- Why Are SEO Costs Hard to Pinpoint?
- How Much Should You Spend on SEO?
- Typical SEO Pricing Models in Australia
- What is the Average Cost of SEO in Australia?
- Typical SEO Costs by Business Size
- How does Spicy Web calculate the cost of your SEO campaign?
- SEO ROI Calculator
- Why Investing in SEO Is Worth It
- Common Questions About SEO Pricing
Notes
How much does SEO cost?
Article — “How much can I expect to pay for SEO?” Let's break down the barriers of traditional SEO packages and talk about the elephant in the room. Our Head of SEO Jase Porter explains.
Posted by Jase Porter
26.05.2025
If you’re wondering, how much does SEO cost? You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions asked by business owners, CEOs, and internal marketing teams looking to invest in SEO services. However, the answer isn’t straightforward because the cost of SEO varies widely depending on a range of factors, including your industry, business size, and the scope of your campaign.
At Spicy Web, a leading SEO agency in Melbourne, we aim to break down the barriers of traditional SEO services and explain exactly what goes into your SEO investment, so you can make an informed decision and maximise your search engine rankings.
What's in the article:
Why Are SEO Costs Hard to Pinpoint?
The question of how much SEO costs is tricky because no two SEO campaigns are the same. Your SEO pricing depends on:
The competitiveness of your industry and keywords
The current state of your website and the need for technical SEO
The scale of your SEO campaign, from local to national or international
The goals you want to achieve with SEO, such as boosting website traffic or improving conversions
Whether you need ongoing services or a one-time SEO audit and optimisation
Because of this complexity, SEO pricing models
How Much Should You Spend on SEO?
Here are some of the most common factors that influence the cost of SEO in Australia:
Your Business Type: Different industries have varying levels of competition and search volume, which directly affect SEO pricing.
The Competition In Your Industry: Highly competitive industries require more intensive SEO efforts, including advanced technical SEO and authority-building strategies.
The Size of Your Target Market: The larger your target audience, the broader your keyword strategy and content requirements tend to be.
The Number of Areas That You Service: Businesses targeting multiple geographic regions, whether local, national or global, need customised SEO strategies for each area.
The Amount of New Content Required: Content creation is a key part of SEO success, and the volume of new pages, blog posts, or product descriptions needed will impact costs.
When it comes to SEO pricing in Australia, there is no magic number that guarantees results. Some businesses may see excellent outcomes investing around $2,000 per month, while others in more competitive markets might need to spend significantly more to make an impact.
SEO agency pricing also varies based on the agency’s credentials, experience, and quality of service. Reputable SEO agencies with a proven track record of SEO success typically charge more than smaller companies with limited experience. However, this investment often pays off through better search engine rankings, sustainable organic traffic growth, and higher conversion rates.
Typical SEO Pricing Models in Australia
Most businesses encounter three common SEO pricing models:
Monthly SEO retainer: Ongoing services including content creation, link building, and continual optimisation
Hourly rates: For SEO consultants who charge based on time spent
Project-based pricing: Fixed fees for specific SEO audits or campaigns
Each has pros and cons depending on your business objectives. Monthly retainers are ideal for long-term growth and sustained organic traffic growth, whereas hourly pricing can suit smaller projects or consultancy.
Local SEO Pricing
For local SEO, which targets customers in your immediate area, prices generally range from $1,000 to $3,000 per month in Melbourne. This type of campaign focuses on optimising your Google My Business listing, local citations, and on page optimisation to rank for geographically relevant searches.
Local SEO is a fantastic entry point for small businesses and local business owners wanting to capture nearby leads without a large budget. It’s a cost-effective way to improve your presence in local search results and attract highly targeted traffic.
Technical SEO Strategies
When your business operates in a more competitive space, technical SEO becomes crucial. This includes in-depth technical audits, site speed improvements, structured data, and resolving crawl errors.
An effective SEO campaign for SMEs in Melbourne typically costs between $3,000 and $5,000 per month. This includes a combination of content creation, link building, and advanced SEO strategy development.
National and International SEO Campaigns
For larger companies or e-commerce websites competing nationally or globally, SEO efforts are more complex and resource-intensive. SEO campaigns for this scale often start at $10,000+ per month.
These campaigns demand a team of SEO professionals working on everything from technical SEO and content to authority building and brand mentions. The aim is to dominate competitive keywords and generate significant organic traffic and revenue.
What is the Average Cost of SEO in Australia?
The average SEO cost in Australia can range widely—from around $1,400 per month to over $10,000 per month.
