6 SEO Pricing Models for Agency Owners

Choosing the right SEO pricing model can be daunting for agency owners. With over 15 years of experience in the SEO industry, having worked with agencies across the US, Australia, and Canada, we at Stan Ventures have encountered every SEO pricing model imaginable. 

Whether you’re dealing with hourly, project-based, retainer-based, performance-based, or hybrid pricing, we have consistently delivered top-notch white-label SEO services that help our partners achieve higher margins. 

So, if you are wondering which pricing model to choose for your agency, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the various SEO pricing models and choose the one that best suits your business needs.

Understanding SEO Pricing Models for Agency Owners

Navigating the landscape of SEO pricing models can be challenging for agency owners. Here, we break down the various models to help you decide which suits your business and clients best.

Hourly Pricing Model

The hourly pricing model charges clients based on the hours spent on their SEO campaign. This model is particularly effective for agencies handling small, specific tasks that don’t require ongoing work.

Pros:

• Ideal for technical SEO fixes or addressing a few errors.
• Flexibility in billing for smaller, short-term projects.

Cons:

• It can become expensive for comprehensive SEO services.
• It is difficult to predict total costs upfront.

In our experience, agencies that opt for hourly pricing often do so for projects that need quick SEO fixes or technical SEO solutions. However, we have come across agencies that need to gain the expertise to deliver such specific requirements of the clients put under pressure. 

They don’t want to say no to the client due to the fear of defection, as a handful of other agencies are ready to snatch them. Here is how they get out of this conundrum without damage – they use our white-label services, which seamlessly integrate with their existing operations, providing expert technical fixes (or any specific SEO service they don’t want to do in-house) efficiently and effectively.

Project-Based Pricing Model

In the project-based model, clients are charged a flat fee for a specific project, such as an SEO audit or website redesign. This model is excellent for agencies with clear, defined client goals.

Pros:

• The precise, upfront cost for the entire project.
• It is easier to manage budgets without unexpected expenses.

Cons:

• May be better for ongoing SEO needs.
• Requires a clear understanding of project scope and deliverables.

Agencies that work on a project basis can benefit from delivering precise and timely SEO solutions. This ensures that all project requirements are met without compromising on quality. Since the turnaround time and project deadline are pre-defined, agencies using the project-based pricing model need to allocate tasks among team members judiciously.

If your agency has any tasks that are time-consuming and require less expertise from your in-house team, like link building, consider partnering with an affordable white label link building service provider. This can save you time and reduce overhead costs. However, be sure to clearly define the metrics you’ve promised your clients for backlink building so that the white label link building agency you work with can deliver the same quality links.

Also, SEO is not a service that can go with a guarantee statement. There are multiple factors involved in getting a website ranked on Google. So, the best way to navigate is to take in projects that last longer than 6 months, which we consider as a bare minimum to show a significant improvement. 

Retainer-Based Pricing Model

The retainer-based model is a payment structure where clients pay a monthly fee for continuous SEO services. This model is favored by clients who have an ongoing need for SEO activities and want to ensure consistent progress and improvements in their SEO performance over time.

Many SEO agencies prefer the retainer pricing model, but some website owners may not like being locked into a monthly retainer. One reason for this is that the monthly retainer amount is automatically debited from their cards, yet the promised activities from the previous month may not have been completed. 

This can lead to friction between clients and the agency, affecting business growth. To minimize this friction, it’s crucial for the in-house team to focus on their strengths while outsourcing repetitive SEO activities to a white-label agency such as Stan Ventures. This can ensure timely delivery before the client’s next billing cycle, reducing the chances of any dissatisfaction.

Pros:

• Provides steady, predictable revenue.
• Allows for ongoing optimization and long-term strategies.

Cons:

• Requires long-term commitment from clients.
• Upfront payment might be challenging for some clients.

For agencies using the retainer model, our white-label SEO services offer comprehensive and consistent support, helping you maintain and grow your clients’ online presence month after month.

Performance-Based Pricing Model

In this model, clients are charged based on the performance of their SEO campaign, typically measured by leads or sales generated. It aligns the agency’s success with the client’s success. As an SEO agency, this is not the pricing model you want to offer clients for various reasons.

SEO is just one side of the coin. There are an assortment of other factors that could determine if a website ranks higher on Google. Let’s take, for instance, a health brand that the FDA has recently picked up for spreading misinformation about the efficiency of a drug, God forsake, comes to you for SEO assistance. 

The internet is rampant with distrustful information about the brand, and it doesn’t matter if your agency hires the most elite and experienced SEO person; making that site rank higher will be a Himalayan task. 

Not only that, but think of a site that is flawed by technical errors and owned by someone who has yet to learn how the search works. It doesn’t matter how you try to make them understand; they will continue to boast about the flashy animations and the ridiculously large Java scripts that hamper the site’s performance.

Getting on a performance-based SEO deal with such websites can only put your agency under pressure because your team has to first teach them the concept of SEO and try to make the person understand that a few changes to the content and meta alone cannot bring the ranks up.

Pros:

• Directly ties payment to results (when it does happen, you get paid instantly.
• Attractive to clients focused on ROI.

Cons:

• Risky for agencies due to variables outside their control.
• Difficult to guarantee specific results.

While many agencies shy away from this model due to its inherent risks, we’ve proven our ability to deliver measurable results for a few of our agency partners, ensuring their clients see tangible SEO growth. However, we had to assemble a team dedicated to looking into the projects and creating the whole growth strategy from scratch. 

