How Much Does SEO Cost in India?
Complete pricing breakdown based on 6+ years of SEO experience. Real numbers, not vague ranges.
Quick Answer
SEO services in India cost ₹15,000 - ₹2,00,000/month depending on scope. Most SMBs invest ₹30,000 - ₹75,000/month for meaningful results. Anything below ₹15K/month rarely delivers value beyond basic audits.
SEO Pricing Tiers in India
- On-page optimization
- Google Business Profile
- Basic link building
- Monthly reporting
- Technical SEO audit
- Content strategy
- Link building outreach
- Competitor analysis
- Bi-weekly calls
- Full technical overhaul
- Content production
- Digital PR & links
- Custom dashboards
- Dedicated team
What Affects SEO Pricing?
Keyword Competition
Ranking for 'best lawyer in Delhi' costs more than 'lawyer in Faridabad'. High-volume, competitive keywords require more effort.
Current Website State
A site with technical issues, penalties, or no existing authority needs more work than a well-maintained site adding keywords.
Geographic Scope
Local SEO (one city) < Regional (state) < National < International. Each expansion multiplies effort and cost.
Content Requirements
SEO without content rarely works. If content creation is included, expect 30-50% higher pricing.
What's Included at Each Level?
| Service | Basic | Growth | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical SEO Audit | |||
| On-Page Optimization | |||
| Google Business Profile | |||
| Monthly Reporting | |||
| Keyword Research (Ongoing) | — | ||
| Content Strategy | — | ||
| Link Building Outreach | — | ||
| Competitor Monitoring | — | ||
| Content Production | — | — | |
| Digital PR | — | — | |
| Dedicated SEO Manager | — | — | |
| Weekly Strategy Calls | — | — |
SEO Timeline: What to Expect
Month 1-2
Activities: Technical fixes, on-page optimization, content audit
What to expect: Improved crawlability, no ranking changes yet
Month 3-4
Activities: Content creation, link building begins, local optimization
What to expect: Movement in rankings, increased impressions
Month 5-6
Activities: Scaling content, advanced link building, UX improvements
What to expect: Page 1 rankings for target keywords
Month 6-12
Activities: Maintaining rankings, expanding keywords, conversion optimization
What to expect: Traffic growth, lead generation, ROI positive
Red Flags in SEO Proposals
- • Guarantees of #1 rankings (no one can promise this)
- • Pricing under ₹10K/month (what are you actually getting?)
- • No mention of content or link building strategy
- • Vague deliverables like "SEO activities" without specifics
SEO Pricing FAQs
Why does SEO cost so much in India compared to a few years ago?
Competition has increased dramatically. More businesses are investing in SEO, which means ranking requires more effort. Additionally, Google's algorithms are more sophisticated — quick tricks no longer work. Quality SEO requires skilled professionals, not cheap labor.
Can I pay per keyword or per result?
Some agencies offer this, but it often leads to gaming the system. Pay-per-ranking incentivizes targeting easy, low-value keywords. Monthly retainers align agency incentives with your actual business growth, not vanity metrics.
How long does SEO take to show results?
Typically 3-6 months for meaningful rankings, though you'll see improvements in technical health and impressions earlier. Anyone promising results in 30 days is either targeting non-competitive keywords or using risky tactics.
What's the difference between SEO and Google Ads?
SEO is organic (unpaid) rankings that build over time and compound. Google Ads is paid placement that works immediately but stops when you stop paying. Most businesses benefit from both — Ads for immediate leads, SEO for long-term sustainable growth.
Should I hire a freelancer or agency for SEO?
Freelancers work for simple projects (local business, 5-10 keywords, ₹15-25K budget). Agencies provide broader expertise: technical SEO, content strategy, link building specialists, and project management. If you need multiple skills, agencies deliver better results.
What should I look for in an SEO proposal?
Clear deliverables (not vague 'SEO activities'), realistic timelines, transparent pricing, specific keyword targets, and documented processes. Avoid proposals that guarantee #1 rankings — no agency can promise that.
Get a Custom SEO Proposal
We'll analyze your website, competition, and goals to provide specific pricing and expected ROI.