SEO Power Plays #50: How much does SEO cost in 2024?

How much does SEO cost? 

As uSERP co-founder and CEO, I get asked that question a lot!

But the truth is that SEO costs can be a moving target. Just like the digital landscape itself, SEO best practices and pricing structures constantly evolve.

What worked last year or even last quarter might not be the most effective strategy today, making costs vary. That’s why I wanted to take a deep dive into how much SEO costs in 2024 and the various factors that influence those costs:

Service type

SEO services can vary from a quick technical audit to a hands-on, full-service SEO plan. The more services you need, the more it’ll cost. It makes sense‌ — ‌more hours of work from experts means a higher price tag. Here’s a general overview:

• Basic SEO consultation $100–$300/hour

• SEO copywriting (blog posts, webpages, etc.) $0.15–$0.50/word

• Keyword research and optimization $500–$2,000

• Internal link profile audit $500–$7,500 (depends on the website’s size and complexity)

• Full SEO content audit $500–$7,500 (depends on the website’s size and complexity)

• Full-service SEO campaign $5,000–$25,000/campaign

Experience and expertise level

SEO consultants, specialists, and agencies with a ton of experience are going to charge more for their skills — and rightfully so. Their track record, expertise, and ability to deliver results are valuable.

On the other hand, folks just starting out may charge less to get their foot in the door, but they may not be as effective.

Geographic location

We can all agree that hiring a web developer in India or the Philippines will cost less than hiring one in Silicon Valley, and that has nothing to do with skill. The same logic applies to SEO professionals and agencies.

A high-end professional in a major city like San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York will generally cost more than someone in a smaller town or another country where the cost of living is significantly lower.

On average, a US-based SEO agency will charge $100–$300 an hour, while agencies overseas can charge as little as $10–$50 per hour.

SEO goals

Finally, the cost of SEO services also depends on the expected outcome.

If you’re a marketer trying to fit SEO into your marketing budget, aiming for a modest boost in visibility for a handful of local keywords will be significantly less expensive than a national business aiming to dominate search results for highly competitive terms.

It’s essential to be realistic about your goals and work with your SEO partner (whether in-house or external) to determine a strategy that aligns with your budget and desired ROI.

-Jeremy