If you are a business owner, you know that your company needs to be where your potential customers are.
No matter the industry you are working in or the size of your venture, you need to maximize your exposure. You have to attract the right clients, and get them to engage with your brand. Nowadays, the vast majority of people are looking for products and services on the Internet. Search engines like Google are the go-to place for research, discovery, and ultimately — purchasing decisions.
The digital revolution has changed the business landscape, making adequate online presence mandatory for all businesses. In order for your venture to grow, you need to make sure it is easily discoverable online.
Your company website is no longer just a calling card — it is the most powerful marketing and sales tool you have at your disposal.
When your ideal customer starts looking for your offerings, the first thing they will bump into is your website. A visitor who is already intent on making a purchase needs only a small push to become a paying customer.
In a nutshell, your website needs to appear on the first page of search engines. Especially when someone is looking for your offerings! The process of achieving this goal is called Search Engine Optimization and is the cornerstone of all digital marketing efforts. It is not something everyone can do themselves, as it requires specific technical and creative skills. For this reason, most businesses outsource this task to SEO companies that specialize in this type of work.
If you are looking for SEO in Singapore, this article is for you. We will explain what exactly SEO is, how it can help your business grow, and what you can expect when it comes to SEO pricing in Singapore.
What Is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization, or simply SEO, is the process of improving your website so that it appears on top positions in search engine results pages (SERPs) for searches relevant to your business. SEO is crucial for businesses of all sizes and scopes since it guarantees that your website will attract traffic that is more likely to engage and ultimately convert to paying customers.
Search engines use automated bots that crawl the Internet and collect information about websites based on their content. All this data is indexed and then analyzed by algorithms to determine its quality and relevance for specific search engine queries. Then, once a person uses the search engine, they will see the results that are most relevant for their specific problem first.
Search engines like Google use a variety of ranking factors to classify websites. Those criteria change over time, making SEO a dynamic and long-term task for any business.
Given the fact that almost 90% of Singaporeans use the Internet to look for products and services, SEO in Singapore is essential for business success. There are many companies that offer a variety of SEO services for websites, which leads to considerable differences when it comes to the average SEO pricing in Singapore.
Nevertheless, every modern business needs to invest in SEO, as it offers too many benefits to ignore. A popular quote states that “if you want to hide a dead body, simply do it on the second page of Google — no one will find it there.”
In other words, your business needs to be on the first page of Google and other search engines. There is no way to achieve that without SEO — and only a team of SEO experts has the knowledge and skills to make your website rank well for your selected searches.
What Are the Different Types of SEO in Singapore?
SEO is an umbrella term that encompasses all different actions that can be taken to boost a website’s ranking within search engines like Google. It is important to point out that proper SEO is not a one-time thing — it is more of a process. In order for a website to stay well-optimized and competitive, it needs to be maintained as the factors that influence SEO change with time.
Generally, there are three types of SEO — on-page, off-page, and technical. Those looking for SEO in Singapore can find a variety of SEO packages that include one or all of those types. However, utilizing all three is key to making your website stand out and generate the right type of traffic. Let’s take a closer look at the three types of SEO and what they include.
On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is the work you are doing on your own website in order to make it rank higher on relevant searches and attract the right type of traffic. One crucial pillar of on-page SEO is making sure your website has the right keywords seamlessly integrated within your content. In order for search engine bots to understand what your page is about, you need to make sure your core keywords are there. Also, you must add your relevant keywords to the metadata of your page — mainly the title and description.
Other important factors when it comes to on-page SEO are the URL, alt-tags on images, internal link structure, and more. However, the quality of the content you have on your web pages makes the most difference in terms of SEO. No matter whether we are talking about your Home Page, blog articles, or separate pages that outline your products or services — your content needs to supply a demand and be good enough to earn a link from another site.
A good SEO in Singapore will begin this process by doing thorough keyword research in order to identify the phrases that are relevant for your business. After that, it will analyze all pages of your website and pinpoint issues that need to be fixed.
