Are SEO Services Worth It?

Published on May 29, 2023

At this point, you already know that in the cutthroat world of business, it’s not enough just to have a website. You need to be seen, heard, and found amidst all the competition. It’s a battleground that leaves you asking, “Are SEO services worth it?”

The simple answer is yes. The convoluted answer is that the investment amount varies per business. Understanding the real value of search engine optimisation (SEO) isn’t as simple as tallying up costs and benefits – it’s about acknowledging the harm in cutting corners when it comes to your digital marketing initiatives.

Is Paying For Monthly SEO Services Really Worth It?

Search engine optimisation is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s the secret sauce that allows your website to rank higher in search engine results, driving organic traffic and leads. Without SEO, you’re akin to a shopkeeper with a store in a deserted alleyway – not only is that a scary place to be in, but it’s also a telltale sign that your business won’t be profitable in the long-run.

To calculate the profitability of your SEO efforts, you’ll need to determine the value of your customer. What is your customer lifetime value (CLV)? If your CLV is substantial, a higher SEO investment is justified because it means each customer gained via organic search can generate considerable revenue over time.

With SEO, the sky’s the limit. As your SEO efforts mature, so does your return.

However, if you think SEO isn’t for you, a viable alternative – or even complementary strategy – is pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Instead of organically earning your spot in search results, PPC allows you to buy it. This method can be especially useful for new businesses in Australia looking for quick exposure or established enterprises aiming to target a specific keyword category.

On the upside, PPC gives immediate results, while SEO takes time. The thing is, when you invest in a monthly SEO service, you’re positioning your business for long-term success. You’re more likely to get high-quality leads that convert to customers.

We usually recommend a balanced digital marketing strategy – a blend of both SEO and PPC – as the former lays the foundation for sustained online visibility, while the latter provides a quick boost. Both approaches, when used correctly, can yield impressive results.

Word of advice: You won’t get quick wins with SEO. It takes 6 to 12 months to experience substantial (but impressive) results. You need to prove to Google that you deserve a spot on the front page, just like everyone else who’s already there – and trust is built over time.

Related articles:

Best Ecommerce Platforms For SEO (2023)

Is Digital Marketing a Good Career?

You’re Cutting Corners If You Invest In Cheap SEO Services

“You get what you pay for.”

Cheap SEO services might be tempting, but they often lack the quality and depth required to make a significant impact. High-quality SEO requires an in-depth understanding of the ever-evolving search algorithms, strategic planning, and an ongoing effort to improve your website’s performance.

Freelancers and agencies that offer cheap SEO services often resort to black-hat SEO techniques to deliver quick results. These techniques include keyword stuffing, invisible text, and link schemes, which are frowned upon by search engines. Such practices could get your website penalised or even de-indexed, causing irreparable damage to your online presence.

When it comes to business, you need to focus on the long-term view. Good SEO practices bear fruit over time and require consistent effort. When you invest in reliable, reasonably priced SEO services, you’ll get high-quality content that will set the foundation of your brand’s online success.

It Takes Time for SEO Services to Show the Results You Need 

1) Your Wildest Dreams Don’t Come True in Month 1

Set realistic expectations. The idea that you’ll reach the front page of Google after one month is not just optimistic – it’s unrealistic.

SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. It involves creating engaging content, optimising your site structure, improving page load speed, and much more. Each of these steps is critical and can’t be rushed.

It also takes time for search engines to crawl and index your website. Even if you’ve applied all the right SEO techniques, it won’t be reflected in search rankings overnight. Google’s algorithms need to analyse your website’s relevance and authority, a process that requires patience.

You’ll also need to continuously refine your SEO strategy based on data. SEO isn’t a set-and-forget tactic; it’s an ongoing commitment of testing, learning, and optimising. Progress in the first month may be slow, but the information gathered during this period can be invaluable for future SEO efforts.

2) At Least 6 Months to Rank on Page 1

In most cases, it takes at least six months to start seeing your website appearing on the coveted first page.

Again, just to emphasise, SEO is a process of building trust with search engines. This trust is earned through consistently publishing quality content, earning high-quality backlinks, and providing a great user experience. These activities take time but are integral to gaining recognition from search engines.

The timeline also varies depending on the competitiveness of your industry and keywords. If you’re in a highly competitive niche or targeting highly competitive keywords, it may take longer to break into the top search results.

Pro tip: It’s worth noting that while ranking on the first page is a worthy goal, SEO is about more than just rankings. Even if you aren’t on page one after six months, if your organic traffic and conversions are increasing, it’s safe to say that your SEO marketing strategy is working.

3) SEO Doesn’t Exist In Bubble

SEO does not exist in isolation. It’s a component of your broader digital marketing ecosystem and is interconnected with various other elements that collectively contribute to your online success. Some inseparable components of SEO are content marketing, social media, web design, user experience, online directories, and public relations (PR).

4) You Need the Right SMART Goals

SEO goals need to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

• Specificity: This means targeting the right keywords and demographics. Instead of broadly aiming to “increase web traffic,” a specific goal might be to “increase organic traffic from women aged 18-24 in Australia by 20% in six months.”
• Measurable: By using tools like Google Analytics, you can track metrics such as organic traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, and average session duration. This data helps you evaluate your progress and refine your strategy.
• Achievable: Setting unattainable objectives in a short time frame can lead to disappointment. By focusing on achievable, incremental improvements, you can create momentum without becoming overwhelmed.
• Relevant. Every goal should align with your overall business objectives. If your business objective is to increase e-commerce sales, an appropriate SEO goal might be to “improve the search ranking of key product pages.”
• Time-bound: Remember that SEO takes time. While it’s important to set deadlines, it’s also critical to be patient and realistic with the timeframe.

At Manifest Website Design, We Make Every Dollar Worth It

SEO isn’t an optional extra; it’s a fundamental part of your business’s digital marketing strategy. While it requires significant effort and patience, the potential returns are substantial. 

At Manifest Website Design, we believe in building strong foundations that stand the test of time, not in quick fixes or short-lived victories. We’ll craft a robust SEO marketing strategy that supports your brand’s growth in the online space. With us, your digital future is in good hands. Let’s prove to Google that you deserve to be on the front page.