Hybrid Model

The hybrid model combines elements of various pricing structures to create a customized approach for each client, making it ideal for diverse agency needs. We recommend that only growing agencies try this model because this allows them to scale services and pricing as they expand and don’t have to turn down clients due to a single pricing model. 

Pros:

• Flexibility to tailor services and pricing to client needs.
• Balances predictability and performance incentives.

Cons:

• It can be complex to manage multiple pricing structures.
• Requires careful planning and clear communication with clients.

Our adaptability and breadth of services make us an ideal partner for agencies using the hybrid model. We can customize our offerings to meet your unique requirements, ensuring optimal client outcomes and higher margins.

Resource-Based SEO Pricing

In the resource-based model, clients are assigned dedicated SEO resources who handle their project exclusively. This model offers more control and a cohesive approach to SEO. But if you don’t have in-house resources, this pricing model may not be possible.  

Pros:

• Ensures a cohesive approach with dedicated resources.
• Greater control over daily activities and alignment with client goals.

Cons:

• Comes with a premium price tag.
• Often requires long-term contracts.

If you are an agency with 10-15 clients looking to work with a dedicated team, and if your agency doesn’t have the bandwidth to assign your in-house experts exclusively for these projects, Stan Ventures can help you.

We are a white-label agency with over 200+ SEO experts, which means we can assemble the right resources you need within a few weeks and work exclusively on the projects you assign us without the clients ever knowing that we are your white-label partner.

One-Time SEO Activities

One-time SEO activities are crucial for addressing specific needs and achieving targeted improvements in a client’s SEO performance. These activities can range from enhancing a website’s authority through link building to optimizing its technical aspects.

Agencies can provide immediate value to their clients by offering one-time services without ongoing commitments.

Let’s explore some of your agency’s most impactful one-time SEO activities.

Link Building

You may get orders for bulk link-building campaigns, which are essential to enhance your clients’ website authority.

Average pricing for link-building campaigns starts as low as $49 and goes as high as $1500, depending on the quality metrics that your clients look for. 

Whether you need a recurring plan for continuous link-building or a one-off boost for your clients, we offer transparent white-label link-building services with varied pricing options to suit your needs.

Content Creation Services

Providing content tailored to client needs is essential for SEO success. You can offer content written by experienced writers or AI-assisted, ensuring it meets your specific requirements.

The average pricing for content creation services in the US ranges from $25 to $300 per 1,000 words, depending on the content type and expertise level your clients ask for. 

Technical SEO Fixes

Optimizing the technical infrastructure of clients’ websites for better performance and rankings is a must. Agencies that offer comprehensive technical SEO services charge anywhere from $99 for small sites with minor technical fixes to $2000+ for medium-sized websites with core technical SEO fixes.

Google Business Profile Optimization

Improving local SEO by optimizing Google Business Profile (Google My Business) listings and building citations is critical for the local visibility of your clients. The average pricing in the US for GBP ranges from $149 to $500, based on the number of citations.

SEO Pricing Based on Scope of Services

Local SEO

Focused on optimizing your clients’ online presence in a specific locality, local SEO includes Google Business Profile optimization, local citations, and localized content. Pricing for local SEO services in the US ranges from $150 to $2,500+ per month, depending upon the number of business locations managed.

National SEO

National SEO involves optimizing your client websites for a broader, country-wide audience with more generalized strategies. National SEO services also involve comprehensive keyword targeting, link building, and content strategies. Since multiple SEO strategies are involved, and considering the high competitors that have to be outranked, clients will end up paying premium pricing that ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 per month.

International SEO

Targeting audiences across different countries with multi-lingual and cultural contexts, international SEO requires extensive planning and execution, which calls for a higher price tag that can range anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000+ per month in the US, depending upon the kind of site that’s optimized.

White Label SEO

If you are an agency with years of expertise and have a team of 200+ SEO experts like Stan Ventures, then offering white-label services could be the most viable option to scale up your agency and ROI. 

When you offer white-label services, you are essentially allowing other companies to outsource their projects to you. As their white-label partner, you enable these agencies to resell SEO services under their own brand, which helps them expand their service offerings without needing in-house expertise. 

The pricing of white-label services is usually based on the quantity of work that is outsourced. The more an agency decides to outsource, the bigger bulk discounts they receive. These bulk discounts translate to larger margins for these agencies, allowing them to take more from each client order they place.

Factors Influencing SEO Pricing

Understanding the scope of SEO services is crucial for setting appropriate pricing models. Different levels of service require varying degrees of effort, expertise, and resources. Below, we delve into the pricing models for local, national, international, and white-label SEO services.

Reputation of the Agency

More experienced and reputable agencies charge higher rates due to the quality and reliability of their services.

Type of Service

High-cost services such as backlink building and content creation are essential but more expensive. Lower-cost services like on-page optimization are also critical and cost-effective.

Complexity of the Project

Larger, more complex projects require more resources and effort, leading to higher costs. The project’s duration and scope also impact pricing.

Size of the Business

SEO packages are often tailored to match the business size and budget. Smaller businesses may need more focused, budget-friendly solutions.

Industry Competition

Highly competitive industries require aggressive SEO strategies, increasing the cost of services.

By understanding these pricing models and factors, agency owners can decide which SEO package best suits their clients’ needs. 

Working with a reputable and experienced white-label SEO agency like Stan Ventures ensures you get the expertise and resources needed to improve your client’s online visibility and search engine rankings. 

Our white-label SEO services are designed to provide high-quality, scalable solutions that drive results and maximize margins, regardless of your chosen pricing model. Connect with