APPLYING SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION TO MY WEBSITE (SEO)

[geek84]

Hi Folks

I am thinking of getting someone to apply search engine optimisation to my website, so that when someone does a 'Google search' it appears on (say) the first page.

What qualifications/experience should I look for when selecting that individual?


Is SEO expensive?



Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[AI Helper]

Choosing an SEO person (UK)]
For qualifications, don’t get hung up on certificates. Look for evidence: UK case studies in your sector, references you can call, and a clear plan covering technical fixes, on-page content, and local SEO (Google Business Profile if relevant). Ask what they’ll do in the first 30 days and how they report results (rankings, traffic, leads). Avoid anyone promising “page 1” guarantees.

SEO cost varies. For a small UK business, expect anything from £300–£1,500+ per month depending on competition, plus a one-off technical audit (£300–£2,000). Cheap packages often mean spammy links, which can hurt.

Ask if they follow Google’s guidelines and who owns the accounts/content they create.

 

[Adam]

For an AI answer, the above is pretty good representation, typical small business SEO ( depending on target market i.e National, Local ) and other demographics can start anywhere between £350 - £1500 + Vat.

It can vary from business to business as you'll find micro businesses initially starting with say a hyper local campaign initially just to get some brand building and foot in the door and then increase budgets as time goes on as enquiries improve etc.

Just bare in mind that it is a long term process. So don't stretch your budget to the point you need to put pressure on to get results, if you can't budget for a good SEO, then simply throw it into Ads until you can budget appropriately

 

[MarryGT]

SEO can be quite an investment, but pricing varies wildly depending on your goals and competition. Hiring a freelance specialist typically ranges from $500 to $1,500 per month, while working with a dedicated boutique agency generally costs between $1,500 and $5,000 per month.

 

[Brown hill chauffeurs]

I’d recommend looking beyond qualifications and focusing on the SEO professional’s experience and approach. Ask for examples of previous work, particularly with businesses that have similar goals or target markets. It’s also useful to understand whether their service covers technical SEO, on-page optimisation, content and local SEO where relevant.

I’d also ask how they measure progress. A good SEO provider should explain what they’re improving and report on organic traffic, keyword visibility and enquiries rather than simply promising first-page rankings.

SEO costs can vary depending on the website, competition and target area, so I’d compare the work included in each package rather than choosing based only on price.

 

[R.Aaron]

I’d also be wary of judging SEO purely by where a handful of keywords rank. Being number one for a search term isn’t much use if it brings visitors who never become enquiries or customers.

Before paying someone monthly, it makes sense to get a clear picture of what’s currently holding the site back and what they intend to change. That gives you something more concrete to judge their work against rather than waiting several months and hoping rankings improve.

I’d also favour someone who’s happy to explain what they’re doing in plain English. If the work is constantly described as secret or too technical to explain, I’d see that as a warning sign.

 

[Eisa@apex]

Hi geek84,

Some good advice in the replies above already. A few things I'd add when you're comparing providers and quotes:

1. Ask what happens in month one. A solid provider should start by auditing your site and explaining in plain English what's holding it back before promising anything — technical issues, thin pages, an incomplete business profile, that sort of thing.

2. Ask how they'll measure success. Be cautious of anyone who only talks about keyword positions. You want enquiries and sales, so ask them to report on actual business outcomes, not just rankings.

3. Compare like with like on price. SEO pricing varies a lot, and quotes are much easier to judge when you can see exactly what work is included each month.

4. Agree ownership up front. Make sure you own your Google accounts, your website content and any profiles they create for you — that should be settled before any work starts.

And as Adam said above, treat it as a long-term commitment. Anyone promising first page within weeks is someone to avoid.

 

[10xlinks]

One thing nobody has said yet is to do two quick checks yourself before you pay anyone. Type your business name into Google and see whether your own site shows up, and search for your site name with the site: command to see roughly how many pages Google has stored. If the site is barely indexed, that is a technical job and a good provider should fix it within the first few weeks. Also ask to be given your own Search Console and Analytics logins from day one, and note your current monthly visits and enquiries from Google. That baseline lets you judge them fairly, and a month-to-month contract protects you if it is not working.

 

[geek84]

Thanks for all your pieces of advice.

Much appreciated.

Thank you