How should we budget for SEO growth as we scale our services?

To budget for SEO growth as you scale your services, allocate a percentage of your revenue, typically 5-10%, to your SEO strategy. This budget should cover on-page and technical optimisation, content creation, and link-building efforts. Regularly review and adjust this allocation based on performance metrics and business goals to ensure effective resource distribution.

Why SEO Budgeting Matters

Scaling a business without a solid SEO plan is like trying to build a house without a foundation. SEO isn’t just about getting your website to rank higher; it’s about sustaining and growing your online presence as your business expands. As you scale, the competition becomes fiercer. Everyone wants that top spot on Google. For a SaaS company, for example, being visible online isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Imagine you’re a SaaS provider. You’re expanding, adding more features, and targeting new markets. If your SEO strategy doesn’t grow with you, those new potential customers might never find you. This is why budgeting for SEO isn’t just a line item on a spreadsheet. It’s a strategic investment in your company’s future.

Steps to Budget for SEO Growth

Creating an effective SEO budget involves more than just numbers. It requires strategic thinking. Here’s how you can approach it:

• Assess Current Performance: Before setting a budget, understand where you stand. Analyse your current SEO metrics. Identify what’s working and what isn’t. This gives you a baseline to measure growth.

• Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve with your SEO efforts. Whether it’s increasing organic traffic by 20% or improving rankings on Google for specific keywords, having clear goals will guide your budget allocation.

• Prioritise Activities: Not all SEO activities are equal. Focus on those that align with your goals. This might include technical SEO fixes, content creation, or link-building. Prioritising helps in allocating funds efficiently.

• Allocate a Percentage of Revenue: A good rule of thumb is to dedicate 5-10% of your revenue to SEO. This ensures you’re investing enough to see tangible results without overextending your resources.

• Regularly Review and Adjust: SEO isn’t static. Regularly review your strategy and budget. Adjust based on performance and changes in the market or your business goals.

Remember, SEO is a long-term game. It’s about consistent effort and strategic investment.

The Real Talk on SEO Budgeting

Let’s be honest. SEO isn’t cheap. And it shouldn’t be. If you’re serious about scaling, you need to treat SEO as an investment, not a cost. It’s not just about throwing money at an SEO agency and hoping for the best. It’s about working with a search engine optimisation expert who understands your business and can tailor strategies to your specific needs.

Consider this. You wouldn’t skimp on hiring the best developers for your product, right? The same mindset should apply to your SEO efforts. Quality matters. Expertise matters. The right SEO specialist can make a world of difference in achieving your goals.

So, next time you’re setting your budget, think beyond the numbers. Think about the value SEO brings to your business. The visibility, the traffic, the conversions. That’s where the real growth happens.