- What is eCommerce SEO and Why It Is Important?
- Should You Hire an eCommerce SEO Expert or Do It Yourself?
- The Importance of Technical SEO for Your eCommerce Store
- 11 eCommerce SEO Best Practices in 2025
- How to Perform an eCommerce SEO Audit? A Simple Guide
- How Much Does eCommerce SEO Cost in 2025? A Complete Breakdown
- Top eCommerce SEO Trends to Watch in 2025
SEO, of course, is not a one-and-done task — it is a continuous effort to help keep your eCommerce store relevant, competitive, and profitable. But for many eCommerce entrepreneurs, the price of SEO is still a riddle.
With agencies offering extremely varied packages and freelancers charging anything from $100 to $10,000+, you have no idea what’s fair, what the results are and what your money is going on.
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about eCommerce SEO cost in 2025- from low-hanging DIY tools to full-service agency retainer retainers. If you’re a startup looking to rank on the cheap or a scaling brand looking to pony up for some serious growth, this post is going to help you see where your investment gets put, what you should expect at various tiers, and how to choose a solution for your store that’s ideally suited to you.
What Factors Affect eCommerce SEO Costs in 2025?
If you have ever thought to yourself, “Why does SEO cost so much-or so little, depending on who I ask?” you’re not alone. That’s because the truth is that eCommerce SEO pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all. That varies widely depending on your store’s needs, goals, and starting point.
Whether you own a 50-product online store or a 10,000-SKU mega store, some factors affect how much you’ll spend on SEO.
Here’s a rundown of what influences your SEO cost:
| Factor | Impact on Cost |
|---|---|
| Store Size | More products = more pages to optimize |
| Niche Competitiveness | Highly competitive = more effort/time |
| Scope of Service | More services = higher cost |
| Store’s Current SEO Health | Poor health = more cleanup required |
| One-time vs. Ongoing Approach | Monthly retainers vs. one-time audits |
Now, let’s break these down so you know exactly what to expect:
Size of Your Online Store (Number of Products & Pages)
A bigger store means more pages that need SEO, and this takes time. A Shopify boutique with just 20 products could get away with a few hours of optimization. A 2,000+ SKU store, on the other hand, will need a significant investment in time addressing metadata, internal linking, canonical tags, and description uniqueness for each product.
For example, an optimized SEO package might cost $500 -$1,000 for 50 product pages optimization, and a store with 2,000+ items could soon be up for a full-on-page SEO for $3,000+.
Competitiveness of Your Industry/ Niche
And not all markets are created equal. If you’re in fashion, skincare, or electronics, you’re up against major brands with deep SEO budgets. That means more keyword research, better content, smarter link building—and yes, more budget.
Based on their research, in 2025, the average SEO budget for an eCommerce company in aggressive verticals lies between $2,000 – $5,000/month, and for low competitive niches, the expenditure is below $1,000.
So if you sell handmade candles, you’re in business. If it’s wireless earbuds? Buckle up.
Scope of SEO Services (Technical, On-page, Off-page)
This is the part where pricing gets larger. A simple SEO plan may just consist of keyword targeting and blog posts. But an all-out plan covers technical SEO (site speed, mobile-friendliness), on-page (titles, content, URLs), and off-page (link building, outreach, digital PR).
The more complete services take more time and staff. Imagine it like constructing a house, the basement is awesome, but sooner or later, you’ll need the walls, glass, and rooftop as well.
Current SEO Health of Your Website
If your site is already in good shape, that’s awesome – it lowers the upfront SEO lift. But if it’s a hot mess (think broken links, slow loading, duplicate content), expect to pay more for cleanup before you even start growing.
Pro Tip: Get a professional SEO audit ($300–$1,000) before investing in a monthly plan. It helps pinpoint what’s needed – and what’s not.
One-time vs. Ongoing Services
Some business owners want an on-time SEO overhaul, like a website relaunch or quick audit. Others want month-to-month SEO support for content creation, technical fixes, performance tracking, and digital marketing services like SMM.
