How much does SEO cost in Australia in 2024?

Quick Answer: SEO cost in Australia vary significantly, ranging from AUD $501 to more than AUD $1,000 per month. The pricing depends on the business size and the extent of services needed.

Search engine optimisation costs in Australia can vary depending on the size and scope of the project, as well as the experience and qualifications of the SEO provider. Generally, SEO service pricing is determined by a combination of factors including the number of hours required to complete the SEO campaign, the level of difficulty, and the amount of work that needs to be poured into the project. 

For example, if you’re a new business that hasn’t performed due to poor or a lack of SEO strategies, you should expect to pay larger amounts each month. More established brands show the extensive use of and experience in SEO techniques.

Factors Influencing SEO Cost in Australia

Your current circumstance:

It is pivotal to reflect on where your business is using SEO techniques. Are you ranking on the first page of relevant search results? Are your industry and the keywords you’re targeting highly competitive?

What do your goals look like?

What are you hoping to achieve with your SEO? What keywords do you want to rank first for? Is your goal to attract a local or more national audience?

A sequence of events:

In creating a timeline, you can get a rough idea of how quickly you wish to reach your objectives. Note that SEO is a longer but more sustainable and cost-effective approach, to which factoring in more time for these goals is crucial.

Expertise required:

Compare the level of qualifications an SEO professional has after working 15 years in the industry, compared to a new professional that is relatively inexperienced. Depending on your desired outcome, hiring a quality SEO agency will ensure that your campaigns are executed in a professional, creative manner.

For example, a study conducted by Ahrefs shows that professionals who have been in the industry for two years or less earn around $79.37 per hour. This contrasts with a professional who has been in the industry for 10 or more years, where they’re likely to earn $142.50 per hour.

Your position and location:

Consider the location of your business and how competitive the industry is that you’re working in. For example, if your business is on the smaller side and exists in a highly saturated field, note that SEO costs tend to be higher in price, compared to businesses that have little to no competition.

Professionals in the international search engine optimisation markets charge 130.74% more for monthly payments, compared to local businesses.

SEO services needed:

Depending on how much development and assistance your website requires, your SEO pricing will change. Whether you require ongoing strategy research and guidance or assistance with a one-off project, these factors will shape your SEO Cost Australian agencies offer for SEO services.

Campaign efficiency:

If you want to create campaigns that are incredibly productive in ranking, the agency you recruit would require a larger sum of money for more hours of work in a shorter length of time. Additionally, the size of your business plays a role in determining the strength of a campaign. For instance, Search Engine Journal wrote an article on how international campaigns can cost between a minimum of $2500 to $5000 USD per month at a top SEO agency. However, a local campaign can cost around $780 per month.

SEO Pricing Guide – SEO Packages

You might be wondering, how much does SEO cost in Australia? Outlined below are several SEO packages that SEO professionals tend to offer, based on monthly and hourly SEO rates, performance-based pricing, and different contracts available.

93% of experiences online begin with the search engine, to which nearly 92% will click on the first page of search results. Paying a company thousands of dollars does not guarantee the best of results. However, an SEO pricing guide can help one determine how SEO costs are related to the time and effort that is invested into reaching your business goals.

Monthly SEO Cost Australia

As mentioned earlier, when it comes to understanding SEO pricing, fees are usually created on a monthly basis, which might include a set-up or joining fee at the start of your campaign. According to how much you have invested in your monthly budget, SEO activity and reporting will be completed depending on the work needed to be completed and with the budget in mind.

For example, the most popular pricing category lies between $501- $1000 per month.

Hourly SEO Pricing Australia

Sometimes SEO costs are based on hourly SEO rates, which is more suitable for SEO clients that only require limited work to be completed. However, note that if the workload increases, the cost can therefore increase, to which recruiting SEO professionals can help plan and prepare the marketing team that is working on your campaign.

• The most popular pricing tier for hourly services is between $100- $150 per hour.

Fixed-rate and Project-based contracts

Based on the agency you collaborate with, some agencies require a contract that offers a fixed price. For example, this can involve clients signing a 12-month contract. This helps set expectations for clients, particularly for SEO strategies, where a longer timeline will help create better results, ensuring that the customer is aware of how it is a longer-term approach. The fixed-price contract ensures that you stay on board long enough to see positive changes in your SEO. 

