How Much Should SEO Cost?
February 3rd, 2009 | by Conrad Walton |I wrote an article a while ago, expressing the opinion that SEO should be free. I stand by that, but now want to add a disclaimer.
I’ve got some clients that want to control everything in the site. I’ve got some that just want me to do it all.
I would like to see a client completely involved in their site, knowing all of the details. I would love to see everyone know what I know about web sites and SEO. If they did, then SEO would be free.
But they don’t.
I have to remember that not I’m not like everyone else and they are not like me.
I have to remember that not I'm not like everyone else and they are not like me.
The small business owner needs to have the keys to the office. They need to have access to the books. They need to have their name on the office rental agreement. They need to know, at least on a high level, what’s going on in their company and have access to it all.
But the small business owner can hire a plumber if they want someone else to fix the toilet. They can pay someone else to vacuum the floor. The small business owner might as well pay someone to do their SEO for them also.
If you pay a plumber to fix the toilet, then he leaves and there’s water coming from the bathroom door, maybe you should check it out. If you pay someone to keep your books for you, but when you check your bank account, there’s only $12 in there, maybe you should ask some questions.
It’s OK to pay someone to do your SEO work for you too, as long as you know what’s going on, what the SEO expert is doing and have some understanding why they are doing what they are doing. As long as results can be measured, I’m OK with you paying me to do your SEO for you, instead of me just teaching you how to do it.
SEO should cost between $100 and $300 per hour, depending on the specific task. I charge $150 per hour.