Ongoing SEO plans in 2025 typically range from $800 to $5,000/month, depending on scope. One-time audits or fixes might run between $500-$2,500.
If you are planning long-term growth and ranking goals, ongoing SEO gives you more consistency, adaptability, and data-driven results over time.
What Types of eCommerce SEO Services Are Available and How Much Do They Cost?
When it comes to eCommerce SEO, the investment can vary significantly based on the scope and complexity of the services required. Think of SEO like a tailored suit- the more customized and specific is to your needs, the more it will cost.
For businesses looking to increase their visibility, traffic, and eventually sales, the right SEO strategy can make a huge difference. The cost depends on factors such as the size of your website, the competition in your industry, and the level of expertise you need.
But don’t worry – whether you are just starting or scaling up, there’s an eCommerce SEO plan that fits your budget and goals. Let’s discuss key services and explore their pricing ranges and benefits.
| SEO Service | Typical Cost | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Audit | $300 to $2,000 | Pinpoints critical issues and optimizes performance. |
| Keyword Research | $100 to $500+ | Helps you target the right terms to boost visibility. |
| On-page Optimization | $500 to $5,000+ | Fine-tunes your site’s user experience and content for search engines. |
| Technical SEO | $1,000 to $10,000 | Ensures the backend is optimized for speed and crawlability. |
| Content Creation | $100 to $500 per page/blog | Engages users and provides valuable information for ranking. |
| Link Building | $100 to $1,000+ per link | Build your site’s authority through high-quality backlinks. |
| Local SEO (if applicable) | $300 to $2,000/month | Helps your business stand out in local searches. |
SEO Audit
- An SEO audit is like your website’s annual health check-ups. It dives deep into your site’s performance, identifying potential issues like slow loading times, broken links, or poor mobile optimization.
- For instance, Nike performs regular SEO audits to ensure they remains at the top of the search results in a crowded market.
- For online brands, investing in an SEO audit can save them from costly mistakes and missed opportunities down the line.
Keyword Research
- Keyword research is the backbone of every successful SEO strategy. It involves finding the most relevant and profitable keywords for your target audience.
- Consider Amazon: the company’s success is partly driven by its ability to understand what customers are searching for and position products accordingly. The investment here may seem small, but it pays off big time by increasing the visibility of your store.
On-page Optimization
- On-page optimization is all about making your website irresistible to both users and search engines.
- From optimizing title tags to crafting compelling meta descriptions, this service improves your site’s user experience and makes it easier for search engines to crawl and rank your content.
- Take Booking.com, for instance, which uses A/B testing and created three versions of the landing page copy for the main site. Moreover, additional details such as social proof, awards, and rewards, etc. are added to the various pages.
Technical SEO
- Technical SEO — this relates to ensuring the backend of your site is running smoothly.
- Technical SEO addresses issues like crawl errors, mobile optimization, site speed, etc., that are important for a seamless experience for your users.
- Walmart is known for being one of the biggest eCommerce players and never fails to implement technical SEO to boost experience and rank higher in the search engine by offering improved pages that work faster and are more responsive.
Content Creation
- Content is king, and when you optimize it in the right way, it could lead to significant organic traffic to your site.
- Well-crafted content — whether a blog post or a product description — provides value to your audience while also helping search engines recognize your site as an authoritative source.
- One great example of this is currently visible in H&M (link), where their blog is full of engaging keywords, but besides the catchy blog title, their posts are pure SEO content that keeps the customers busy and dramatically increases their website traffic.
- Every bit of content is a chance to rank higher and get in front of your ideal customers, and the investment can pay off huge down the road for organic growth.
Link Building
- This is called link building , and it’s one of the most powerful ways to boost your site’s authority and rankings by gaining third-party links from high-quality, relevant sites.
- You can consider it as social proof- whenever other credible sites link to you, it indicates to the Google junta that your site is credible as well.
- For example, Zara has a solid backlink profile due to working with fashion influencers and leading blogs. This not only helps improve their search rankings but also escalates traffic from other high-traffic sites.