Performance-based rates

This model is most suitable for clients who are searching for concrete results, making it more straightforward with the goals that need to be reached. With this agreement, the client will mostly only pay when the company you’re collaborating with delivers the results you’ve been searching for. This may be categorised into something as simple as a certain ranking for a keyword. This proves to be productive if your SEO goals are centered around listed keywords, where there is a clear indication of which ones you want to continue improving on, and which ones you already know to perform well.

Regular or Entry-level SEO work

Cheap SEO is not the same as entry-level SEO. If you consider yourself to be a small business that is currently operating on a thin marketing budget, monthly,  you would only be able to afford a limited number of services offered by SEO professionals. For these types of clients, it is not impossible to find such low/affordable SEO costs in Australia. However, we advise that you consider the points below as a result of cost-cutting.

• Your SEO work completed will be minimal.
• The agency you’re collaborating with most likely has an off-shore, trained team of SEO professionals, to which your work is most likely allocated to them.
• The SEO provider you’re working with most likely aligns one account manager with many clients, meaning that there will be limited communication between you and them.

Mid-level SEO marketing services

This category is considered by most small and medium-sized companies. This SEO package often offers a plethora of services available for customers, including link building, CRO, localised SEO options, content creation, and reporting. Typically, in this arrangement, there’s an account manager who directs a team of specialists. Alternatively, you could be collaborating with an incredibly qualified freelancer/consultant.

Top-Tier SEO services

With SEO services that cost more, you are most likely participating in a highly saturated and competitive field, all of your competition exists online as a result of being an eCommerce business, or you’re looking to achieve more in a shorter period, without having to compromise on the quality of work. With a higher-end SEO provider, services in mid-level marketing agencies will be revised but also enhanced, as link building will be more PR-focused, and additional, creative services such as infographic creation and more will be offered. 

Custom services

With custom packages available, enterprise-level businesses are addressed, considering their SEO needs are very different from ordinary, everyday companies. 

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Given that your scale might be drastically different, such as requiring a website that offers thousands of items, your SEO strategy will be more customised. This is due to playing in a very competitive sphere, in which your creative strategy should exist and function across the sophisticated, difficult infrastructure. Despite the average SEO cost for custom or enterprise agreements being significantly higher than other categories, you’ll most likely receive a team of specialised professionals for your SEO campaign. Most likely arranging meetings with you on a monthly basis, they’ll discuss how their strategies can reach your page or brand-relevant goals by improving your company structure and image.

How much does SEO cost in Melbourne?

If you’re located in Australia, particularly in Victoria, the average SEO cost in Melbourne is similar. Given recent inflation rates in Australia and the experience level of SEO professionals, it’s advisable to be slightly flexible with these rates. Hourly SEO work typically hovers around the $100 mark, as mentioned earlier. This applies whether you’re working with an individual SEO professional or an SEO agency in Melbourne.

How much does SEO cost in Sydney?

If you’re a Sydney-based business and have found a marketing agency that you resonate with that is situated in Sydney, you will be wondering whether pricing will vary. Luckily, the rates are generally applicable to all states, helping you understand what the average SEO cost is for the industry. Considering these statistics in mind can help you decipher cheap SEO agencies from a quality SEO agency in Sydney, guaranteeing you quality with the work you ask for.

How much does SEO cost in Australia?

Even though this information may seem irrelevant, it is important to consider SEO costs in Australia, and whether you wish to collaborate with local or international agencies. Consulting a local SEO company is beneficial for smaller businesses, as they understand local demographics. For example, the worldwide market earns 23.17% more than local markets, where international agencies earn around $118.80 per hour, compared to an Australian average of $96.44 per hour.

In recruiting international agencies, not only is there a cultural barrier to understanding Australian audiences and demands, but they tend to offer higher, hourly SEO rates.  Additionally, these agencies will operate in different time zones to you, making it harder to track their performance and how much they are committing to your project.

However, an advantage of recruiting an SEO agency within your city, is that you can enter the office or contact them easily during business hours, therefore minimising turnaround time, and allowing you to collaborate productively and closely with them. This helps with trust, especially knowing that the industry manipulates SEO costs in Australia.

