Monthly SEO retainers range from $500 to $10,000+. But when you ask agencies what's included, you often get vague answers about "optimization" and "strategy." Here's what you should actually receive.
Core Components of Monthly SEO
1. Technical SEO (Foundation)
What this includes:
- Site speed optimization
- Mobile responsiveness fixes
- Crawl error monitoring and fixes
- XML sitemap management
- Robots.txt optimization
- Schema markup implementation
- Core Web Vitals improvements
Expect: Heavy focus months 1-2, ongoing monitoring after.
2. On-Page Optimization
What this includes:
- Title tag and meta description optimization
- Header structure improvements
- Internal linking strategy
- Content optimization for target keywords
- Image optimization (alt tags, compression)
- URL structure improvements
Expect: Ongoing optimization of existing and new pages.
3. Content Creation
What this includes:
- Blog posts (typically 2-4 per month)
- Service page creation or improvement
- Location pages for local SEO
- FAQ content
- Resource guides
Expect: Volume depends on your package level. Ask specifically how many pieces.
4. Local SEO (If Applicable)
What this includes:
- Google Business Profile optimization
- GBP posting (weekly or bi-weekly)
- Citation building and cleanup
- Review monitoring and response strategy
- Local link building
Expect: Clear deliverables for GBP activity.
5. Link Building
What this includes:
- Outreach for backlinks
- Guest posting opportunities
- Directory submissions
- Local partnership links
- Digital PR efforts
Expect: Specific number of links targeted monthly. Ask about quality standards.
6. Reporting and Communication
What this includes:
- Monthly performance reports
- Keyword ranking tracking
- Traffic and conversion data
- Work completed summary
- Next month's priorities
- Strategy calls (monthly or bi-weekly)
Expect: Clear reporting schedule and communication cadence.
Red Flags in SEO Packages
- "We'll optimize your site" without specifics
- No content included at lower price points
- Vague link building descriptions
- No reporting schedule defined
- No access to what they're doing
Questions to Ask Before Signing
- How many hours of work does this represent monthly?
- How many content pieces are included?
- What's your link building approach and volume?
- How often will we have calls?
- What reporting will I receive?
- Who specifically will work on my account?
Want to see what our monthly SEO includes? Get a free audit and we'll show you exactly what we'd do for your business.