Your SEO efforts involve two critically important aspects: services and pricing. The two go hand-in-hand and cannot be disconnected. Indeed, the level of services you require will dictate the cost you pay for those services. Here’s what to look for in SEO services and pricing as you seek to understand this field.
SEO Pricing Options :
Your SEO company may offer a variety of pricing models. If so, you’ll have wider latitude in setting prices based on your specific needs.
Some businesses prefer a monthly retainer, whereby the client pays a set fee every month for a particular level of services. This option is ideal for the small business with a limited area to work in. Typically, you’ll get such services as link building, monthly reports, press releases, and onsite optimization.
What if your needs aren’t ongoing, but require at least some level of constancy? That’s where contract services come in. Here, you determine what your goals are and when you would like to reach them. You would then sign a contract with fixed prices to have those services delivered over three, six, nine, or 12 months or so.
Another option is to choose project-based pricing. This service is ideal for a small business with a particular project in mind. For instance, if you already have an established website and would like to launch a microsite, the SEO company could help launch the new site. Another example would be to raise your business’ social media visibility. Here, the SEO company might set up Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to advance the business in that sphere.
Yet another option for companies is to hire an SEO professional and pay an hourly consulting fee. This option can be ideal for a company handling its own SEO services. By hiring the professional for a few hours, the company can receive expert advice and plan their internal SEO strategy accordingly.
Beware of Ill-Founded Claims :
Now that you know what services are available, it is important to interview several SEO services companies to gauge what is offered and what these companies charge. You also need to be mindful of ill-founded claims or anything that strikes you as out of the ordinary warns LocalSEOCompanies.com.
For example, no company can guarantee you the top spot on Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). It just isn’t possible. Also, if a alleged professional promises instant results, you should be suspicious. Most SEO efforts take time and are measured by incremental gains. Further, if someone provides you with a guarantee for results, that should raise a yellow flag — no SEO expert can tell you that “this or that” will happen.
What You Will Pay :
SEO does not come cheaply nor should it. Considering that an SEO campaign can elevate your business, bringing in new customers and the cash with it, you’ll pay for the good results.
Know that retainers cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per month, based on the size of the business and what you want to achieve. With contract services, you’ll get a fixed price, but variable prices are available too. Site audits will cost you one price and social media site set up will run you a different price. Its kind of like shopping in a cafeteria will all prices plainly listed. That means you want to see the price list before making a commitment.
SEO Considerations :
SEO is critically important and isn’t something you should ignore. Having someone else handle this important task for you is wise, especially if you don’t have the time or the expertise to handle the work yourself. Finally, if you’re not sure about an SEO company and its claims, you can always start out on a trial basis. Then when you’re confident that the service has what you need, you can opt for a more comprehensive business relationship.