Choosing the right SEO package can be challenging for businesses considering different agencies offer different pricing and inclusions. There are several things you will need to consider to choose the right SEO package for your business.
You will need to consider your goal, marketing budget, high-quality SEO vs general SEO, hours included in the package, work updates, reporting & more.
In this blog, let’s look at some of the points you need to look at to choose the right SEO package.
Table of contents:
- Define your SEO goals
- Determine your budget
- Avoid guaranteed SEO
- Cheap vs quality SEO
- You must check SEO inclusions [IMPORTANT]
- Agency history & case studies
- Why does agency history matter?
- The significance of case studies
- Basic vs advanced SEO package difference
- How do I choose an SEO specialist?
- FAQs
- Need Help?
Define your SEO goals
First things first, you need to define your SEO goals. You need to set the right and realistic goals to set your expectations right and make it easier to allocate the budget.
Some SEO goals you might consider are:
- Long-term quality SEO vs short-term quick gains
- Number of sales or leads you may need weekly or monthly after doing a good SEO for 6 to 12 months
- Whether you will also contribute to the SEO effort with content production and let the agency do everything for you
- Realistic traffic expectation in 1, 2 or 3 years time-frame
Once you have clarity on the goals and responsibilities, it will become a lot easier to choose the correct SEO package.
Determine your budget
Assessing your financial situation to spend on SEO marketing is fundamental to selecting the right SEO package.
You need to set the right budget based on your goals to get the maximum results.
Many agencies offer different packages with different inclusions based on different price points. You need to have a clear consultation with them and come to the right price point to get the most out of SEO.
So before you even start looking at SEO packages, consider these questions:
- How much can I afford each month?
- What’s the best budget to allocate for maximum results?
- Can I invest more if the results are good?
- Avoid getting cheap or guaranteed SEO while determining your budget
When you get the right idea from these questions, it can help you find the most reasonable SEO package that offers high-quality SEO without breaking the bank.
Avoid guaranteed SEO
Guaranteed SEO is a big no-no.
You should never expect or buy an SEO package with guaranteed SEO attached.
It is against the fundamental principles of SEO. The ranking is impacted by hundreds of factors and they change regularly. While the fundamental principles remain the same due to the changing nature, the results should never be guaranteed.
Choose providers who offer realistic, transparent strategies. Ethical SEO focuses on sustainable growth and adherence to best practices, which protect your site from penalties and long-term damage.
Visit the detailed guide on why guaranteed SEO should never be considered and its impact on your business.
Cheap vs quality SEO
Businesses that invest in cheap SEO services are more likely to be dissatisfied than ones that have invested more towards their SEO efforts, according to Backlinko.
Generally, it’s easier to get attracted to cheap SEO offers. In most cases, cheap SEO leads to trouble due to poor quality of work, time waste and importantly you may get hit by Google with unethical SEO practices.
Cheap SEO packages are typically mass-produced, offering generic solutions that might not suit your specific needs. They often lack personalised strategies and rely on automated tools rather than expert analysis.
Why is cheap SEO offered?
- Gain clients: This is the main reason why cheap SEO is offered. Many agencies just want clients without focusing on delivering high-quality SEO.
- To boost cash flow: Many agencies just want to keep getting new clients to get regular cash flow, so they don’t care whether the business succeeds or leaves.
- No idea about Quality SEO: There are many so-called SEO agency have no clue about serious SEO and often they are generalists, not SEO experts
Why quality SEO is better than cheap SEO?
- Focus on ethical practices: Quality SEO focuses on sustainable, ethical practices. It involves thorough research, strategic planning, and consistent effort.
- Moderate expectations: It comes with moderate expectations as even with the best efforts, it can take time to achieve the desired result
- Transparency: The cost is planned purely based on the effort and avoids guaranteed ranking.
- Reporting & Analytics: Reports are shared as planned that will make sense to you and not random analytics screenshots or numbers.
- Long-term success: If you are looking for long-term success, then a quality SEO package is needed for you.
You must check SEO inclusions [IMPORTANT]
With many agencies out there, choosing the right SEO package can be a bit difficult. Many agencies have different features and add-ons, so you must choose the right one that fits your SEO goals.
