Picture this - you spend thousands of dollars and hours of your time creating the perfect website. You painstakingly write descriptions for each of your products and services that outlines exactly what it is that makes you unique. You spend another couple of hundred dollars on photography to present your business in the best way possible.

But a few weeks after launching your beautiful new site, there’s clearly a problem - no one is clicking that crucial little button - “Contact Us”. Or maybe for you it’s “Book now”, or “Get a quote”. Basically, it’s becoming apparent your website is floating in the massive ether of the Internet. With every new post or page you put up, it feels like you’re shouting into the abyss. 

Now what?

The missing piece of the puzzle for your website is SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation. 

In this in-depth exploration, we will not only unveil the pricing structures for SEO agencies in NZ, but also shed light on the importance of SEO, the components of SEO, its ROI potential, and how to choose the right SEO agency for your New Zealand business.

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Why Does SEO Matter?

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Before diving into the intricacies of SEO pricing, let's establish why SEO is the missing puzzle piece for your New Zealand business. 

The online world is constantly evolving, but SEO remains a staple for any form of online success. It's your ticket to connecting with your target audience, boosting website traffic, and, most importantly, increasing revenue.

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Cracking the SEO Pricing Code

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Understanding the cost of SEO agency services in New Zealand is paramount for businesses looking to enhance their online presence. Let's explore the most common pricing models you’ll come across:

1. Monthly SEO Pricing:
Monthly SEO services are a popular choice for businesses seeking consistent, ongoing optimisation. In New Zealand, the cost of monthly SEO services can vary widely. However, on average, you can expect to invest between $1,000 and $3,000 + GST per month. At Siterise, our DIY startup package starts at $845 + GST, and our monthly managed service starts at $1,695 + GST.

Most SEO packages include things like:
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• Keyword Research: Identifying the most relevant keywords for your business.
• On-Page Optimization: Fine-tuning your website's structure and content.
• Content Creation: Regularly producing high-quality, SEO-friendly content.
• Link Building: Building credible backlinks to boost your website's authority.
• Performance Reports: Providing insights into the progress of your SEO campaign.

2. Hourly SEO Pricing:
Hourly rates for SEO services in New Zealand typically range from $75 to $200 + GST per hour. This option can be ideal for startups or DIY-businesses looking for a helping hand to get started on their SEO efforts.

Services included may encompass:

Technical SEO Audits: In-depth analysis of your website's technical aspects.
Consultation: Expert guidance on SEO strategies and tactics.
Website Optimisation: Implementing changes to enhance your website's SEO - usually changes that were found in a Technical SEO Audit.

3. Project-Based SEO Pricing:
For businesses requiring one-time SEO projects, such as a website migration from one platform to another, or a specific optimisation task, pricing can vary significantly. You might encounter project costs ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 + GST, or more.
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Unpacking the SEO Toolbox: What Goes into SEO?

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SEO is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it involves a combination of strategies and techniques to achieve desired results. Here's a glimpse of what's inside the SEO toolbox:
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• Keyword Research: Identifying the keywords your target audience is searching for.
• On-Page Optimisation: Optimising website elements such as meta tags, headers, and content.
• Quality Content Creation: Crafting engaging, informative, and SEO-friendly content.
• Backlink Building: Earning high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites.
• Technical SEO: Enhancing website structure, speed, and mobile-friendliness.
• Regular Monitoring: Continuously analysing and adjusting strategies for optimal performance.
• Competitive Audits: Keeping up with what the competition is doing and optimising strategies accordingly.

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Crunching Numbers: SEO ROI Potential in New Zealand

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One of the most pressing questions for businesses is, "What's the Return on Investment (ROI) for SEO?" Understanding the potential value of SEO can help you make an informed decision. 

