Why and what does SEO cost?
You would like to rise in the search engine rankings and operate a website that inspires users and continuously generates customers. For long-term maintenance and an optimal foundation, search engine optimization is the winner among the measures. However, the great complexity in the many areas also makes it a craft that requires a lot of know-how. Therefore, the logical step for many is to hand over SEO to experts from an SEO agency.
This will secure you the top positions on Google and increase your sales enormously. ROI (return on investment) is the key word here.
But “What does a professional SEO agency cost?” and “Why does SEO cost?”. We would therefore like to give you a closer look at the price-performance ratio. If you know what the costs are made up of and which factors are involved, you will be able to better understand the prices of SEO agencies. This way you know straight away whether you have landed with a reasonable agency or whether the price-performance ratio is unrealistic.
We researched this in more detail and moved out of our SEO agency to look for information throughout Germany on how the costs are made up. Here is a rough overview:
- The majority of SEO agencies charge a fixed monthly price and work on monthly SEO measures.
- An average monthly price is in the region of €1,300.00.
- As a rule, prices are calculated on the basis of fixed hourly rates.
- SEO agencies that offer performance-based support are generally completely dubious.
In addition: This is the composition of costs according to certain factors. However, this is not a firm or reliable statement about the general quality of SEO measures. It serves much more as an orientation for realistic prices. You should always get a personal impression of the agency and check the references.
SEO agencies agree: monthly prices for billing
A clear winner for SEO agency billing is monthly billing based on fixed monthly prices. This is mainly due to the fact that search engine optimization takes an average of 6 months to develop its full potential. After each month you get a little closer to the desired result. Therefore, invoicing is based on monthly orders. SEO agencies can set a fixed price for their monthly work and usually continue this work for six months. The prices for the monthly assignment depend on the effort, size, various measures, etc. Packages are usually offered in different levels. This includes a minimum amount, which can be between €500 and €3,000, before the SEO agencies even offer and implement their services.
DID YOU KNOW? The average price per month is around €1,255.00.
Overview of hourly rate models and hourly rates
Hourly billing at a fixed hourly rate is also popular. The advantage of this billing model is that it is very transparent and clearly communicates how the price is made up. This means that the monthly SEO measures include a certain target hourly rate for the entire monthly support. A certain number of hours are invested per month, which are added to the hourly wage. External costs may also be included, e.g. through the creation of graphics via third parties, etc.
If your monthly SEO support includes 20 hours and the hourly rate is €50, you can expect to receive €1,000 per month. In addition to the price, you also know the hours invested in the success of your website.
WHAT does SEO cost?
Now you are rightly wondering what realistic hourly rates are. We took a look at Germany and worked out the average lowest and highest hourly rates.
In principle, the lowest individual values are between €15.00 and €35.00 per hour. The most expensive, on the other hand, range from €120.00 to €150. So there are clear differences. On average, the lowest hourly rate of around €47.50 is found in North Rhine-Westphalia, or more precisely: Bottrop. Closely followed by Erlangen (€ 55.00) and Trier (€ 56.67). Who is the most expensive? Hamburg takes the lead with an average maximum hourly rate of €122.33. Detmold (€120.00) and Regensburg (€112.50) are close behind.
DON’T FORGET: These are prices only, not quality. It is always worth getting to know the agency personally and gaining a first impression. Take your time when making your choice. Price should not be the only factor.
One-off SEO is wasted money!
If you want to keep costs low, you should only use the SEO optimization service once. That should be enough to reach the top positions; the rest will take care of itself. You may already realize how utopian that sounds. That’s because one-month – especially one-time – SEO is absolutely wasted money. Search engine optimization is a marathon that leads continuously and step by step to the goal. The player with the most stamina wins. Only through continuity and constant maintenance (ideally on a monthly basis) will the sales increase and thus the ROI set in. If you invest at least 6 months in professional SEO measures, you will secure top rankings and significantly increase sales.
DID YOU KNOW? Regular, monthly care is the keyword. Performing SEO once does not work.
SEO by success: good indicator of quality or bullshit?
Today we learned that it is common for SEO agencies to pay by the month and that this amount is usually made up of a fixed hourly rate. After all, this gives the customer a transparent, reliable and economically comprehensible view of the service. He gets a realistic overview. This is a major advantage when it comes to pricing for clients and SEO agencies.
Nevertheless, there is a marginal part that makes a money-saving promise to its customers. You only have to pay if you are successful. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
First of all, SEO agencies should always act according to a quality principle. There are rare cases in which search engine optimization goes significantly wrong. At most, the desired success can vary from agency to agency and is not always to the satisfaction of the customer.
Nevertheless, search engine optimization is not a simple art. On the contrary. SEO requires a great deal of knowledge and is one of the areas of expertise that are constantly changing with the Internet. There is always something new to learn. From time to time, tried and tested techniques have to be thrown overboard and completely new approaches developed. Because Google is always developing. For example, what works today is impossible tomorrow. We are talking about experts with well over 5 years of professional experience who will make the best possible for your website.
In addition, success will not be noticeable for at least 3 months. Moreover, this is not the norm. On average, SEO only shows initial success after 6 months. You pay for several months, reputable agencies, expensive tools, trained staff and externally requested services. All this in order to eventually generate the turnover that will cover the costs and generate a profit.
So if you can afford to pay nothing after intensive SEO support if you are not satisfied, you must be absolutely flawless in your work or even Google itself. Who knows? But all joking aside: SEO agencies with this type of offer are usually just one thing – desperate. They urgently need customers and promise fantastic deals in return.
Instead, how about an agency that makes it clear what you are paying for and also communicates with a regular exchange whether the quality standards match yours? We like that better too.