However, there are some important inclusions that a good SEO package includes. We have listed the most needed SEO inclusion and what to look for below. Visit the SEO packages in Australia page to learn more about the cost and inclusions.
SEO ranking time
SEO is a long-term process – you must know this before choosing an SEO package.
No SEO package can give you results overnight, if you get offers to rank your website in a short time, it is an indication of trouble and you should avoid it at all costs. There are no shortcuts to SEO.
Get a realistic SEO ranking assessment done for your website, and visit how long SEO takes to work page to get a clear understanding of the monthly timeline.
The campaign manager
Working with an agency has its benefits, but it’s equally important to have a skilled campaign manager who knows what to do and personalise the work or report when possible.
You need a skilled campaign manager who knows what your company needs best and prepares accordingly. A frequent change in SEO manager may impact your SEO effort as the new person needs to learn all from the start.
So, working with someone who has been reputed for a long time is important to achieving SEO goals.
Here are some qualities you need to look for in a reputed campaign manager:
- How they understand your SEO goals and provide realistic expectations
- SEO campaign effectiveness
- Market research and understanding
- Personally connecting and providing feedback
- Customised analytics and reporting
- Expertise in different forms of SEO
- Available when you need help
SEO audit
An SEO Audit is the foundation of the SEO process. If you don’t know what’s wrong with your website or where the improvements can be made, then it’s hard to either do the cleaning operation or build high-quality authentic content to rank better.
The SEO audit is a time-consuming process especially when deep analysis is needed.
Including an SEO audit in your package will ensure you get reports on past work and learnings to improve to make it better.
A quality audit provides actionable recommendations and a clear roadmap so that responsibilities can be assigned to the team and set deadlines accordingly to achieve the desired outcome.
Hours of work
Ensure your package specifies the number of hours dedicated to your project each month. Knowing the time investment helps set realistic expectations and measure the value of the services provided.
It’s not just about the number of hours but how effectively those hours are used.
A good SEO package typically should allow the SEO team to work on planning, content production, keyword optimisation, off-page and Technical SEO. This means that your SEO package must contribute at least 5-7 hours per week to your SEO efforts for a good start.
Copywriting inclusions
We all know that content writing is the basic foundation of SEO. Without content, there would be nothing to rank for.
Producing compelling content with search intent in mind is a challenging and time-consuming process and comes with a cost.
Some businesses work in a partnership where they produce content based on the instructions provided by the SEO consultant whereas others pay for the entire service including the copywriting.
When choosing an SEO package, make sure that they do professional copywriting. This can be a great boost towards your SEO efforts and ensure your website stands out to attract and retain traffic.
If you plan to contribute then you need to have the resources available to get trained and follow specific guidelines while producing content.
Random vs topical approach
Producing content randomly can be helpful for SEO, but having a silo structure or topical approach in your SEO package can be more beneficial.
Topical content strategies align with user intent and search engine algorithms, boosting your site’s visibility. So choose SEO packages that have a topical approach towards producing content.
Topical authority
The semantic SEO approach is the most sophisticated & powerful way to plan topical maps and build content to boost topical authority to gain SEO ranking.
Building topical authority positions your site as an expert in your field. This involves creating comprehensive, high-quality content on relevant topics. Strong topical authority can significantly improve your search rankings and attract more targeted traffic.
However, semantic SEO packages are often expensive because they require more time to plan and require a significantly higher number of pages to build the topic and relevance.
You should consider this option if you are investing in long-term quality SEO.
Google indexing and topical authority
If you aim to achieve topical authority in your niche, pumping high-quality content with speed and relevance will be the key.
Based on our tests, this is by far the best way to improve Google indexing.
Building high-authority content and updating existing content with relevance in a strategic manner (for example: implementing topical maps) is the best way to achieve topical authority and improve indexing.
When choosing the right SEO package, this should be at the top of the list. Although it can be expensive since it requires a lot of planning and effort, it can be worth the investment if done right.
Link building
Link building is one of the most important aspects of SEO. Proper internal linking and backlinks can help your website rank higher. It is also one of the most challenging tasks in SEO but if done well, you can expect great results.