Local SEO
- Local SEO is essential for businesses with physical locations or those targeting a specific geographical area.
- Local SEO service helps you to optimizes your store for local searches and ensures your business appears in local results and Google Maps.
- Starbucks is a prime example of a brand that excels in local SEO, ensuring that customers can easily find their nearest store, complete with hours, reviews, and directions.
- For businesses operating in competitive cities or neighborhoods, investing in local SEO can give you the edge over competitors and drive foot traffic to your physical location.
What Are the Different eCommerce SEO Pricing Models?
When you are shopping around for eCommerce SEO services, it’s important to understand the different pricing models agencies and freelancers use. The model you choose will depend on your budget, the scope of work, and your long-term goals.
Let’s explore the most common pricing models in the world of eCommerce SEO, so you can make a more informed decision.
| Pricing Model | Cost Range | When to Choose |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly Rates | $75 – $200/hour | For short-term work or specific tasks. |
| Monthly Retainers | $1,000 – $10,000/month | For ongoing, comprehensive SEO management. |
| Project-based Pricing | $2,500 – $50,000+ | For one-time, large projects like website redesigns or SEO overhauls. |
| Performance-based Pricing | Pay-for-Results | For businesses that want to pay based on actual SEO results (traffic, sales). |
Hourly Rates
Businesses that need flexibility or want to hire an SEO expert for short-term tasks or consultations. Whether it’s a website audit, keyword research, or fixing some on-page SEO issues, hourly billing means you only pay for the time spent on the work.
Think of it like hiring a contractor for a quick fix – you don’t have to commit to an ongoing agreement. However, it’s important to keep track of hours so that costs don’t add up unexpectedly.
For example, if you’re a smaller eCommerce store with limited needs, hiring an SEO expert at an hourly rate can give you the freedom to scale services as needed.
Monthly Retainers
Monthly retainers are the go-to option for businesses that need ongoing SEO management to stay competitive. By paying a fixed fee each month, you gain access to a full suite of services, such as continuous keyword optimization, content creation, link building, and regular site audits.
Think of it like a subscription to a top-tier SEO service – you get consistent attention to your site’s performance.
Big brands like Sephora and Best Buy likely use this model to keep their sites at the forefront of search results consistently. If you are looking for long-term growth and don’t want to manage each task individually, a monthly retainer is the way to go.
Project-based Pricing
Project-based pricing is ideal for businesses looking for a one-off SEO overhaul or a significant update to their site.
This could include a complete website redesign, an SEO audit for a large-scale eCommerce site, or launching a new product line. The cost can vary widely depending on the complexity of the project, with larger businesses or sites requiring more resources.
For example, when Home Depot launched a major redesign, they likely invested in a project-based pricing model to ensure everything from site structure to mobile optimization was top-notch. This model gives you a clear upfront cost and a defined project scope, so there’s no ambiguity.
Performance-Based Pricing (Pay-for-Results)
Performance-based pricing is the ultimate pay-for-performance model, meaning you only pay if the results align with your goals, such as increased traffic, higher rankings, or more sales.
This can be a win-win for both parties: the agency is incentivized to get the best results, and you only pay when you see measurable success. This pricing model is ideal for brands that want to minimize risk and maximize return on investment.
For instance, Casper may have worked with an SEO agency that used a performance-based model to drive more organic traffic and boost sales without committing to fixed fees.
However, this model often works best for established brands with clear metrics in place, and it can be more challenging to implement for smaller businesses that are still in the early stages of growth.
In-House SEO vs. Hiring an Agency or Freelancer
As we discussed in the earlier section, the cost of eCommerce SEO can vary widely based on the service, pricing model, and provider. But beyond the numbers, there’s another big decision to make: who is doing the SEO? Whether it’s building an in-house team, partnering with an agency, or hiring a freelancer, each path comes with its pros, cons, and ideal use case.
So, how do you decide what’s right for your business? Let’s break it down.
