What Local Businesses Should Expect to Pay for SEO
For a local business targeting one service area and a handful of core services, monthly SEO typically costs between $1,000 and $3,000. This should include keyword research, on-page optimization, Google Business Profile management, citation building, content creation, link building, and monthly reporting.
Below $1,000/month, it is very difficult for an agency to provide comprehensive SEO service. At that price point, you are either getting a very limited scope or the agency is cutting corners on deliverables.
Above $3,000/month makes sense for businesses in competitive markets (legal, medical, home services in major metros) or those targeting multiple locations. If you serve 5 cities and 8 services, the scope of work justifies a higher investment.
What Should Be Included in Monthly SEO
At minimum, a legitimate monthly SEO service should include these deliverables: keyword research and tracking, on-page optimization of existing and new content, Google Business Profile optimization, local citation management, monthly reporting with specific metrics, and regular communication with a named account manager.
Good SEO services also include technical SEO audits, content creation or optimization, and some level of link building. Great services add competitive analysis, conversion rate optimization suggestions, and strategic guidance beyond just rankings.
Be wary of agencies that cannot clearly describe what they do each month. "We work on your SEO" is not a deliverable. "We published 2 optimized blog posts, built 15 citations, responded to 8 reviews, and improved page speed by 0.5 seconds" is a deliverable.
Red Flags in SEO Pricing
If an agency guarantees specific rankings, walk away. No one can guarantee a #1 position in Google. They can show you a track record of getting results, but guarantees in SEO are a sign of either dishonesty or inexperience.
If pricing is not available without a sales call, be cautious. Some agencies use high-pressure sales tactics and pricing is withheld to maximize what they can charge based on your perceived budget. Transparent pricing, like we publish on our website, shows confidence in the value of the service.
Watch for long-term contracts. 12-month contracts benefit the agency, not you. At Integrity Marketing, we use 3 and 6 month initial agreements because we believe results should earn your continued business, not a contract.
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Get a Free ConsultationHow to Evaluate SEO ROI
The easiest way to evaluate SEO ROI is to calculate the value of a lead in your business. If your average customer is worth $5,000 and you close 30% of leads, each lead is worth $1,500. If SEO generates 10 leads per month, that is $15,000 in pipeline value for a $1,500-$3,000/month investment.
For most local businesses, SEO becomes profitable within 6-12 months. The first 3-6 months are building the foundation, and leads start coming in as rankings improve. By month 12, well-executed SEO typically delivers a 3-5x return on investment.
Track your leads carefully. Know exactly how many calls and form submissions come from organic search versus paid ads versus referrals. This data makes it easy to evaluate whether your SEO investment is working.
Our SEO Pricing at Integrity Marketing
We publish our pricing because we believe in transparency. Our SEO service starts at $1,500/month and includes everything described above: keyword research, on-page optimization, GBP management, citation building, content creation, link building, and monthly reporting.
We use 3 and 6 month initial agreements, not 12-month contracts. After the initial period, service continues month-to-month. If we are not delivering results, you should have the ability to make a change.
Every client gets a named team member as their primary contact, access to a real-time reporting dashboard, and a monthly strategy call. We also use our proprietary April AI system to provide deeper competitive insights and faster identification of ranking opportunities.
Getting the Most from Your SEO Investment
Regardless of what you pay for SEO, here are ways to maximize your return. Be responsive to your agency. When they need information, approvals, or feedback, quick turnaround keeps the work moving.
Invest in reviews. Your agency can optimize your website and build citations, but only you and your team can deliver great service and ask happy customers for reviews. Review velocity is one of the strongest local ranking factors.
Give it time. Switching SEO providers every 3 months because you have not hit #1 yet is one of the most common mistakes business owners make. Consistent effort over 6-12 months produces dramatically better results than starting over repeatedly.