SEO strategies are key strategies for attracting visitors to websites. Achieving high rankings in Google’s search engine can lead to significant traffic. However, proper SEO requires specialized knowledge and expertise.

If a company lacks in-house SEO expertise, it may need to consult with an SEO agency, incurring outsourcing costs. It’s crucial to define the website’s operational goals and objectives clearly before seeking services that align with the company’s aims.

In this article, we will explore the costs associated with SEO. Tokyo SEO Maker, an SEO agency, will detail the average costs and breakdown for various SEO services. Those considering outsourcing SEO should pay attention to this information.

Average Costs for SEO Services

To rank high in Google’s search engine results, SEO is essential. Outsourcing SEO to a specialist firm is a common solution when in-house capability is lacking, leading to associated costs. Here’s a breakdown of average expenses for different SEO services

Services / Average Costs

• SEO Consulting: Initial costs range from 100,000 to 300,000 yen, with monthly fees between 200,000 to 500,000 yen.
• Website Design: Fixed costs can vary widely, from 100,000 to over 1,000,000 yen.
• Content SEO: Monthly fees range from a few thousand yen to 500,000 yen, with per-article costs from a few thousand to 100,000 yen.
• Internal SEO (Technical SEO): Fixed costs range from 100,000 to 1,000,000 yen.
• External SEO: Monthly fees range from 10,000 to 150,000 yen.

Related article: What is SEO?

SEO Consulting Costs

SEO consulting typically incurs an initial cost of 100,000 to 300,000 yen and monthly fees of 200,000 to 500,000 yen, varying based on the service scope provided by the agency.

SEO Consulting Services

SEO consulting advises on strategies for ranking a website higher in search engines, covering comprehensive SEO measures. Services may include

Services / Explanation

• Latest SEO Information: Updates on current trends in SEO and web marketing.
• Content SEO Strategies: Expertise in creating content, such as articles and images.
• Technical SEO Strategies: Knowledge in areas like structured data and mobile optimization.
• External Strategies: Expertise in external efforts like backlinking and social media management.
• Conversion Strategies: Techniques for data analysis and website improvements to increase conversion rates.

SEO consulting provides comprehensive advice for website operation, making it a suitable service for those seeking professional guidance in SEO.

The cost of website design ranges from 100,000 to 1,000,000 yen, varying significantly based on the size of the site being created.

Web Site Design Services

Website design involves creating a blueprint for constructing a new site. Necessary information for crafting a site blueprint includes;

Services / Explanation

• Keyword Research: Investigating market needs through keywords
• Competitive Analysis: Assessing the presence and extent of competitor sites
• Traffic Estimation: Researching potential traffic acquisition (market size)
• Content Investigation: Identifying content that meets market needs
• Site Structure: Developing the site’s blueprint

Like traditional marketing, designing a website involves market research and identifying users needs to create the site’s blueprint. Generally, the larger the site, the more extensive the research needed, leading to higher costs.

Cost of Content SEO

Content SEO can cost between several thousand yen to 500,000 yen monthly. The payment is typically calculated based on the ‘article price x number of articles’. Therefore, as the number of articles increases, so does the cost. Some agencies may accept orders starting from one article, with lower per-article costs settling in the thousands of yen.

Content SEO Services

Content SEO aims to improve the overall rating of a website by enhancing the quality of its content. This service usually involves creating high-quality articles that meet user needs. Specific tasks include;

Services / Explanation

• Keyword Selection: Determining the theme of the page.
• Competitive Analysis: Checking competitor content.
• Page Structure: Deciding on page titles and headings.
• Article Writing: Crafting content based on the headings.

The scope of work varies by production company, but generally, the more extensive the agency’s efforts, the higher the per-article cost.

Cost of internal SEO measures

The cost of internal SEO measures typically ranges from 100,000 to 1,000,000 yen. The scope of work in internal SEO is broad, and costs vary significantly based on the extent of services provided by the SEO company. Generally, once set up, internal SEO tasks are complete, so there are no ongoing monthly fees.