- Go in-house when you have a long-term vision, a consistent workload, and the budget to build a dedicated team. This route is great for brands that want full control, quick turnarounds, and seamless integration with other departments.
- Choose an SEO agency if you’re looking for a full-service team with expertise across multiple disciplines. Agencies are best for businesses that need strategic planning, consistent execution, and access to tools and data they might not have in-house.
- Hire a freelancer when you need agility, budget flexibility, or help with specific tasks like keyword research or content creation. Freelancers are perfect for startups or businesses in the early growth stage. You get talent without the overhead, like bringing a sniper instead of a whole army.
Want a deeper breakdown? Check out our blog:
How Much Does eCommerce SEO Cost by Industry?
Not all eCommerce niches are created equal, and neither are their SEO needs or budgets. The cost of SEO can vary based on your product type, audience behavior, and the level of competition in your industry.
For instance, ranking for “wireless headphones” is a lot tougher than ranking for “handmade pet collars”. Whether you are a startup beauty brand or a multi-category enterprise, here’s a quick look at what different industries typically invest in SEO.
- Fashion stores typically spend $2,000–$7,000/month for trend-driven, high-competition SEO.
- Electronics brands invest around $3,000–$8,000/month due to technical SEO and tough competition.
- Beauty & lifestyle brands usually budget $1,500–$6,000/month for content-rich, visual SEO strategies.
- Pet product businesses see great results with $1,000–$4,000/month in this lower-competition niche.
- Small businesses or startups can start strong with $500–$2,500/month, focusing on local and niche SEO.
- SMEs (mid-sized brands) often spend $2,500–$6,000/month for a balanced, full-service approach.
- Large enterprises invest $8,000–$20,000+/month for enterprise-level SEO and continuous scaling.
Is eCommerce SEO Worth the Investment?
Short answer? Absolutely, yes.
But let’s dig a little deeper. eCommerce SEO isn’t just about getting more eyes on your store — it’s about attracting the right eyes. More and more brands are realizing that when done right, SEO doesn’t just boost traffic; it drives conversion optimization by bringing in shoppers who are actively searching for what you sell.
Studies show that 70% of online experiences begin with a search engine, and top-ranking pages capture the lion’s share of clicks. Brands like Glossier and Gymshark credit a huge part of their growth to organic visibility, and the best part? Unlike paid ads, the results don’t vanish when you stop spending.
Final Thoughts on eCommerce SEO Pricing
Think of SEO like climbing a ladder — every keyword, backlink, and blog post is a step toward the top of search results. It’s not a one-jump win, but the higher you climb, the more visibility (and conversions) you unlock.
Just make sure you do your homework: compare pricing models, understand your industry’s needs, and choose an experienced digital marketing expert who gets your business. The right partner won’t just boost rankings — they’ll help turn traffic into revenue.
FAQs on eCommerce SEO Cost
How much does eCommerce SEO typically cost?
It can range from $500 to $20,000+/month, depending on your business size, goals, and competition.
Why is eCommerce SEO so expensive?
It involves ongoing work like content, technical fixes, and link building — all requiring time and expertise.
Is it better to hire an agency, a freelancer, or do it in-house?
It depends on your budget, team size, and how hands-on you want to be — each has pros and cons.
Can I do eCommerce SEO myself?
Yes, but expect a learning curve; professionals often deliver faster, better ROI.
How long until I see results from SEO?
Typically 3 to 6 months, but competitive niches may take longer.
Are cheaper SEO services effective?
Sometimes, but low-cost SEO often lacks quality, strategy, or long-term results.
Does SEO cost include content creation?
Not always — some agencies charge separately for blogs and product descriptions.
What’s the ROI of investing in eCommerce SEO?
Strong SEO can deliver high long-term ROI, especially when focused on conversion optimization.
Is SEO a one-time cost or ongoing?
SEO is an ongoing investment — search trends, competitors, and algorithms change constantly.
How do I choose the right SEO agency for my store?
Look for industry experience, proven results, transparent pricing, and solid communication.