Having proper on-page SEO is the cornerstone of any optimization effort, no matter what your objectives are. For this reason, it is an essential part of all SEO packages in Singapore.
Off-Page SEO
As the name suggests, off-page SEO involves all the actions taken outside of your website that make a difference to its ranking in search engine results pages. Perhaps the most important aspect of off-page SEO is link building — the process of having authoritative websites link to your own.
Essentially, having many websites point to yours means that your content is relevant to a search and thus needs to be prioritized in result pages. Off-page SEO is very different from on-page SEO and involves a completely different set of skills.
Guest blogs, social media marketing, brand mentions across the web, and influencer marketing are all aspects of off-page SEO. The idea is to make both search engines and users know that your website is authoritative, trustworthy, relevant, and popular. An SEO company will ideally have an entire team dedicated to off-page SEO, as the work involves lots of analysis, communication, and outreach to potential linking opportunities.
Technical SEO
The final type of SEO has to deal with the technical performance and infrastructure of your website. Technical SEO has a significant impact and its relevance is higher than ever before. After all, having amazing content is a bit irrelevant if users cannot access it properly.
Many so-called “professionals” seem to ignore technical SEO and do not include it in an SEO package since it appears a bit too complex. Even if that is somewhat true, no reputable SEO consultant can ignore its importance and benefits.
Technical SEO takes care of things such as website loading times, site navigation, Schema markup, XML sitemaps, and more. If you are looking for SEO in Singapore, make sure you hire a team that has a good understanding of technical SEO. It will do wonders for both the ranking of your website and its overall user experience.
Current SEO Trends: What Makes a Difference?
The field of SEO is incredibly dynamic and undergoing constant change. New ranking factors are introduced with each update of Google’s algorithm, while old ones lose their impact or simply stop mattering altogether. In order for your business to stay competitive, your website needs to be in line with the latest SEO trends — this is where SEO consultants come in.
Great SEO professionals constantly monitor the changes in ranking factors and adjust their strategies and tactics accordingly. They understand that SEO is not a one-time action, but more of a process that pays off in the long run.
Let’s take a look at five SEO practices and trends that will shape the field in 2022 and beyond.
1. The EAT Principle
High-quality content remains the most important factor when it comes to SEO. However, it might be a bit tricky to define what exactly Google means by “high-quality content.” To help solve this issue, you need to align your content production efforts with the EAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principle.
Google claims that those factors are essential when it comes to ranking content on its search engine. Linking to authoritative sources, backing up your claims with statistics and data, and providing answers to hot questions are sure-fire ways to fulfill the criteria in the EAT principle.
2. Mobile-Friendliness
The mobile-friendliness of a website has been a major ranking factor ever since 2015. However, optimizing for mobile is more important than ever today, especially since Google released their “mobile-first indexing” update back in 2019. Essentially, when assessing the optimization of a website, Google will first look into its mobile version.
That means the desktop versions are no longer considered to be the main ones. Given the fact that the vast majority of Internet users are on mobile, this move by Google surprised absolutely no one.
To make a long story short, issues with your website’s mobile version can have devastating consequences for its SEO. Thankfully, Google has released a free testing tool that will pinpoint issues with the mobile-friendliness of your website. SEO experts need to take this into consideration and optimize with mobile in mind.
3. Video Content
Video content has been becoming more and more popular in the last decade. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok have exploded in popularity, creating opportunities for many businesses to promote their brand and reach their target audiences. Needless to say, in this day and age, a good SEO strategy needs to include video.
Optimizing video content is a whole different game than standard SEO, but it is based on many of the same principles. For example, your video description needs to include the main keywords and hashtags you want to target.
4. Long-Form Content
The debate between short and long-form content can be considered over, as the latter has proven to be better in terms of SEO strategy. Data shows that longer articles draw much more traffic and engagement than shorter ones while having a significantly bigger impact on the SEO of the page. However, quality should always be at the forefront — you cannot expect to just cram 5000 words on a page and expect it to start ranking well.