Companies that often allocate your work to international employees demonstrate a tendency to underpay those who are completing the work, compared to Australian wages and standards. This can be incredibly problematic and contradictory if you’re a business that prides itself on ethical and quality practices. That’s why it is a safer option to compare other marketing agencies to each other and understand what SEO costs are efficient enough to guarantee you your desired outcome.

Cheap SEO Agencies

Search engine optimisation professionals often lure new customers into the SEO game by offering page 1 positions for an incredibly low price. Even though this sounds ideal, make sure to complete research of other qualified agencies and compare their pricing to these ‘SEO wizards’.

These companies ultimately require savings to keep the business running, and extremely cheap services from SEO companies often mean outsourcing your work from overseas or employing freelancers who don’t demonstrate sufficient experience. Considering that there is more of a focus on quantity, rather than the quality of services, you as a business can compromise the well-being of your brand. An SEO cost calculator can help you determine appropriate pricing for quality work.

How can I ensure that the SEO services I’m seeking from an agency are legitimate and achievable within a timeframe?

When navigating the realm of search engine optimisation, it’s important to vet potential agencies to ensure legitimacy and learn achievable outcomes within a specified timeframe. Begin by scrutinising their track record and client testimonials. A reputable agency will provide case studies showcasing successful campaigns, bolstering credibility. 

Inquire about search engine optimisation costs upfront. This ensures clarity on pricing structures such as SEO services pricing, and SEO package pricing. Be vigilant for any hidden fees or ambiguous terms within the contract. A trustworthy agency will offer a breakdown of pricing for SEO. This can explain the value proposition behind each service offered. 

Seek assurances about the feasibility of achieving desired results within a stipulated timeframe. A seasoned agency will conduct a comprehensive audit of your website. It will identify areas for improvement and outline a realistic timeline for implementation and optimisation. Steer clear of agencies promising unrealistic outcomes or quick fixes. Sustainable SEO strategies need time and consistent effort to yield large results. By conducting due diligence and prioritising transparency in search engine optimisation charges, you can partner with an agency poised to elevate your online presence.

Ensuring that the SEO services you seek from an agency are legitimate and achievable within a timeframe requires careful consideration and research. Here are some key steps to help you navigate the process:

Ask for References:

Request references from past or current clients of the agency to get an understanding of their experiences. Speaking directly with other businesses who have worked with the agency can provide valuable insights into their professionalism, communication, and ability to deliver results. 

Evaluate Their Knowledge and Expertise:

During your initial discussions with the agency, pay attention to their level of knowledge and expertise in the field of SEO. A reputable agency will be able to show a deep understanding of search engine algorithms, industry trends, and best practices for optimising websites. 

Consider Their Approach to SEO:

Inquire about the agency’s approach to SEO and whether they focus on ethical, white-hat techniques that follow search engine guidelines. Avoid agencies that engage in black-hat tactics or promise quick fixes. These can result in penalties from search engines and long-term damage to your website’s reputation.

Assess Their Customisation and Flexibility:

Every business is unique. It’s important to work with an agency that offers customised SEO solutions tailored to your specific needs and goals. Look for agencies that are flexible and adaptable, willing to adjust their strategies based on your feedback and evolving market conditions. 

Monitor Progress and Results:

Once the SEO campaign is underway, stay involved in monitoring progress and results. Regularly review performance metrics, such as keyword rankings, organic traffic, and conversion rates. This ensures that the campaign is on track to meet your objectives. 

Stay Informed About Industry Changes:

SEO is a dynamic and ever-evolving field. So, it’s essential to stay informed about changes to search engine algorithms, industry trends, and best practices. Work with an agency that is proactive about staying ahead of the curve and adapting its strategies to keep pace with these changes. 

Thoroughly Research Potential Agencies:

Take the time to research and check many SEO agencies before making a decision. Look for agencies with a proven track record of success, positive client testimonials, and transparent pricing structures. Avoid agencies that make unrealistic promises or offer unusually low prices. These may show a lack of experience or questionable tactics. 

