I got an email yesterday from a website designer I know. He listens to lots of podcasts and he participated in one by asking a question, “What types of SEO reports should one expect from a monthly SEO marketing campaign?” (I paraphrased here). The question was to Webmaster Radio and the response was 30 minutes long!

They began the answer with the “you get what you pay for” concept. One of the hosts said that his SEO firm cost him $3400.00 per month and he really didn’t get much for that. He was very vague, just said that the reports he did get gave him suggestions of what needed to be done but they were up to him to do them. His implication was that he paid $3400.00 a month and didn’t get much so that means he needs to pay more.

The second host didn’t understand why anyone would need a monthly marketing campaign at all!

I found the podcast a bit ridiculous. Here were two supposed experts in their field and they acted and sounded like novices. Let me explain why I say that…

1) $3400.00 per month and not even a report on conversion rates? I say if a company can get someone to pay that much money then more power to them.

2) Just because this $3400.00/month company didn’t issue out good reports or didn’t provide the proper SEO tactics that needed to be done on the website does not mean that paying more will get you that. Instead, a smart consumer would check out what other SEO firms are doing and for what amount.

3) Why would a good SEO campaign need to be maintained monthly? Well, there is always testing to be done. Testing of landing pages, keyword phrases, call to action, etc. Search engines also love new and fresh content so that information needs to be added and optimized regularly. Also, there are holidays, events, seasonal products, services, etc. that should be added to the website. Websites are not brochures. They’re meant to be interactive.

Also, I am consistently amazed at the concept that is continuously put out there “you get what you pay for” when it comes to SEO. The truth is, the great majority of SEO firms cater to mid and large size companies. You know, the ones that can easily pay $3000.00 per month and more. But for small and home based business websites, these fees are ridiculous. I provide affordable SEO services and just because they’re affordable doesn’t mean they are not of high quality. My clients are in the top 10 for their keyword phrases and continue to grow each and every month. There are SEO firms out there that cater to small and home based businesses and don’t let anyone tell you (even the “experts”) that it can’t be done!

So, what are appropriate seo prices?

I hear set up ranges from 1000.00 to 10,000.00 no matter how small the websites are. I had a call just last week from someone shopping around for seo services who told me he got a quote for 10,000 for his website. His website is only 8 pages!!! And the 10,000 fee is ONLY for the set up. The monthly marketing fee is 350.00!!!

Now, how is a home based business with a website of only 8 pages supposed to recoup that kind of money? How long would it take him to get a decent ROI? It’s a ridiculous fee.

What do I think are appropriate SEO prices?

My fees are 135.00/month for marketing and the set up is usually under 2000.00 for sites of 10-15 pages. It depends on how much clean up work needs to be done on the coding. That is, after all, the most complicated and time consuming part of the set up.

I think these fees are reasonable and affordable for small and home based businesses. And truthfully, if a business can’t afford these Internet marketing fees, I have to question to business plan. Anyone who has been in business for themselves knows that it just takes time, hard work and some money to get a business going and to keep it successful, it takes just more of these three factors.

What do you think are appropriate seo prices?