Standard on-page principles need to be kept when creating long-form content. Proper H-tag structure and links will make a huge difference, along with convenient social sharing buttons. SEO experts need to make sure all long-form content is easily scannable and generally easy to read, especially on mobile devices. Such seemingly small details will have an enormous impact on SEO in the very near future.
5. Artificial Intelligence
The recent developments in artificial intelligence are changing the playing field not only in SEO but tech as a whole. While we are yet to see the full power of AI, we are absolutely certain it will play an enormous role when it comes to SEO. Google recently unveiled RankBrain — a ranking algorithm that analyzes content for ranking purposes.
This AI-powered tool will use a variety of metrics to prioritize results in Google’s search engine. Even though we still don’t know how exactly it will work, it will certainly make SEO experts re-examine their efforts and make considerable changes in order to keep their websites relevant.
SEO Services Pricing in Singapore
SEO is a key component of every digital marketing strategy, no matter the size and industry your business operates in. Depending on your website, however, it might be a significant investment that can eat up a good portion of your marketing budget. Keep in mind that SEO is essential both for startups and established companies — it will help with brand awareness, client acquisition, and overall business performance. For this reason, think of SEO as an investment that will certainly pay off in the mid- and long term.
If you are looking for SEO in Singapore, then you need to carefully weigh your options before committing to a professional SEO agency (or a freelancer). The competition between such local SEO companies is pretty stiff and there are many SEO packages to choose from.
On top of that, you can always contact an international SEO agency — this option can be better if you are looking to establish an international presence for your company. As you might expect, the difference in SEO services pricing between local agencies, international companies, and freelancers can be quite significant.
First of all, you need to determine your business objectives and what you want to achieve from the SEO services you are looking for. Consider what keywords are most relevant for your business and check what the competition is doing on the matter.
Once you have this information, you can start looking for a suitable SEO package. As a general rule of thumb, ask for quotes from several different companies. You will be able to see not only their SEO pricing but their level of professionalism and customer service.
How Is SEO Pricing Determined?
There are many factors that influence the cost of SEO. While local, international, and freelance SEO experts will charge you differently, the final pricing is determined by the goals you have set for your business, the specific services you wish to see implemented, and the size and nature of your website.
Most companies operate with cost-efficient SEO packages, so you can safely stick to the determined budget and avoid overspending. Of course, you can easily scale up your efforts if you have the means and willingness to do it.
Also, keep in mind that SEO activities take time to show results and any optimizations must be maintained on a regular basis. For those reasons, SEO services have a fixed cost per month. Usually, you will be able to see the results of focused SEO activities in 2-3 months. Lasting results and stable first-page search engine rankings occur in 7 to 12 months.
When selecting your budget, we recommend planning for a 12-month period. Of course, depending on the result, you might end up having to extend that.
Let’s take a look at the main factors that determine the price of an SEO package.
1. Size and Type of Website
One of the main factors that determine SEO pricing in Singapore is how big your website actually is. While smaller websites are easier to optimize, they might not be as successful — especially in the short term. Big websites with lots of pages will take a while to optimize, but the results will be much better. A website with lots of content and proper internal linking will result in a much better ranking. However, as you might expect, it will mean more work for the SEO team.
Also, the nature of your website will also influence the final price. For example, optimizing a static website is less time-consuming than optimizing a website that utilizes dynamic content. Online shops, on the other hand, require a whole different approach in terms of SEO. It is important to clearly communicate your goals and business objectives if you are going to request a quote from an SEO expert. That way, you will receive an adequate cost estimate.
2. Competition Research
Don’t forget that your competitors also have websites and are also vying for the top spots in SERPs. It is highly likely that most of them are already ahead when it comes to SEO and you will have to play catch-up. This goes double if you have never optimized your website for search engines in any way.
