How Much Does SEO Cost in the UK?

Most business owners with a website or digital footprint will know what SEO (search engine optimisation) is. They’ll know that, in one way or another, it involves appearing in a high position on Google et al’s pages when people type in search terms, but, they may not know how much does SEO costs in the UK in 2023. Or, more accurately, how much should this type of marketing cost?

Here, we’ll look to break that down and offer up a holistic, accurate answer to this question that provides you with a sense of what your level of investment should be in a world where optimising for search is becoming a marketing tactic that companies, regardless of industry, is adopting.

We’ll cover everything from different pricing models and link building to backlinks and SEO management fees. We like to think we know a thing or two about this aspect of organic SEO, for years our team of experts have been carrying out award-winning campaigns for clients, making a huge difference to their revenue, leads, and website traffic.

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of SEO and the high levels of services our team offers – including our well-documented track record – then get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or call us on 0161 327 2635.

What Is SEO?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s first explain what search engine optimisation (SEO) is, what it entails and, importantly, what it isn’t. At the top level, this digital marketing service is how websites can rank on page one of search engines for terms, questions, and phrases that are relevant to them.

When you search for something on Google and you see a list of products, websites, business listings, or videos that relate to your search, that doesn’t happen by accident. Search engines scan and index billions of pages every day and essentially reward those pages that tick all the boxes (those boxes are called ‘ranking factors‘) with a higher placement.

SEO is a term that encompasses a lot of things from the content side of things to the aspect of search engine optimising which are more technical. All of which make a difference and are necessary parts of the broader plan. For example, a typical SEO strategy could well include:

• A website audit to understand what the current state of play is
• Creation of optimised quality content which looks to answer and include relevant search terms
• Keyword research to determine what phrases are out there to rank for
• Link building to help grow a website’s authority
• Redesigning web pages so that they operate better on mobile search engines, are more user-friendly, and increase conversion rates
• Keeping an eye out for new algorithm updates that could affect a site’s performance

As you can see, SEO is not just one thing, it’s a holistic service that essentially ensures your website performs well. In a world where people are more online than ever, that need couldn’t be more important.

How Much Does SEO Cost in the UK?

So, here’s where the rubber meets the road – how much does SEO cost? UK businesses across the country will probably all have a different answer based on their experiences and in some part that is where the answer lies. The true cost of SEO depends.

It all depends on your investment, your goals, the type of SEO package you opt-in for, the level of service you invest in, and much, much more. Broadly speaking, here at Embryo we recommend that companies’ financial investment in SEO should be at least £3,000 a month. This is with the caveat that, depending on the type of pricing (i.e. rolling contracts, long-term contracts), you can basically spend as much as you want, there is no real ceiling to SEO because there is always more work that can be done. Optimising doesn’t just end, it’s an ongoing type of marketing.

What there is, is the danger of spending too little and expecting to see returns on that investment. Spending £500 a month on search engine optimisation – be it with a digital marketing agency or with a freelancer is only going to get you so far. The concrete, long-term results that SEO can provide come when a business invests a substantial amount of money over a long period. This ensures you get those early quick wins and the greater, more fundamental elements of success.

Owners and brands should also be aware – when it comes to finding out how much SEO costs in the UK – of those freelancers or agencies that promise the world a fraction of the cost. To improve website rankings, conversions, and online presence real investment needs to be taken with professionals that don’t promise the earth to you.

Cheap SEO providers cut corners and don’t follow processes. Put this against the backdrop of Google’s mantra that they reward those sites that do the hard work to promote their website and it’s clear that spending too little on SEO in the UK will fail to deliver the ROI you want.

Put it this way, if SEO is a building contractor and your website is your house, you’re not going to choose the business that promises to deliver but only charges a fraction of the cost – something will feel off, and for good reason.

SEO by Embryo

In a world where AI, machine learning, and increased online competitiveness dominate the landscape, it’s easy to fall for a business that promises the world and says it can deliver in one month or six weeks. But the fact is, SEO is, and will always be, a process that takes time, effort, and consistent optimisation.

You only have to look at Google’s Helpful Content Update and E-E-A-T (Experience, expertise, authority and trust) as proof that it is prioritising real, authentic work.

Cheap tricks and black hat techniques might see you succeed for a short while but you’re only ever just one Google update away from losing that organic search traffic and those top-ranking positions.

Here at Embryo, we only create rich, value-led SEO campaigns that provide your business with scalable, long-term results, as well as that early uptake in performance. We do take the longer route and do work harder because we know it’s what Google, search engines, and customers want to see. Having a search engine trust your website is the hardest thing to get right, but when you do, you can expect long-lasting results.