Trying to improve your local search visibility and attract more customers can feel overwhelming, especially when you're considering hiring a local SEO agency or local SEO company. One of the biggest questions small business owners have is, "What does this actually cost?"
The truth is, pricing for local SEO services varies significantly depending on who you work with and the scope of the services provided.
Understanding the typical costs involved can help you make an informed decision about the best path for your local SEO business. Let's break down the different options for getting help with local SEO and what you can expect to pay based on industry insights and our experience.
Finding the Right Local SEO Agency or Company: Your Options
When you're looking for assistance with your local SEO strategy, you generally have four main avenues to explore:
1. Full Service SEO Agencies
These agencies offer a comprehensive, all-in-one approach to SEO, which often includes a local component. They typically provide a hands-off experience, handling everything from strategy to execution.
- Typical Cost: $1,000 - $5,000+ per month. It's our observation that it's very difficult for a full-service agency to effectively cover all aspects of SEO, including comprehensive content strategies, for less than $1,000 a month.
- What's Included: Comprehensive SEO services, which usually encompass technical SEO, content strategy (including long-tail blog content), link building, and reporting.
- Pros: Can deliver great results and require minimal time commitment from the business owner.
- Cons: Generally the most expensive option.
2. Specialized Local SEO Firms
These firms focus specifically on local SEO services. They are often more affordable than full-service agencies and tailor their offerings to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Their primary goal is to get you found in map search and "near me" searches.
- Typical Cost: $300 - $1,000 per month. We've found that some highly reputable specialized local SEO firms may charge a bit more than $1,000 a month for their services.
- What's Included: Typically focus heavily on optimizing your Google Business Profile and local service content. They may not include a long-tail blog post strategy in their core offering.
- Pros: More affordable and highly focused on local search performance.
- Cons: May not cover broader SEO aspects beyond local optimization.
3. Freelancers or Consultants
Hiring an individual freelancer or consultant can be a flexible option. Pricing varies widely depending on their experience and the specific services you need.
- Typical Cost: Varies significantly by the project or hourly rate.
- What's Included: This can differ greatly from one freelancer to another. Some may specialize only in technical SEO, while others might focus solely on Google Business Profile optimization. It's crucial to understand their methodology and ensure they cover all necessary aspects of local SEO for your business's needs.
- Pros: Can be budget-friendly and offer flexibility.
- Cons: Requires more hands-on involvement from the business owner, and you need to have a good understanding of what needs to be done to ensure the freelancer covers everything effectively effectively.
4. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tools
For the most budget-conscious, there are various local SEO platforms and tools available that allow you to manage your local SEO yourself.
- Typical Cost: $100 - $500 per month.
- What's Included: These tools often provide features for keyword tracking, rank tracking, citation building, and Google Business Profile management. These are often the same powerful tools used by experienced local SEO companies and agencies.
- Pros: The lowest cost option.
- Cons: Very time-intensive and requires consistent effort and a good understanding of local SEO best practices to use effectively. Most small business owners are already over capacity and find it hard to dedicate the necessary time to manage these tools consistently alongside running their business.
What Influences Local SEO Agency Costs?
Several factors can influence how much a local SEO agency or firm will charge for their services:
- Scope of Work: The specific services included in the package (e.g., just GBP optimization vs. a full local strategy with content and citations) will impact the price.
- Level of Expertise: Highly experienced and successful agencies or consultants typically charge more.
- Competition: If you are in a highly competitive industry or geographic area, it may require more effort and thus cost more to achieve results.
- Your Current Situation: The current state of your online presence and how much optimization is needed will also play a role in the overall cost.
Conclusion
Choosing the right local SEO partner or approach depends on your budget, the time you can commit, and your desired level of support. While costs vary, remember that investing in local SEO is investing in your local SEO business's visibility and growth. Regardless of the price, ensure your provider can offer clear reporting on key metrics like local pack rankings, organic traffic to your Google Business Profile, and website visits and calls from your listing. This transparency will help you understand the true return on your investment.