Most SEO projects operate on a retainer basis, where an SEO specialist or agency delivers ongoing optimisation services each month. These typically include:
Technical website updates
Link building campaigns
Content updates and content marketing
Alternatively, one-off SEO projects can range from $3,500 to $10,000+ depending on the number of pages to be optimised and the target keywords. These foundational SEO services focus on setting up the core infrastructure needed to rank effectively. This includes a strong emphasis on on-page optimisation and technical SEO.
Typical SEO Costs by Business Size
- Small Business SEO: $1,400 – $2,500
- Medium Business SEO: $1,600 – $7,500
- Large Business SEO: $2,500 – $10,000+
- Enterprise SEO: $7,500+
Note: The above prices are exclusive of GST and provided for indicative purposes only. The exact SEO cost in Australia depends on your business’s requirements, industry competition, and the breadth of keywords or search terms targeted.
How does Spicy Web calculate the cost of your SEO campaign?
Now that you have an idea of how much you can generally expect to spend on SEO, let’s look at how Spicy Web calculates the cost of your campaign.
As we mentioned before, we take into account a number of factors including the size and scope of the project. However, what sets us apart from other agencies is our unique way of pricing our packages.
We have a formula that takes into account all of these factors and
Turn up the [keyword] volume to amplify your return on SEO
The primary factors that underpin our pricing for SEO are;
Calculate your potential return on investment from SEO
Use our calculator to determine your expected ROI by undertaking an
SEO ROI Calculator
Step 1
Discover your keyword's
[Keyword Search Volume] = X
👇
Step 2
Divide search volume by 10%
(Average click-through-rate for websites on the first page of Google)
X × 0.10 = Y
👇
Step 3
Divide your recalculated search volume by your
Y × [Sales Conversion Rate] = Z
👇
Step 4
Calculate the
[Average Lifetime Value] × Z
= Monthly Organic Sales
For example, let's say our Shopify client agrees to a keyword plan for their products that total around 30,000 searches per month. Generally speaking, an e-commerce store usually converts 3% of organic traffic. Let's say their average order value is $140.00. We can estimate our client would be generating +$17,640 per month from SEO.
Why Investing in SEO Is Worth It
SEO is one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies available, offering sustainable results and organic traffic growth long after paid ads stop.
A well-executed SEO campaign improves your search rankings, increases enquiries, and drives sales. Plus, it complements your broader digital marketing efforts by providing a strong foundation for online visibility.
Get Started with Spicy Web’s SEO Services
With SEO packages starting at $1,995 + GST, Spicy Web offers solutions for businesses of all sizes. Whether you need local SEO, technical SEO, or a national campaign, we customise your plan to fit your budget.
Ready to boost your website’s visibility and generate more leads? Let’s chat about SEO — contact Spicy Web today and find the perfect SEO campaign for your business.
Is cheap SEO worth it?
While the idea of cheap SEO services might be tempting, it’s often a case of “you get what you pay for.” Many low-cost SEO providers use outdated or black-hat tactics such as keyword stuffing, link farms, or duplicate content. These risky strategies can harm your search engine rankings and even result in penalties from Google. Quality SEO requires ongoing effort from skilled SEO consultants and specialists who understand the nuances of search algorithms. Investing in a reputable SEO agency ensures your campaign uses ethical, sustainable tactics that build long-term authority and traffic.
Are there hidden costs in SEO?
Some providers might not be upfront about additional fees for services like website fixes, extra content, or link-building campaigns. However, a reputable SEO provider will be transparent about all costs and provide detailed reporting on campaign progress and ROI. At Spicy Web, we pride ourselves on clear communication and tailored SEO services that align with your objectives and budget. You’ll always know what you’re paying for and the expected results.
Should I Pay Per Keyword?
Charging SEO cost per keyword is an outdated and less common pricing method. SEO is a comprehensive process that involves much more than optimising individual keywords. Focusing solely on keywords can limit your campaign’s effectiveness and overlook other critical factors that influence search engine rankings. If an SEO consultant or SEO provider proposes charging you per keyword, we strongly advise exploring other options. Look for agencies that offer transparent pricing based on overall strategy and results rather than outdated keyword counting.
How do I choose the right SEO package for my business?
Choosing the right SEO package depends on your business size, budget, and objectives. Small local businesses may benefit most from local SEO services focused on Google Maps and location-based keywords. SMEs in competitive markets might require more advanced technical SEO and content strategies. Large corporations typically need comprehensive national or international campaigns involving multiple specialists. Our team helps you assess your needs and select a plan — from Bronze to Enterprise — that maximises your SEO investment.
Can I do SEO myself (DIY SEO)?
While there are plenty of resources online for DIY SEO, effective optimisation requires expertise, tools, and time. DIY SEO can work for very small sites or simple updates, but it’s often inefficient and risks missing important technical factors or opportunities. Hiring a professional SEO agency frees you to focus on your business while experts handle strategy, execution, and ongoing improvements.
