If you have ever tried to figure out how much SEO should cost, you have probably found yourself frustrated by vague answers and huge price ranges. Some agencies charge a few hundred dollars a month while others charge thousands, and most articles you find online simply say “it depends” without actually explaining why.
At Levin Media, we believe in transparency. You are trusting us with your online visibility, your leads, and ultimately your business growth. You deserve to understand exactly what impacts SEO pricing, what you are paying for, and what realistic results look like.
This guide is meant to give you clear insight into SEO costs, grounded in our real-world experience working with therapists, mental health providers, nonprofits, fitness and wellness businesses, wedding professionals, and service-based industries of all kinds. If you are comparing agencies or trying to figure out which investment level makes sense, we want you to feel informed and confident.
What SEO Typically Costs Across the Industry
Before we talk about our pricing, it helps to understand the general landscape. Across the U.S., SEO usually falls into the following ranges:
Low-cost SEO: $200 to $500 per month
Mid-range SEO: $1,000 to $5,000 per month
High-end or enterprise SEO: $5,000 to $30,000 or more per month
SEO audits: $500 to $5,000 (one time)
Hourly consulting: $100 to $300 per hour
These ranges exist for a reason. SEO is not a standardized product. It is a service tailored to your goals, your website, your industry, and the level of competition you are facing. The cost usually reflects expertise, time investment, strategy depth, the amount of content needed, and how hands-on the agency is.
At Levin Media, we intentionally price our monthly SEO retainers between $700 and $1,500, because we want to be accessible to small businesses and mission-driven organizations while still delivering meaningful, strategic SEO work. We never cut corners, outsource blindly, or rely on generic templates. Quality matters too much.
What We Provide in Our SEO Services
We keep our services focused and intentional so our clients get the most impact possible. Our core offerings include:
Technical SEO
Local SEO
Content optimization
Ongoing SEO strategy
SEO audits
Full-service monthly retainers
Each client receives a customized plan based on their industry, competition level, goals, and how quickly they hope to see movement. SEO is not a cookie-cutter service, so we never treat it like one.
Our Pricing Tiers: Conservative, Moderate, and Aggressive SEO
We use a simple and transparent pricing structure that makes it easy to understand what fits your needs and your timeline.
Conservative SEO: $700 per month
This is best for new businesses with smaller budgets, low-competition industries, or anyone looking for slow, steady growth. It includes foundational SEO work like keyword research, on-page optimization, basic local SEO, light monthly updates, and clear reporting.
Most clients begin seeing movement within three to six months.
Moderate SEO: Mid-range pricing
This tier is a good match for industries with moderate competition such as therapy, fitness, wellness, and local service providers. It includes everything in the Conservative tier along with expanded keyword targeting, monthly content optimization, technical improvements, competitor monitoring, local SEO enhancements, and monthly strategy meetings.
This level often produces strong movement within three to six months, with compounding growth over time.
Aggressive SEO: $1,500 per month
This is the right fit for competitive industries or businesses that want to move more quickly. It includes everything in the Moderate tier plus deeper technical work, content creation or rewrites, more robust local SEO, and frequent adjustments as market conditions change.
This level can lead to faster initial progress within the early part of the three-to-six-month window and stronger long-term performance.
Why SEO Pricing Varies So Much
If you have ever wondered why one business pays more for SEO than another, here are the key factors that influence cost:
Content creation
Quality content that answers user questions and satisfies search intent takes time and expertise.
Technical fixes
Some websites require extensive cleanup behind the scenes. Others are already in great shape. The platform you built your site on also affects the time needed for improvements.
Competition level
A therapist in a small town needs a very different strategy than a photographer in a large metro area. The more competitive the market, the more SEO work required.
Website size and complexity
Larger sites need more ongoing maintenance and optimization.
Local versus national SEO
National campaigns demand more time, content, and authority building than local ones.
Your desired timeline
If you want to move faster, we need to take a more hands-on, intensive approach.
These factors are not upsells. They are simply the reality of how Google ranks websites.
Common Misconceptions That Lead to Confusion About SEO Pricing
We often see the same misunderstandings come up during discovery calls, so here are a few helpful clarifications.
Misconception 1: SEO is one size fits all.
It is not. Two businesses in the same city can have completely different SEO needs.
Misconception 2: If someone promises fast rankings, they must be good.
Unfortunately, fast promises are almost always a red flag. They usually involve shortcuts that violate Google guidelines and put your site at risk.
Misconception 3: I will start ranking as soon as SEO begins.
SEO takes time. It usually takes three to six months to see meaningful results because Google needs to re-evaluate your site and understand the changes made.
Misconception 4: SEO is just about keywords.
Keywords matter, but so do site structure, user experience, loading speed, internal linking, mobile performance, content depth, local signals, backlinks, and audience behavior.
SEO works because all of these pieces support each other.
How We Work With Clients: A Collaborative, Supportive Process
We care deeply about communication, clarity, and partnership. When we work with a client, we stay in touch, we share insights, and we make sure you always understand what is happening and why.
Our process includes:
Monthly strategy meetings
Transparent reporting
Clear explanations without jargon
Real-time goal assessment
Adjustments based on performance and competition
We also take the time to understand your business model, your audience, how people search for your services, and what the customer journey looks like in your industry. SEO is not just about ranking higher. It is about helping the right people find you and take the next step.
How Levin Media Compares to Other Types of SEO Providers
Not all SEO agencies are structured the same way. Here is a simple way to understand the three main categories.
Low-cost SEO: $200 to $500 per month
Pros:
Low price
Cons:
Heavily automated
Often outsourced without oversight
Very little communication
Generic strategies
Rarely creates measurable long-term growth
Low-cost SEO is inexpensive for a reason. It is not built for real visibility or sustainable results.
Enterprise SEO: $5,000 to $30,000 or more per month
Pros:
Large teams
Highly technical work
Suitable for national brands
Cons:
Overwhelming for small businesses
High retainers
Often designed for organizations with internal marketing teams
Levin Media: $700 to $1,500 per month
We sit comfortably between the two extremes.
We offer:
Deep SEO expertise
A supportive, collaborative relationship
Industry-specific knowledge
Hands-on strategy and reporting
Customized plans
No shortcuts and no cookie-cutter solutions
We are not the cheapest, and we are not trying to be. We focus on doing SEO the right way so you actually see results that matter.
SEO Audits at Levin Media
We offer standalone audits for businesses that want clarity before committing to monthly SEO. These audits help you understand your website’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. While we do not publish set pricing for audits, they are designed to give you a clear roadmap whether you choose to work with us afterward or not.
Is SEO Worth the Investment?
If you rely on being found online, the answer is yes. SEO is one of the most powerful long-term marketing strategies available. It brings in people who are actively searching for your services, who are ready to book, or who are comparing providers.
When SEO is done well, it becomes one of the most cost-effective ways to build consistent visibility and credibility. The work we do today continues to build momentum for months and years to come.
What You Can Expect When You Invest in SEO With Levin Media
When you work with us, you receive:
A clear, honest strategy
A partner who understands your business
Monthly communication
Transparent updates
Data-backed decisions
A plan that respects your goals and your budget
We want you to feel supported, informed, and confident throughout the entire process.
Ready to Explore SEO for Your Business?
If you want help choosing the right tier for your goals or want to understand what your site needs, we invite you to contact us to book a discovery call. We will walk through your goals, your competition, your timeline, and your budget to find the approach that makes the most sense for you.
