In the UK alone, about £2 billion was spent on Google advertising in 2020, with SEO research and keyword targeting accounting for the vast bulk of this budget. But how much does search marketing cost? You may even think that such an extensive marketing approach would be too costly for your tiny business. Over the years of my work as an SEO specialist, I have learned that there is a solution any any company, regardless of its business size and budget. It all depends on the pricing model and service list you choose. I have worked for small companies as well as large international organizations targeting multiple countries or even continents. 

Overall, typical SEO costs in the UK vary based on your requirements and the payment arrangement you choose. But how much would it really cost you? What can you expect when you pay for an SEO service in the UK? In this post, I will share with you the popular pricing models, providers, and services covered, as well as the pros/cons. So let’s dig deeper and pick an SEO solution that fits you best. 

how much does seo cost for small business uk

Understanding Common SEO Pricing Models

Overall, rates range from £200 ($250.34) to £5,000 ($6433.40) per month. It is critical that you pick a service that adjusts to your requirements and budget. If you decide to invest in SEO for your business, you will most likely choose one of the SEO price UK models listed below. There is no win-win solution that will work for all. Each model has both pros and cons, and the rewards will vary depending on your SEO objectives.

SEO Marketing Agencies

  • Average monthly cost: £1,000 ($1286.68)
  • Prices range from £1,000 ($1286.68) to £5,000 per month ($6433.40).

A monthly retainer charge indicates that you will get a pack of SEO services on a monthly basis. Based on the agreement, such a service pack usually covers:

  • Keyword research;
  • Backlink research;
  • Content optimization;
  • Regular copywriting for blogs and landing sites;
  • Reporting on keywords and designing new pages or graphic assets for blog posts;
  • Optimizing the technical aspects of your website.

This pricing model is mostly used by SEO agencies to maintain long-term customer relationships. It will either be an ongoing arrangement, or you may be required to pay 6-12 months in advance to ensure that service is not interrupted. To buy SEO UK from a full-service marketing firm might cost anywhere from £1,000 ($1286.68) per month. However, some agencies may easily employ monthly retainer arrangements to lock customers into long-term contracts. You might anticipate working with the same agency for a year or longer.

Pros:

  • You will hire a team of SEO specialists — copywriters, developers, designers, link-builders, etc.
  • Agencies have access to the greatest (and most costly) SEO tools, so you do not need to invest in extra software.
  • Agencies have dedicated teams that can develop and implement your SEO strategy simultaneously.

Cons:

  • A highly costly monthly expense. Full-service agencies typically charge at least £1,000 ($1286.68) per month, and you may spend up to £5,000 ($6433.40) per month depending on the degree of support required.
  • You will be under contract, which implies that if you have a problem or are not happy with the service, you will be unable to terminate it instantly.

Content Agencies

  • Average monthly cost: £800 ($1089.34)
  • Monthly costs range from £500 ($643.34) to £2,000 ($2573.36).

A content agency will create top-quality content that will help you rank higher in search engines, as well as convert leads into customers. The most important aspect of any successful SEO campaign is the content you create; therefore, collaborating with a content company is a great solution to obtaining great results at a lower seo cost UK than a full-service SEO marketing agency. Of course, having good content on your website is a good thing, but it is not always enough to rank right on SERP. That’s why I always recommend developing a personalized optimization strategy based on the business size, night, business goals, and what competitors are doing. 

When you hire a content agency, this is what you usually get in return:

  • Keyword research;
  • Content optimization;
  • Regular copywriting for blog articles and landing sites;
  • Keyword reporting.

Startups, nonprofits, and educational institutions can benefit from hiring a content agency. This way, they can streamline content production processes without the need to hire a full-fledged marketing team.

Pros:

  • It is a cost-effective solution that any business can afford.
  • You will get SEO-friendly content that provides the greatest possible experience for your consumers and is naked high by search engines.

Cons:

  • No designers or developers will be available to make technical website updates.
  • There will be no link builders in the team (however, from my experience, there might be some exceptions).

