SEO Retainer
An SEO retainer is an agreement between a client and an SEO agency or consultant to provide ongoing SEO services for a set period of time, typically on a monthly basis. The purpose of an SEO retainer is to maintain and improve the search engine rankings of the client’s website over time.
SEO retainers typically include a range of services, such as keyword research, on-page optimization, content creation, link building, and analytics tracking. The specific services provided will depend on the client’s needs and the scope of the agreement.
The cost of an SEO retainer can vary widely depending on the level of service required and the experience and expertise of the SEO agency or consultant. Typically, retainers range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per month.
If you’re considering hiring an SEO agency or consultant on a retainer basis, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable provider with a track record of success. Be sure to discuss your goals and expectations with the provider upfront and make sure you have a clear understanding of what services will be provided and how success will be measured.
Types of SEO Retainers
There are different types of SEO retainers based on the services and level of engagement required by the client. Here are some common types of SEO retainers:
Basic Retainer:
A basic SEO retainer typically includes essential services that are required to improve the search engine ranking and visibility of a website. These services may include:
Keyword research: Conducting research to identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords to target in the website’s content and meta tags.
On-page optimization: Optimizing the website’s pages to improve their relevance and visibility in search engines. This includes optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, header tags, and other on-page elements.
Content creation: Creating and optimizing website content such as blog posts, articles, and other materials that are designed to rank well in search engines and engage with the target audience.
Backlink building: Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites to improve the website’s domain authority and search engine rankings.
Analytics and reporting: Tracking the website’s performance using tools such as Google Analytics and providing regular reports on the website’s traffic, keyword rankings, and other key metrics.
The specific services included in a basic SEO retainer may vary depending on the provider and the needs of the client. It’s important to discuss the specific services included in the retainer agreement with your chosen SEO provider to ensure that they are tailored to your business’s specific needs and goals.
Advanced Retainer:
An advanced SEO retainer typically includes a more comprehensive range of services to improve the website’s search engine ranking and visibility. These services may include:
Technical SEO: Conducting a thorough analysis of the website’s technical infrastructure, identifying and fixing any issues that may be hindering search engine crawling and indexing.
Competitor analysis: Conducting research to analyze the search engine performance of the client’s competitors and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Advanced keyword research: Conducting in-depth keyword research to identify long-tail keywords and low-hanging fruit opportunities that may be missed in basic keyword research.
Advanced on-page optimization: Conducting a more thorough optimization of the website’s on-page elements, including optimizing the website’s information architecture, internal linking structure, and user experience.
Advanced content creation: Creating high-quality, optimized content that targets high-value keywords and engages with the target audience.
Backlink building: Building a comprehensive and diverse portfolio of high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites.
Local SEO: Optimizing the website for local search, including optimizing Google My Business listings, local citations, and local keywords.
Advanced analytics and reporting: Providing detailed reports on the website’s performance, including traffic, conversions, and ROI, and using data-driven insights to inform ongoing SEO strategy.
The specific services included in an advanced SEO retainer may vary depending on the provider and the needs of the client. It’s important to discuss the specific services included in the retainer agreement with your chosen SEO provider to ensure that they are tailored to your business’s specific needs and goals.
Content Marketing Retainer:
A content marketing retainer is an agreement between a client and a content marketing agency or consultant to provide ongoing content marketing services for a set period of time, typically on a monthly basis. The purpose of a content marketing retainer is to create and distribute high-quality, relevant content to attract and engage the target audience and drive traffic and conversions to the client’s website.
A content marketing retainer typically includes a range of services, such as:
Content strategy: Developing a comprehensive content strategy that aligns with the client’s business goals and target audience.
Content creation: Creating high-quality, optimized content that engages with the target audience and drives traffic and conversions to the client’s website. This may include blog posts, articles, social media content, infographics, and other types of content.
Content distribution: Distributing the content across various channels, including social media, email marketing, and other platforms to increase its reach and visibility.
Content optimization: Optimizing the content for search engines to improve its visibility and search engine rankings.
Analytics and reporting: Tracking the performance of the content using tools such as Google Analytics and providing regular reports on the content’s traffic, engagement, and ROI.