Internal SEO Services

Internal SEO involves reviewing and improving the structure and design of a website to enhance its SEO performance. This requires specialized knowledge, especially in areas like PHP and JavaScript. Key activities in internal SEO include;

Improvement items / Explanation

• Optimizing Internal Links: Connecting pages within the website to improve site structure understanding for search engines and users.
• Optimizing Directory Structure: Refining the website’s hierarchical structure to aid in navigation and understanding.
• Implementing Structured Data: Helping search engines better understand site content.
• Mobile Optimization: Providing design adaptable to various screen sizes for better user experience.
• Improving Page Load Speed: Enhancing the speed at which web pages display to reduce user frustration.

For internal SEO measures, high expertise and technical knowledge are required. Therefore, if your company lacks suitable personnel, consider hiring a specialist for the job.

Cost of External SEO Measures

External SEO measures can incur monthly costs ranging from 10,000 to 150,000 yen for fixed payment models. However, some companies use a performance-based pricing model, where costs vary significantly from 10,000 to 1,000,000 yen a month, depending on the effectiveness of the measures implemented.

External SEO Services

External SEO strategies use media and social networks outside the website to improve the site’s SEO rating. Common methods include;

Strategies / Explanation

• Gathering Backlinks: Enhancing SEO by increasing links from external sites to the company’s website.
• Operating on Social Media: Boosting the site’s citation effect by generating discussions about the company on social media.

Backlinking is a primary method in external SEO. Quality backlinks naturally increase the website’s SEO rating. However, incorrect backlink strategies can lead to penalties. Ensure a thorough understanding of the methodology and its logic when considering backlink strategies.

SEO Company Pricing Models

SEO companies typically offer two pricing models: fixed payment and performance-based. Some combine both, such as charging an initial fee plus performance-based fees for external SEO strategies.

• Fixed Payment Model: The cost is predetermined, with either an initial fee or a fixed monthly charge.
• Performance-Based Model: Payment varies based on the effectiveness of the implemented SEO measures. For example, charges will be incurred when the following conditions are met. 

-Charges occurring when targeted keywords reach a specified rank

-Charges increasing if you rank first in search results

In the performance-based model, higher search engine rankings generally result in higher costs, often targeting a top-10 ranking as the benchmark. In this case, charges will occur when your specified keyword ranks within the top 10. Furthermore, the cost will increase with each rise in search ranking.

Regarding the cost-effectiveness of SEO measures

SEO is considered a cost-effective strategy. The table below compares SEO with web advertising and SNS operation in terms of effectiveness and time to see results.

SEO leads to high rankings in Google search, potentially drawing substantial traffic. It can take over six months to see the impact, requiring continuous content creation. 

However, once you establish momentum, it will continue to generate high levels of traffic almost indefinitely. Furthermore, as your site’s SEO rating increases, you can maintain traffic with minimal effort. Because of these characteristics, SEO measures are positioned as highly cost-effective within the realm of web marketing.

Web Advertising Cost-effectiveness 

Web advertising generates immediate results by linking external sites to your own. While it incurs costs, it guarantees a certain level of traffic as long as the investment continues. However, traffic drops to zero once the ad stops.

It’s crucial to balance the cost per visitor against the profit per visitor, often calculated as the cost per page view (PV). The formula for this is

Profit ÷ Number of PVs

Related article: What is PV (Page Views)?

SNS Operation Cost-effectiveness 

Operating an SNS account requires staff, incurring monthly personnel expenses. Building the account to gain followers or subscribers can take several months. However, once a fan base is established, it can have a lasting high impact.

SNS shares similarities with SEO in building effectiveness over time. SNS platforms vary in user demographics, so choosing the right one for your business is essential. Popular SNS platforms include 

-X (formerly Twitter)

-LINE

-Instagram

-Facebook

-TikTok

-YouTube

Related article: What is the SEO Effect of SNS?

Sample SEO Service Fees 

As an example of SEO service fees, Tokyo SEO Maker’s pricing is detailed on their website.

Example of Pricing for SEO Consulting

Tokyo SEO Maker provides SEO consulting services with a pricing model of an initial fee plus monthly operational costs. For their standard course, the initial fee is 385,000 yen, with a monthly fee of 110,000 yen. This total cost is competitively priced compared to industry standards.