Working with a content agency is a good alternative for any small company that has to complete SEO but does not have a large budget in its pocket. 

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Hourly SEO Assistance

  • Average cost: between £75 ($96.50) and £175 ($225.17).

Whether you have expertise with SEO and your own marketing team or not, working with experts on an hourly basis is an excellent approach to reaching your SEO objectives. Having been consulting businesses for more than 5 years, I have developed SEO strategies for businesses of any size. The collaboration could take any direction — from just developing a strategy that a company implements themselves or creating a tactic and handling some parts of it, e.g., link-building or on-page optimization. Besides that, some customers also turn to me to fix a specific issue for them. For example, they need spammy and low-quality backlinks identified/removed.

Paying by the hour gives you a lot of control over the amount of practical advice you get. 

A consultant is generally only available at the start of your project, and it may be tough to strategize without this guidance. Your own team will often be the ones putting your SEO expertise into practice. 

Pros

  • Consultants may provide a new perspective on your whole SEO marketing strategy.
  • They may share their knowledge with you and recommend the next actions to keep expenses down in the long term. 
  • The initial consultation expenditures are one-time rather than continuous monthly SEO prices UK.

Cons:

  • A consultant will not do the actual optimization (unless it is something you have agreed in advance).

SEO Project Implementation

  • Average SEO package prices UK: start at £200 ($257.34) (based on the scope)

When it comes to SEO, the cliché “you get what you pay for” holds true. For small businesses, the per-project price approach may seem to be the most advantageous. 

It involves paying a fixed fee for a specific SEO project or campaign. This model is suitable for businesses with well-defined needs or those looking for a one-time service. Depending on the project, businesses may see immediate improvements in their search rankings and online visibility.

Pros:

  • Small businesses with limited marketing budgets can benefit from knowing exactly how much they will spend on a specific project without ongoing commitments.
  • This SEO pricing UK model allows businesses to outline specific goals and deliverables, making it easier to measure the success of the SEO efforts.
  • Businesses can choose to engage in SEO services as needed, which is ideal for those who may not require ongoing optimization. 

Cons:

  • SEO is inherently an ongoing process, and a one-off project may not yield lasting results.
  • A single project may not cover all aspects of SEO, such as technical SEO, content marketing, and link building, which are essential for comprehensive optimization.

Before investing in any services of SEO in UK, it is important to understand what you are paying for. Is it keyword research for a specific campaign? Do you expect to get a technical audit of your website? Will you get all your 404 issues or problems with a sitemap fixed? Make sure to agree on the service list.

Other Factors Impacting the Price for SEO [City]

Apart from the pricing model, there are some other factors impacting the rate you pay. And the city of the agency is one of them. Here’s what you can expect:

London

Agency: Count SEO

  • Charges: London SEO prices start from £1500/month ($1930.02)
  • The service pack includes: Customized SEO packages tailored to client requirements, focusing on local SEO, e-commerce, and more

Agency: SEO Leaders

  • Charges: £75 ($96.50) to £250 ($321.67) per hour; monthly contracts seo prices London varies from £199 ($256.05) to £5000+ ($6433.40+)
  • The service pack includes: all types of SEO services, including on-page optimization, keyword research, and link building.

Birmingham

Agency: Add People

  • Charges: £600 ($772) to £6,000 ($7720) per month 
  • The service pack includes: Full-service SEO campaign, including copywriting, link building, technical SEO, and UX improvements.

Manchester

Agency: Reposition

  • Charges: Starting at £350 ($450.34)/month for local SEO 
  • The service pack includes: Google My Business Profile optimization, citation building, local keyword research, and analytics tracking.

Glasgow

Agency: Count SEO

  • Charges: Starting from £500 ($643.34)/month 
  • The service pack includes: Customizable SEO campaigns tailored for small businesses.

