Understanding the Costs Associated with Local SEO

Hiring an SEO Specialist 

Can you do SEO on your own? Sure, you can. Should you?  Probably not. 

Search engine optimization (SEO) is ongoing, very strategic, and requires keeping up with Google’s algorithm updates. It’s definitely not a one-and-done kind of task. As a busy local business owner, it’s unlikely you’ll have the bandwidth to become an SEO expert. This means you’ll need to work with an outside SEO professional or add an SEO specialist to your staff.  In either case, you’re looking at an added expense.

Whether you’re working with a third-party or adding an SEO expert to your team, the cost is going to be relative to their experience and track record.  And like purchasing any other service, you get what you pay for. Remember, no SEO specialist can increase your ranking overnight or guarantee a number one placement on Google (and if they say they can—run!) 

Google Business Profile Management 

Keeping your Google Business Profile (formerly GMB) account up-to-date and optimized is important in the scheme of SEO success. 

If you’re working with a third-party SEO specialist, it’s likely GBP management is part of their service.  However, you should confirm this at the start of your partnership.  If GBP management is not part of the overall SEO package you signed up for, you could be looking at additional expenses in that regard. 

Tools and Applications 

There are a variety of tools and applications available for SEO researching and auditing.  Costs vary from free, expensive, and everything in between. The tools you choose to use will depend on several factors, not least of which is who is handling your SEO. 

If you’ve opted to work with an outside SEO specialist, it’s likely they already have one or more applications they use and you won’t need to purchase anything separately. 

However, if you’re adding an on-staff SEO expert, you should anticipate added costs for the software and subscriptions they're require to manage your SEO efforts. 

Website Development and Management 

Let’s assume your local business already has an established website. (If not, call us.) Though your website might look great, it may not be optimized for SEO. And even if it was optimized in the past, it will require some updating. 

Once you begin working with an SEO specialist, you’re going to receive feedback from them about your website. Recommendations may be anything from resolving technical errors to creating a more user-friendly design. 

Depending on your skill level, you can certainly make some of these updates yourself.  But for the more technical issues, you’ll need to bring in a web developer. Cost for the web developer's services may be a base rate or could vary depending on the complexity of your site’s issues. 

Content

High quality content is a must-have for successful SEO.  If your site’s content isn’t up to par, your SEO specialist may tell you it needs to be re-written.

Re-writing your content is obviously something you can do on your own, with no added cost.  But if writing isn’t your forte, or you simply don’t have time, you’ll need to hire a content writer.  And like everything else on our list, the cost for your content writer will vary based on their experience along with the size and complexity of your project. 

Local Digital Marketing Agency 

If you’re shaking your head at the thought of managing all the moving parts (and costs) related to a successful SEO strategy, there may be another option for you. 

Working with a professional digital marketing agency like Locallogy could be the answer.  A marketing firm can bundle up all the aspects of digital marketing and take care of everything for you.  Again, cost will be dependent upon the firm you choose to work with and the service package you select. 

You may find that paying only one bill a month and working with a single point of contact is preferable to dealing with each aspect of your SEO strategy separately.