Caution: Poor link-building practices like using black-hat techniques or buying links can lead to a ranking drop and a penalty from Google which is very hard to recover. This is another reason why you should avoid cheap and guaranteed SEO services.
When you plan to sign up with an SEO package, you can seek information about the link-building process and the risks associated.
The cost of link building is generally high because it’s hard to acquire quality and natural links.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO is also an important aspect of SEO and one of the things you must look for when choosing an SEO package. It involves addressing website architecture, crawling, indexing, rendering, & more.
If your content is not structured well or if search engines can’t crawl your content then you have no SEO. That’s why you need a high-quality SEO package that knows technical SEO and how to optimise it.
Mobile SEO
With the growing demand and usage of smartphones, you need to choose a reputed SEO agency that can also do mobile SEO.
Even though the search engine guidelines stay the same, the behaviour, intent, layout, and more are different on mobile than on a regular PC/laptop.
Some key elements in mobile SEO are:
- Responsive Design
- Page Load Speed
- Mobile-Friendly Navigation
- Content Optimisation
- Technical Considerations
Choose the right SEO package with mobile SEO to improve your site’s visibility on mobile phones.
Backlink cleaning & disavow service
This is a part of technical SEO. It involves cleaning poor-quality links or disavowing them in the Google Search Console.
The step should be done with care and requires expertise level knowledge to do it properly.
The process involves a detailed review of the existing link profile, identifying links that could potentially be harmful that could lead to a ranking drop.
Technical SEO is a must for any SEO package, you can’t begin SEO without this.
Reporting tailored to your needs
Have you received a report full of unfamiliar words and immediately closed it? You’re not alone.
Many SEO agencies create reports in a very technical manner including screenshots of Google Analytics and sometimes creating way lengthy documents. The thing is, business owners don’t have the time or expertise to understand tech stuff.
The reporting should be created in simple language and short which can make it more sense and easy to process.
Look out for how the agency will report when choosing an SEO package.
Competitor analysis
Every business has competition, and it’s important that you know them first.
If you want to beat your competition then you need to know enough about your competition from an SEO point of view.
An SEO package that includes competitor analysis will be more complete to carry out detailed research, find the gaps and build a strategy to fill those gaps and go bigger and better.
An SEO agency will look out for the following insights:
- Website structure
- Top-performing pages
- Domain authority
- Link-building history
- Content quality
- SEO efforts and speed
Analytics & tagging
Data should be your friend these days with marketing initiatives.
You may already have all taggings placed correctly and you may need assistance while starting the SEO journey. Accurate data collection and analysis allow you to tailor your SEO strategy to meet business objectives effectively.
Check if your SEO package includes comprehensive analytics services or if there is an additional cost.
Analytics helps track visitor behaviour, conversion rates, and other key metrics, providing insights that guide your ongoing SEO efforts.
What’s not included
Avoid surprises, and ask what’s not included in the SEO package.
- Scope of Services: Clarify which services are excluded from the package. For instance, some packages might not cover advanced analytics, extensive content creation, or technical SEO fixes.
- Additional Costs: Knowing potential extra costs upfront helps you avoid surprises. For example, if competitor analysis or detailed reporting isn’t included, you can decide whether to add these services or adjust your expectations accordingly.
- Service Limitations: Understanding limitations allows for better communication and planning. This insight helps you make informed decisions about whether to upgrade your package or seek additional services elsewhere.
The exit strategy
You should always be ready for the worst-case scenario. If things don’t work out well then you should be able to move on and find another agency who can deliver the work you may need.
Always read the fine print of your contract to understand the terms and conditions related to ending the partnership. This knowledge protects your interests and ensures a smooth transition when needed.
Agency history & case studies
It goes without saying that you need to work with a reputed agency that has a proven track record with case studies of satisfied clients. Don’t just go by the words, check their case studies, and client’s feedback to understand better.
Why does agency history matter?
- Proven Expertise: Agencies with a history of delivering quality work demonstrate their ability to achieve results. Long-standing agencies have experienced various challenges and adapted to changes in SEO practices, making them more reliable.
- Customer Service: An agency known for good customer service is more likely to be responsive and effective in handling your needs.