Review Case Studies and Portfolio:

Ask potential agencies for case studies or examples of past work they have completed for clients in similar industries. Reviewing their portfolio can give you insight into their approach to SEO and the results they have achieved for other businesses. 

Ask About Their Process:

Inquire about the agency’s SEO process and how they plan to achieve your goals within the specified timeframe. A reputable agency will be able to provide a clear outline of its strategies and tactics, as well as realistic timelines for achieving results. 

Discuss Communication and Reporting:

Communication is key when working with an SEO agency. Be sure to discuss how often you will receive updates and reports on the progress of your campaign. Look for agencies that offer regular communication and transparent reporting to keep you informed every step of the way. 

Clarify Expectations and Goals:

Clearly define your expectations and goals for the SEO campaign upfront to ensure alignment with the agency’s capabilities. Be realistic about what can be achieved within your budget and timeframe. Discuss any specific targets or milestones you want to reach. 

Get Everything in Writing:

Once you’ve chosen an agency, make sure to get all agreements, contracts, and pricing for SEO details in writing. This helps to avoid any misunderstandings or disputes down the line and provides clarity on the scope of work, timeline, and cost of the project.

 By following these steps and taking the time to research and vet potential SEO agencies, you can ensure that the services you receive are legitimate, achievable, and aligned with your goals. Remember to focus on quality and long-term success over short-term cost savings, and invest in an agency that has the experience and expertise to deliver results.

How much should SEO cost for a small business?

Answers to this question are dependent on the research you complete about the industry, as well as your own decision on how much you wish to invest in your business. Treating SEO as an investment, rather than a monthly obligation is pivotal to understanding how you can best optimise your website. It’s understandable why brands search for the lowest rates for the most amount of work as businesses can be financially unpredictable. However, compromising on high-quality services is not worth it for low prices, as your business and SEO campaign are at the expense. Outlined below are techniques that will prove a company’s legitimacy with its services and promises to you:

• Claiming to deliver outstanding results in a very short time frame
• Automation or duplication of content
• Inundation of keywords on a page, to manipulate that site’s ranking for Google
• White text on your page with a white background
• SEO tactics to negatively report a competitor’s efforts to damage another’s credibility in ranking in search results

This list may sound like problems that don’t threaten your business, but if you invest in cheap SEO companies, and don’t consider the average SEO cost for the size of your project, you could end up wasting more money and time than intended. By using unreliable techniques such as the ones listed above, the well-being of your website can be dramatically affected. Not only can it injure your ranking on Google and the traffic to your website, but will therefore damage your revenue and business, undoing all the money and time you’ve invested into this project.

Ensuring that you have a qualified and supportive SEO team will mean high-quality services for you. With thousands of results at consumers’ fingertips, put yourself and your brand at the top of that list, ensuring that you attract the customers you want, leading to further conversion. Employing the right people will ensure a sustainable and ethical way of working, further reinforcing and communicating your brand’s values to the public.

Is it achievable to complete SEO services myself?

It is perfectly achievable to do SEO for your company, however, it is more costly than it seems. 

Doing SEO for your own business requires a strategic team of web developers, analysts, copywriters, and SEO specialists. Ensuring that these team members are paid appropriately according to Australian market standards and allocating that budget aside from your business can be difficult. Additionally, considering appropriate training and support available for this team is pivotal and beneficial in terms of creating quality results. 

It is also quintessential to equip your staff efficiently with materials that will help them in their SEO goals and journey. This includes applications that will help facilitate SEO analytics for your own and individual websites, keyword research, and SEO audits. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by our suggestions, we have created a guideline to compare what good SEO is compared to bad SEO. Within whatever SEO costs you have chosen with our SEO pricing guide, here is a list of green flags that will help you in choosing the right marketing agency for you:

• A quality marketing agency will complete background research about you and your projects

Not only will reputable and viable marketing companies interview but will further try to understand your company, your demographics, your items or services, the industry your business exists in, your competitors, and more.

• Will perform SEO audits for you

Despite whatever SEO package you select, a reliable marketing agency will know that you’re entitled to an SEO audit. This explores where your website is in terms of traffic and ranking, to which this agency will make you feel like you’re being listened to in regards to your direction and goals, and where you can improve.