Every SEO expert will begin work by doing thorough competition research in your field. They will assess the SEO of your competitor websites, essentially getting an idea of what you are up against.
If your niche and desired keywords have strong competition, getting your website to the number one spot will require much more work and time. Naturally, this will reflect on the SEO pricing quote you will receive. On the other hand, a really niche website with no significant competition will be quite easy to rank in a few months.
3. Number of Pages that Need to be Optimized
While basic on-page SEO efforts should cover your entire website, the real work is done on the specific pages you want to rank. You need to decide which pages on your website are most important for your business. Those can be product or service pages, blog articles, or even the Home Page itself.
The most important pages will probably need a content overhaul, technical optimization, and a great link profile in order to rank high. Before approaching an SEO company, make sure you define the pages you want to focus on in terms of optimization.
Of course, the more pages you want to optimize, the higher the cost of SEO services gets. Keep in mind that SEO agencies can also recommend pages for optimization, depending on the results of their competition research and keywords that need to be targeted. Also, they may suggest creating new pages that will have the content needed to rank.
If you are doing local SEO in Singapore, for example, you would be wise to have a page that is optimized for your business’ name, address, and phone.
4. Existing Backlink Profile
As we already mentioned, quality backlinks to your website are a key factor when it comes to off-page SEO. However, getting such links consumes a great deal of time and effort. If your website is older and you have been active when it comes to producing content, you might already have a few good backlinks in place.
On top of that, older websites generally rank better due to their higher Domain Authority (DA). A new website, however, is not likely to have a strong backlink profile. Building one from the ground up can be a challenging task.
The quality and quantity of backlinks that your website already has also play a part in determining SEO pricing. A weak backlink profile needs to be fixed by active content production and distribution, along with outreach to potential partners. Guest posting and active social media presence are time- and resource-consuming efforts. Naturally, all this work will reflect on the final quote you will get.
5. Technical Problems
Technical SEO is often dismissed, especially by inexperienced SEOs. However, it is extremely powerful when it comes to improving the ranking of your website. If you are not particularly tech-savvy, your website will probably have various technical issues that need to be addressed.
For example, loading speed and mobile-friendliness are some of the most impactful ranking factors nowadays. If your website has problems in those areas, a developer will need to get involved and get them fixed.
Bigger and more complex websites are more likely to require in-depth technical SEO efforts. Even smaller websites need to be properly optimized on the technical level in order to rank well. When considering doing SEO in Singapore, make sure the digital marketing agency you are dealing with has the necessary expertise. Sure, the price will end up higher — however, it is an investment that is more than worth the money.
SEO in Singapore: Pricing and SEO Services
As we already mentioned, agencies offer SEO packages that you need to pay for on a monthly basis. Depending on your objectives, website, competition, and other factors, the price might be average or a bit higher than you expect. Be careful if someone offers you a one-time SEO service at a fixed price. Such offers will not yield good results, since SEO is a process that requires consistent effort, thorough research, and personalization for each website.
Generally, you can look at monthly SEO pricing from $200 to $700 for basic services from freelancers and agencies. However, if you are looking for advanced SEO services that include social media management, blogging, and technical SEO, the price might go way beyond $700. It all depends on what exactly you are looking for and how much you are willing (and able) to pay.
Each type of SEO package comes with its own set of pros and cons, so there is no universally right choice. You need to make the decision and choose between different SEO agencies based on your needs, goals, and available budget.
Keep in mind that standard SEO packages are usually just the beginning. In order to really boost the ranking of your website and get qualified traffic and leads, you will have to expand and scale your efforts eventually. Most good SEO experts and agencies will give you suggestions as to what new keywords to include, along with specific strategies that will work for your business. Such additions might increase the pricing you have agreed to initially.
Let’s take a look at some specific examples of SEO pricing for freelancers and agencies in Singapore.
