustain a solid online presence.
So, Is the SEO Cost Worth It?
The answer is Yes! It is essential to budget for this marketing activity when embarking on a new website. If you are a sole trader or a business owner in the trades or service-providing industry and require SEO services, Web Design and SEO Company can help you with your needs.
As an established, UK-based agency, we specialise in working with trades and other service businesses across the UK, providing local and national, on-site, and off-site SEO services. (Sorry, not e-commerce!) Due to the complexities of taking over an existing website for SEO, we only offer SEO services for sites we have built ourselves – which have SEO built in from the outset.
Want to Find Out the Cost of SEO for Your Business?
Please feel free to check out our blog post to learn more: How Much Will My SEO Cost Per Month? Or, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you.
Get in Touch
If you are interested in our SEO-optimised Websites and SEO Services, head to our Online Shop for Websites for Small Businesses and Tradesmen, where you will find the monthly costs for your new website and SEO. Alternatively, if you have unique functionality and/or styling requirements, Book a Call with us for a Bespoke Website Design.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to explore our Knowledge Hub, where you’ll find FAQs and useful resources, such as Blogs, Videos, and even eBooks on choosing the right website design company and SEO agency for your Trades or Small Business.
You can also reach us by calling 01752 291865, messaging us on WhatsApp on 07457 404241, completing our contact form, or starting a Live Chat now!