To calculate the true value of SEO, you need to first know the following numbers:

• The average Lifetime Value of each customer (on average, how much does each customer spend with you over their lifetime? Remember to take into account customer with repeat orders)
• The number of keyword searches for your keyword you want to rank for - this can be a bit tricker to find. Contact us and we can walk you through this calculation on a free intro call, including giving you access to our data on keyword numbers. 
• The average click through rate (CTR) for your keywords. We can go off of aggregate data found here, which shows that position number one on search results generates an average CTR of 31%.
• Your current website conversion rate. A conversion is when a website visitor completes the action on your website that you want them to, e.g. filling out a contact form, signing up for a newsletter, purchasing something, etc. The conversion rate is the number of conversions over total visits to your website. Generally, you need an analytics tool to measure conversions on your website. But a good average you can use is 10%.
• Your sales conversion rate. This is the number of sales you actually achieve over the number of conversions from your website. Meaning - of those who convert on your website (submit a contact form or enquiry, etc.), how many actually ends up being a sale?
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I get it - that's a lot of numbers! Let’s walk through an example together to help clarify.

Say you are an interior designer and you want to rank for your keyword “interior designer auckland”. As an interior designer, the average lifetime value of your customer is $5,000, meaning on average, you make about $5k from each customer over the course of working with them. From our SEO data, we know that this keyword gets searched in NZ about 720 times per month.

Now, say that you work with an SEO agency and, over time and consistent effort, they help to get you ranking in the number one position on Google for the keyword “auckland interior designer”. Using the data linked above, we know that you’ll get an average of 31% of searchers clicking on your website in the search results, because it’s now in position number one. This equates to about 223 new website visitors each month (31% x 720 monthly searches).

Now you’ve got 223 new website visitors - that’s great! 

But how many of those actually turn into sales? Well, we’ll need your website conversion rate and sales conversion rates. For averages, we can use 10% and 20%, respectively, to be on the conservative side of things. This means that of those visitors who land on your website, 10% will enquire about interior design services, and of those who enquire, you’ll convert 20% into paying customers. Using these figures, we can say that from your SEO efforts, you'd gain an additional approximate 5 paying customers per month ((223 x 10%)) x 20%).

Now that we know the number of paying customers this search term is getting you each month, let’s calculate the value of these customers.

We can do this by taking the average customer lifetime value and multiplying it by the number of customers each month, so this would be 5 x $5,000 = $25,000. This means that each month by simply ranking for this one keyword, your business is generating an extra $25k in revenue!

As you can see from the above example, SEO has the potential to deliver a substantial return on investment by driving organic traffic, increasing conversion rates, and ultimately boosting revenue. 

However, it's essential to be patient, as SEO is a long-term strategy that may take six to twelve months or more to yield significant results.

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Navigating the SEO ROI Timeline

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In the context of New Zealand, it's crucial to have realistic expectations regarding the timeline for seeing a return on your SEO investment. 

While some improvements may be noticeable within a few months, substantial revenue increases often require consistent efforts over an extended period of time. This is influenced by various factors, including the competitiveness of your industry and the level of SEO competition in the New Zealand market.

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Choosing the Right SEO Agency for Your Business

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Now that you understand the true value of SEO, selecting the right agency becomes the natural next step.

Here are some key considerations to guide your decision:

• Track Record: Look for agencies with a proven track record of delivering results for businesses in New Zealand. Don't hesitate to request case studies and client references to get a deeper understanding of the agency's expertise.
• Transparency: Seek agencies that offer transparent pricing structures and clear explanations of their services. Look for good follow through on what they say they will do and quick response times to emails. 
• Customised Approach: Ensure the agency tailors their strategies to your specific business goals and needs. SEO is most certainly not a one-size-fit-all game - make sure your getting tailored solutions that meet your unique needs.

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Wrapping It All Up

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In the dynamic digital landscape of New Zealand, SEO remains a cornerstone for business success. 

Understanding the cost of SEO agency services is the first step towards harnessing its power. Whether you opt for monthly, hourly, or project-based services, the potential ROI of SEO makes it a no-brainer investment for your business.

At Siterise Creative, we are dedicated to helping New Zealand businesses thrive online. Contact us today for expert guidance on your SEO journey and to unlock the full potential of your online presence.