• Strategy

Depending on findings from research and analysis of other competitors, the SEO professionals will introduce creative strategies behind your SEO campaign that will reiterate your presence online, therefore increasing visibility.

• Researching of keywords

The success behind any SEO strategy is the selection of appropriate keywords, considering their pivotal role in representing your website in search engine machines. They communicate to customers what content is on your pages and website. The aim is to target suitable keywords with high search volumes and low competitive rates. 

• Development and creation of content

Content is easily the most important part of a successful campaign. Campaigns that have been productive and successful include content that is consistent and creates a distinctive style that is easily recognised by customers. 

• On-page optimisation

Your agency will help you create a site structure and optimise your pages for search engines. This will include using the keywords you provide to create titles and meta descriptions, as well as addressing other factors that influence page speed and bounce rate. They can also provide strategies to increase engagement on your site.

• Off-page optimisation

Off-page optimisation refers to all of the techniques that happen behind the scenes. This includes the publication of content on social media and reputable domains, as well as the creation of backlinks and receiving of reviews that help websites rank higher in search engine results. 

• Use of Reporting and Analytics

Quality agencies will measure their progress by using reporting systems. Their transparency in sharing results with you can help you both collaboratively ensure that your investment is productive. 

• They will happily provide you with examples of their work

Reputable companies will willingly provide you with case studies of projects they’ve worked on in the past. If anything, they’ll showcase it to you to offer complete transparency with their services and expectations. 

How can I further understand how Google will rank my business?

Despite SEO package and SEO costs in Australia being relatively consistent across the industry, whatever your business requires from an SEO strategy can impact the average SEO cost or SEO pricing guide you refer to for your services. In simpler words, understanding how the Google ranking algorithm works will further help you understand what actually you require from your SEO package or from an agency.

• Consistent Publication of Engaging Content – 26%

  • The number one factor that affects a website’s ranking in Google is the consistency of its publication of engaging content.
  • Google rewards websites that publish high-quality information by ranking them higher in search results. Even though it can take a while (potentially more than 6 months), publishing consistent content is the most important factor for ranking well on Google.
  • This is incredibly important for searching for marketing agencies that are reputable in their written content creation, and where they are consistent and grammatically correct with their content.

• Keywords in Meta Titles – 17%

  • The role of keywords in meta titles is to help users find the content they are looking for.
  • By including relevant keywords in a meta title, you can help ensure that your content appears in search engine results pages when users search for those terms.
  • Including keywords also helps ensure that your content is seen as relevant by powerful search engines such as Google, which can help improve your site’s ranking in search results.

• Niche Expertise (or Narrow, Strategic Targeting) – 13%

  • A niche expertise in digital marketing would be understanding how to use digital marketing tools and platforms to reach a specific target audience.
  • This could include understanding how to use Facebook Ads, Google AdWords, and other online advertising platforms to reach potential customers.
  • Most digital marketing agencies offer testimonials and case studies for potential clients to refer to.
  • This can prove to be very beneficial for clients, as highly creative and targeted strategies and campaigns created by SEO professionals help communicate to customers how they can add a unique perspective to a client’s business.
  • This is an important factor in determining a qualified agency from others, where there is a clear execution of a unique strategy.

• Backlinks – 15%

  • The number and quality of backlinks that a website possesses is a major indicator of how relevant and authoritative that website is.
  • Considering that Google searches for websites that demonstrate authority, expertise, and trustworthiness, this will help Google decipher a website as reliable and relevant.

• User Engagement – 11%

  • This has been the most significant change when it comes to considering influences on how the Google ranking algorithm operates.
  • Related to the first and most important influence of consistent publishing of content that is engaging, engagement is measured through time spent on the page, bounce rate, and pages visited during a user’s session.
  • User engagement is important in ensuring that the messages being delivered are actually reaching and affecting consumers.
  • If people aren’t paying attention to your digital marketing efforts, then this effort, time, and money can be considered to be a waste of resources.
  • By focusing on creating engaging and unique content and experiences, a marketing agency that showcases extensive experience in this can help you reach a wider audience and drive better results for your business.
  • A user’s engagement can also be shaped by how user-friendly the website is when it comes to factors such as page speed (2%) and mobile-friendliness (5%).

