Why quotes vary so much
SEO proposals can differ by an order of magnitude, and the lowest is rarely the least expensive in the end. Price reflects who does the work, how many hours go into it, how competitive your market is and how much is automated.
A very low price usually means templates and tools, and a very high one can mean a long list of reports. Ask what, exactly, will be done by whom.
Competition sets the bar
A niche service in a small town takes far less work to rank than a crowded trade in Nashville. The more businesses fighting for the same searches, the more effort it takes to pass them.
A good company looks at your actual competitors before it quotes, and tells you honestly what the climb looks like.
Local versus national
Local SEO focuses on a city or region and the map results. National SEO is a larger contest with bigger competitors and deeper content needs, so it takes more time and costs more.
Many businesses start local and add national work only if it fits the business.
What is included
Ask whether the work includes page writing, profile management, review help, link work and reporting, and who does each task. Some companies sell tools and call it a service.
Our work is done by hand by experienced people, which is part of why we take one client per trade.
Contracts and commitments
Be cautious about long contracts that lock you in before results appear. A confident company earns your business every month.
Also ask what you own at the end: your site, your accounts and your content should always be yours.
Cost versus value
The right question is the cost of a customer, not the cost of SEO. If rankings bring jobs worth many times the monthly fee, the math is easy.
Use our ROI calculator to turn your own numbers into a clear picture.
Compare what will be done and who will do it, ask how results will be measured and judge the cost against the customers it should bring.