The cost of a content marketing retainer can vary depending on the level of service required, the scope of the agreement, and the experience and expertise of the content marketing agency or consultant. Typically, retainers range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per month.
If you’re considering hiring a content marketing agency or consultant on a retainer basis, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable provider with a track record of success. Be sure to discuss your goals and expectations with the provider upfront and make sure you have a clear understanding of what services will be provided and how success will be measured.
Local SEO Retainer:
A local SEO retainer is an agreement between a client and an SEO agency or consultant to provide ongoing local SEO services for a set period of time, typically on a monthly basis. The purpose of a local SEO retainer is to improve the search engine ranking and visibility of a client’s website for local search queries.
Local SEO is focused on optimizing the website for local search engine results and improving its visibility for local customers. A local SEO retainer may include services such as:
Local keyword research: Conducting research to identify relevant local keywords that the website should target.
Google My Business optimization: Optimizing the Google My Business profile to improve its visibility in Google Maps and local search results.
Local citation building: Building local citations and directories listings to improve the website’s visibility and local search rankings.
On-page optimization: Optimizing the website’s on-page elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags to improve its relevance and visibility for local search queries.
Reviews and reputation management: Managing and responding to online reviews on various platforms such as Google My Business and Yelp to improve the website’s reputation and credibility.
Analytics and reporting: Tracking the performance of the website using tools such as Google Analytics and providing regular reports on the website’s traffic, keyword rankings, and other key metrics.
The cost of a local SEO retainer can vary depending on the level of service required, the scope of the agreement, and the experience and expertise of the SEO agency or consultant. Typically, retainers range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per month.
E-commerce SEO Retainer:
An e-commerce SEO retainer is an agreement between a client and an SEO agency or consultant to provide ongoing SEO services for an e-commerce website. The purpose of an e-commerce SEO retainer is to improve the search engine ranking and visibility of the e-commerce website, ultimately leading to increased traffic, conversions, and revenue.
An e-commerce SEO retainer may include a range of services, such as:
Product page optimization: Optimizing individual product pages to improve their relevance and visibility in search engine results.
Category page optimization: Optimizing category pages to improve their relevance and visibility for relevant search queries.
Product schema markup: Implementing schema markup to improve the appearance of product information in search engine results.
Optimization for product feeds: Optimizing product feeds for shopping engines such as Google Shopping to improve visibility for product-related searches.
Backlink building: Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites to improve the website’s domain authority and search engine rankings.
Analytics and reporting: Tracking the performance of the website using tools such as Google Analytics and providing regular reports on the website’s traffic, conversions, and revenue.
Custom Retainer:
This type of retainer is tailored to the specific needs of the client. It includes a combination of services from basic to advanced SEO depending on the client’s requirements.
It’s important to note that the services included in each type of retainer can vary depending on the provider, so it’s important to discuss your specific needs with your chosen provider to ensure that you are getting the right services for your business.
SEO Retainer FAQ:
How much is an average monthly SEO retainer?
The cost of an average monthly SEO retainer can vary depending on a range of factors, including the level of service required, the size of the website, the competitiveness of the industry, and the experience and expertise of the SEO agency or consultant.
On average, a basic SEO retainer can range from $500 to $1,500 per month, while an advanced retainer can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month. However, some SEO agencies may charge more or less than these amounts based on the factors mentioned above.
It’s important to keep in mind that SEO is a long-term investment, and while a higher-priced retainer may seem costly, it may ultimately provide a higher return on investment in the form of increased website traffic, leads, and conversions. It’s important to choose an SEO provider who can demonstrate a track record of success and who can provide transparent reporting on the results of their work.
Is an SEO Retainer the full fee?
The cost of an SEO retainer typically covers the ongoing services provided by the SEO agency or consultant over the agreed-upon period of time, usually on a monthly basis. However, it’s important to note that there may be additional fees or expenses that are not included in the retainer fee.
For example, some SEO agencies may charge additional fees for services such as website redesigns or content creation that go beyond the scope of the retainer. Additionally, if the client has specific needs or requirements that are outside of the scope of the retainer, the agency may charge additional fees for those services.
It’s important to discuss any potential additional fees or expenses with your chosen SEO provider upfront to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the total cost of their services. Additionally, it’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions of the retainer agreement to ensure that you are aware of any limitations or exclusions.