Even though the influences listed above are most important in determining a site’s ranking in Google search results, finding an agency that offers the services listed below as well, can not only prove their legitimacy and knowledge in the industry but can also assure you that their facilities available can improve the ranking of your business:

• Internal links
• Mobile-friendly websites
• Page speed
• Site Security
• Schema markup
• Keywords in URL
• Keywords in Header Tags
• Keywords in Meta Description Tags

The best way to improve your SEO is to have a proper strategy in place. This strategy should be well-organised and intentional, with each page targeting a different keyword that potential customers would search for. If you have a blog, each post should be the best treatment of the subject from the point of view of your target audience. If you can do that, users will be engaged, links will accrue organically, and you’ll climb the Google Search rankings.

How to decipher a marketing agency as a reliable and highly qualified SEO provider?

SEO digital marketing is an ever-changing industry that adapts to market demands and trends, annually. However, if you’re a business that is searching for a reliable SEO provider, a key indicator of a viable and highly skilled company is one that is transparent with its intentions and services.

Firstly, transparency builds trust, which is essential for any successful relationship, even between marketing agencies and businesses. Intelligent marketing agencies are aware of how customers search for honesty. If you’re a potential customer who is trying to understand which agency is best for you, a good indicator is finding a company that keeps itself accountable for your business’s well-being.

Companies that encourage their clients to observe their strategies and techniques prove their honest intentions with your business. Even during the initial stages of meeting with a client, without commitment, reputable marketing companies will often provide free quotes on how much SEO services cost, particularly regarding your SEO campaign.

How does Clickmatix offer transparency in its intentions and services?

Clickmatix offers no secret to SEO success but a team of experienced, passionate SEO specialists who are passionate about creating long-term success for businesses from all walks of life. Specialising in SEO, PPC, and a plethora of social media marketing and growth marketing services, we are incredibly vocal about what we have to offer prospective clients.

For example, our onboarding process involves an allocation of one of our account managers to you, who is responsible for ensuring that your SEO campaign runs smoothly and is of a high standard. Before beginning any project, we use a project proposal template that clearly outlines your goals as a business, and how we can help you achieve these through our suite of services. We make sure to be incredibly vocal about the creative strategy behind your SEO campaign, as well as the SEO services cost, aligning them with standard, average SEO cost in Australia.

After thoroughly discussing the details of the contract and respective terms and conditions, your account manager will collaborate on a clear-cut campaign brief, further fostering transparency with brand values, motives, goals, and cores between both parties, ensuring that the client feels that they’re being listened to.

In arranging regular meetings with you, the Clickmatix team will collaborate to execute your SEO campaign, reflecting the promises behind our strategy. With constant communication between the client and the marketing team, Clickmatix prides itself on accountability within the business and getting the job done.

Whether it’s services in website optimisation or keyword research, you can then enjoy watching our experts in action expand your strategy and observe your website rank higher and higher. We also regularly write and upload blogs and resources that are not only beneficial to us but also to customers’ knowledge of digital marketing, providing the utmost sincerity to our clients.

With a strong history of successful campaigns in search engine marketing and social media advertising, we offer a wide range of services that can improve your business’s website and its ranking in Google, whilst offering absolute transparency in our SEO services cost. We may not offer the cheapest SEO cost in Australia, but the quality of work we produce does not align with average services and average SEO costs.

With our pricing, hours of work are poured into every campaign we create and execute.  As a leading SEO company in Australia that is partnered with Google, we are firmly realistic with our belief that despite how exceptional your service or product may be, a proper marketing strategy is required to achieve your business goals, despite how small or large they might be. This is why our average SEO cost allows for a realistic, wide time frame that allows a thorough development of SEO services.

The ROI of SEO 

Investing in SEO yields significant returns over time. A well-executed SEO strategy improves online visibility, drives organic traffic, and enhances brand credibility. Businesses can expect long-term benefits such as increased leads, conversions, and revenue. By focusing on sustainable SEO practices and adapting strategies to evolving search engine algorithms, businesses can achieve a competitive edge and maximise their ROI from digital marketing investments.