- Industry Reputation: Online reviews, especially negative ones, can reveal potential red flags. A strong reputation indicates reliability and expertise.
The significance of case studies
- Their Work: Case studies offer a glimpse of their work qualities, process and results. Check their case studies to learn more.
- Research and Innovation: You can learn from their case studies if they are a creative agency or a very flat while executing the work. No business is the same and hence the strategy should be tailored accordingly. You may be able to get some glimpses of this in case studies.
Basic vs advanced SEO package, what’s the difference?
The main difference between basic and advanced SEO packages is the time spent on SEO efforts. Basic packages do not spend much time or put minimum effort into getting you the best results possible for the budget. Advanced SEO packages are well-targeted with specific goals and the process to achieve them.
| Feature | Basic SEO package | Advanced SEO package |
| Keyword Research | Basic keyword research | Comprehensive keyword analysis and targeting
|
| On-Page Optimisation | Fundamental on-page SEO (meta tags, headers) | Advanced on-page SEO (schema markup, detailed audits)
|
| Content Creation | Limited content updates | Extensive content strategy and creation
|
| Link Building | Basic link-building strategies | Advanced link-building with high-quality backlinks
|
| Technical SEO | Basic technical fixes | In-depth technical SEO (site speed, mobile optimisation)
|
| Reporting | Standard monthly reporting | Detailed analytics and reporting with insights |
| Competitor Analysis | Basic competitor overview | In-depth competitor analysis and strategy
|
| Support and Consultation | Basic support with occasional consultations | Ongoing support with regular strategy meetings |
How do I choose an SEO specialist?
It is not easy to find high-quality, trusted SEO specialists considering when you have thousands to choose from.
The best way to choose a reputable SEO consultant is by interviewing them or even getting paid for initial consultations to understand their process and execution strategies.
Generally speaking, here are some qualities you should look for in an SEO consultant.
- Technical SEO Expertise
- Keyword Research Skills
- Content Strategy (Eg. Topical Map or SEO Silo)
- On-Page SEO Knowledge
- Link Building Techniques
- Analytical Skills
- Experience with SEO Tools
- Algorithm Updates Knowledge
- Competitor Analysis Proficiency
- Project Management Skills
FAQs
How much does SEO cost in Australia?
Standard SEO pricing in Australia ranges anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000+ per month. The cost is impacted by key inclusions like technical SEO, content writing, link building etc. Visit our dedicated SEO cost in Australia page to learn more.
What is a good SEO budget?
There’s no “right” budget for SEO since it purely depends on your goals or needs. Generally, it’s best to invest at least 5-10% of your revenue towards SEO efforts to boost your presence significantly. Quality SEO can be a bit pricey, but the results outweigh the cost.
Why is SEO so expensive?
SEO is expensive because it requires time, expertise, and resources. Quality SEO involves comprehensive keyword research, content creation, link building, and technical optimisation. It’s a long-term investment that needs ongoing work to keep up with search engine updates and competitive landscapes.
How do I know my SEO is good?
You can tell your SEO is working if you see consistent improvements in your website’s traffic, conversion rates, and revenue. Regular SEO work should lead to higher search engine rankings and more organic visitors over time. Tools like Google Analytics can help track these changes and measure your progress.
Are SEO packages worth it?
Yes, SEO packages are worth it, but selecting the right one is crucial. Look for packages that offer comprehensive services tailored to your business needs. The right package can significantly enhance your online presence and drive long-term success.
What are the key inclusions an SEO package must have?
A good SEO package should include:
- Technical SEO: Ensures your site is optimised for crawling and indexing.
- Content SEO: Focuses on creating and optimising content for search engines.
- Link Building: Develop high-quality backlinks to boost your site’s authority and rankings.
Is paying someone to do SEO worth it?
Absolutely. SEO is highly technical and constantly evolving. Working with an expert ensures that your website stays up-to-date with the latest best practices and algorithm changes. Without professional help, you might struggle to achieve and maintain high rankings.
Need Help?
Need help with your SEO efforts? We’re here to help you!
We provide holistic SEO in Melbourne and across Australia. Our SEO packages are effective and affordable, which means that you get a trusted agency with full transparency and realistic timelines for your SEO process.