Additionally, Tokyo SEO Maker features a trilingual staff in English, Thai, and Japanese, allowing for international SEO capabilities.

• Company: Admano
• Service: SEO Consulting
• Fees: Initial cost of 385,000 yen (tax included) plus 110,000 yen per month for 6 months

Example of Pricing for Content SEO

Tokyo SEO Maker also offers content SEO services, including SEO article production, priced per article, with orders accepted from one article upwards. They provide article writing in Japanese, English, and Thai.

• Company: Admano
• Service: SEO Article Production
• Fees: Inquire (orders accepted from one article)

Choosing an SEO Company and What to Watch For

Selecting the right SEO company involves several considerations and precautions.

• Choose services that align with your company’s goals
• Consider cost-effectiveness
• Be cautious of companies that propose link-building strategies
• Review the terms for costs and cancellation

Related article: 9 Selected SEO Consulting Companies! A Guide to Choosing the Right Company for Your Business

Choose a service that aligns with your company’s objectives

Before using SEO services, clearly define the purpose of your website operation, what is needed to achieve this goal, and set quantitative targets. Specifically, it’s best to “operate the website and achieve what” and “determine what is necessary to achieve those objectives,” and furthermore, setting numerical targets is ideal.

Consider cost-effectiveness when making your choice

When numerical targets are clear, you can determine whether to utilize SEO services from a cost-effectiveness standpoint.

For example, when considering outsourcing article creation, balance the profit from posting the article against the cost. If the expense outweighs the benefits, outsourcing the article creation might not be advisable.

Be cautious with SEO companies proposing backlink strategies

Be cautious with SEO companies proposing backlink strategies, as this area can be sensitive. Directly purchasing backlinks is prohibited by Google and can lead to spam penalties. Ensure you understand how the company plans to increase backlinks.

Backlink strategies are not inherently dangerous. For instance, if your site reviews food products, you could collaborate with manufacturers for sponsored articles in exchange for backlinks. This approach is legitimate and safe.

Understanding Fees and Cancellation Terms

It’s vital to clarify the costs and cancellation terms to avoid risks with your SEO efforts. SEO concepts can be abstract, especially for those not familiar with web technology.

For example, you might be offered a contract based on the premise that SEO takes time to show results, often more than a year. However, committing to a long-term plan without seeing gradual success can lead to unnecessary expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions about SEO Costs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about S EO Costs.

Q: What is necessary to rank high in Google’s search engine? 

A: SEO is essential. Google’s algorithm prioritizes pages that meet user needs.

Related article: What is Google’s Algorithm?

Q: Do you need to pay to rank high in Google’s search engine? 

A: Outsourcing SEO work requires budgeting, while in-house efforts will incur staff costs.

Q: How much does it cost to rank high in Google’s search engine? 

A: Costs vary based on the actions taken. For popular services like SEO consulting, costs can average

• Initial fee: 100,000 to 300,000 yen
• Monthly operation fee: 200,000 to 500,000 yen

Q: How much does SEO cost per month? 

A: Monthly SEO costs depend on the type of measures taken, with averages as follows

• SEO consulting: 200,000 to 500,000 yen/month
• Content SEO (article production): A few thousand to 500,000 yen/month
• External SEO (backlink strategies, etc.): 10,000 to 150,000 yen/month

Q: How much does keyword selection cost? 

A: Costs range from 10,000 to 200,000 yen per keyword. Payment can be either fixed or performance-based, with higher costs for more effective outcomes.

Summary

SEO is necessary for high ranking in Google’s search engine. Outsourcing SEO tasks incurs costs, with services ranging from consulting to article production. Align services with company goals and consider cost-effectiveness. Some SEO firms offer performance-based pricing, so clarify the expected results and associated costs before signing a contract.

Author Profile

International Web Consultant Paveena Suphawet

A trilingual professional in English, Thai, and Japanese, she has numerous achievements in international SEO. She studied the latest IT technologies at Assumption International University, Thailand, and majored in International Business at the University of Greenwich, UK. Following her tenure at ExxonMobil’s Thai branch, she became a key member of Admano from its establishment.

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