Leeds

Agency: SEO Leaders

  • Charges: £75 ($96.50) to £250 ($321.67) per hour; average monthly fee around £2000
  • The service pack includes: A mix of hourly and project-based pricing for various SEO services

Bristol

Agency: Add People

  • Charges: £600 ($772) to £6,000 ($7720) per month
  • The service pack includes: A comprehensive approach including content strategy, technical SEO, and ongoing support.

Nottingham

Agency: SEO Leaders

  • Charges: £20 ($25.73) to £250 ($321.67) per hour; monthly contracts from £199 ($256.05) to £5000+ ($6433.40)
  • The service pack includes: Diverse services of SEO in the UK including analytics, reporting, and technical support
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Optimizing Your SEO Budget 

As you can see, the agency, its location, and its service pack greatly impact the SEO services UK prices you pay. Hourly rates vary between £75 ($96.50) to £250 ($321.67), while monthly retainers typically range from £199 ($256.05) to £6,000+ ($7720.08+). Project-based fees vary greatly based on the scope of work. Such high fees are due to the taxes that local companies would pay. So hiring local UK SEO agencies is not the best solution for those on a tight budget.

If you are one of those, then it is better to look for freelance SEO specialists on Fiverr and Upwork. Expect to pay between £200 ($257.34) to £1,000 ($1286.68) per month. Alternatively, you can also turn to me for qualified help. As an independent SEO expert, I offer specialized services to help businesses improve their online presence and visibility in the UK and the USA. With years of experience working with companies of various sizes, I have developed customized packages to cater to the unique needs of each client. You will be able to adjust the SEO UK cost you need to cover.

My pricing structure is designed to be transparent, and I aim to provide high-quality services at reasonable rates. There are different pricing packages available to meet your different needs:

  • SEO package Lite ($1400 (£1088.23) per month) — It covers technical website audit, monthly reporting, keyword research & mapping,  3 handwritten SEO-optimized articles per month, 100 optimized keywords, GMB optimization, backlink strategy;
  • SEO package PLUS ($2300 (£1787.80) per month) — It covers technical website audit & opportunity report, monthly reporting, custom keyword research & mapping, 4-6 handwritten SEO-optimized articles per month, up to 250 optimized keywords, GMB optimization, backlink strategy; bi-weekly calls.
  • SEO package Bestspoke ($5000 (£3886.52) per month) — It covers technical website audit & opportunity report, monthly reporting, custom keyword research & mapping, handwritten SEO-optimized articles per month, optimized keywords, GMB optimization, backlink strategy; bi-weekly calls.

To facilitate easy comparison, I can convert my packages to pounds for clients based in the UK. I take great pride in describing the details of my offerings often using visual aids such as tables to help clients understand the value they can expect. My rates are more pocket-friendly as I do not hire SEO specialists and lead my customers myself. Apart from that, the tax structure is more favorable in Ukraine. In terms of payment options, I accept payments in mant different ways so that you can choose the best one:

  • Through PayPal;
  • Directly into an account I maintain as an entrepreneur in Ukraine. 

This flexibility ensures that clients from different regions can seamlessly work with me and make secure transactions. I believe that my expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering exceptional results make me the ideal partner for businesses looking to enhance their online marketing strategies and achieve their desired goals. If you’re interested in exploring how I can contribute to the growth and success of your company, don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation.

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FAQ

How Much Does SEO Cost UK?

Overall, businesses in the UK can expect to pay SEO UK prices between £200 ($257.34) and £15,000 ($19300.20) for SEO services, depending on their needs and the chosen pricing model.

What Are Freelance SEO Rates UK?

Freelance SEO rates in the UK can vary significantly depending on the consultant’s experience and expertise. The typical range is £35 ($45.03) to £300 ($386) per hour or around £350 ($450.34) to £1,000 ($1286.68) per month.

Can SEO Make You Rich?

SEO can significantly enhance your business’s revenue potential. Businesses that invest in SEO strategically and consistently can achieve substantial financial benefits over time, but it requires patience and a commitment to quality content and user experience.