What UK SEO actually costs
Ongoing SEO for a UK small business typically runs from £149 to £495 per month + VAT for a genuine, results-focused service. One-off audits and strategy projects start around £300–£750. Very cheap SEO (under £100/month) is almost always automated or outsourced low-quality work.
What you get at each level
At the entry level: technical fixes, on-page optimisation and basic reporting. Mid-range adds content creation, link earning and monthly strategy. Higher budgets fund digital PR, more content and faster compounding results.
How to judge value
The right question isn't 'how much?' but 'what return?'. A £199/month service that adds £2,000/month in leads is cheap; a £49/month service that does nothing is expensive. Ask for sample reports and case studies.
Frequently asked questions
Is cheap SEO worth it?
Almost never. Sub-£100/month SEO is usually automated submissions and low-quality links that can harm your rankings. Genuine SEO is skilled, ongoing work.
Do I pay for SEO forever?
SEO is ongoing like marketing, stop and results slowly decay. But the work done (content, optimisation) stays with you, unlike ads. Many businesses reduce spend once strong rankings are established.
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