Freelancers
There are many qualified SEO experts out there that are working as freelancers. As you might expect, they would charge significantly less than an entire SEO agency. The average SEO pricing that freelancers offer ranges from $200 to $400 per month. Such SEO services usually include a website audit, keyword and competition research, on-page optimization, and even some link-building activities.
However, you should know that freelancers will not be able to deliver the same results as a full team of SEO experts.
Getting a freelancer is the best option if you are on a tight budget. You can even get someone who charges an hourly rate, so you can optimize your SEO spending. The work they will do will certainly improve your website’s overall optimization and provide a great foundation for more in-depth SEO in the future. However, it is highly unlikely that you will achieve top rankings in this way, especially if you have strong competitors and not much in terms of content generation.
Standard SEO Packages
If you have the budget, it is best to turn to a reputable SEO company. For small or medium businesses with average competition, getting one of the SEO packages offered by Singapore agencies is an optimal solution. You can expect your monthly costs to be from $400 to $700, depending on the factors we outlined above. While such numbers might seem a bit high for you, proper SEO is well worth the investment.
Alternatively, you can find an SEO agency that is willing to do work on an hourly basis. The rates for such SEO services are around $100 per hour. As you can see, having an SEO company “on retainer” is considerably cheaper. On top of that, it will almost certainly yield better results.
An SEO company will start the process by doing a thorough analysis of your website using specialized SEO tools. The team will also check your competitors’ website and their levels of optimization. In-depth keyword research will also help them find and target the best phrases relevant to your business. Based on this research, the SEO agency will develop a plan that they will execute in the following months.
In addition to on-page SEO, you can also expect an agency to work on getting high-quality links to your website and optimize your existing content. While the initial focus will be on improving your most important pages, it will soon shift to content production and distribution.
You should see the results of the SEO agency’s work in a few months. It all depends on your competition, industry, and the initial condition of your website. Keep in mind that you will receive regular reports regarding the progress of your website’s optimization. Those will include rankings per keyword, backlink analysis, content performance, and more.
Advanced SEO Packages
If your goal is to make your website rank for the best search queries despite stiff competition, the only way to achieve this is by getting an advanced SEO package from a local or international SEO agency. The pricing for those usually starts from $700 per month but can go up indefinitely, depending on the work you want to be done and the results you are aiming for. Some SEO firms can charge you from $3000 ‒ $5000 per month for their most comprehensive services.
Advanced SEO packages build on top of standard ones by ramping up content production, addressing technical and design issues, and more. As we mentioned, an effective social media presence can be essential for the success of your website. Advanced SEO services often come with social media management services included, further bolstering your business’ online presence. Also, you can expect to see a strong outreach to bloggers and authoritative websites in your industry.
With advanced SEO packages, the sky’s the limit — as long as you have the needed budget. Be aware that bigger and more experienced SEO companies charge significantly more than smaller agencies and freelancers. However, you will definitely get your money’s worth when it comes to results. You can expect to see an increase in ranking, traffic, and conversions in just a few months.
Is SEO in Singapore Worth the Investment?
As you can see, SEO in Singapore is not exactly cheap. While you can minimize your expenses by hiring a freelancer or using basic SEO services from agencies, the biggest benefits that SEO can offer are only available through a bigger investment. However, you can expect the returns to be more than satisfactory.
If your business appears at the top positions in Google for relevant searches, you will see a massive increase in sales and customers. It is safe to say that you will not only break even — your business can experience exponential growth through a proper SEO campaign.
However, it is important for you to define your budget, needs, and goals before committing to an SEO company or a freelancer. You need to make sure you get the right service for your specific requirements. There are many SEO agencies that offer a variety of SEO packages — figuring out the best option will take some time and effort.
Do not make the mistake of using one-time services or throwing money away by hiring an inexperienced digital marketing agency. Good SEO is the result of expertise, hard work, patience, and persistence.
Make sure you find an SEO company that will create a tailor-made solution just for you and your business. Standard SEO packages only lay the groundwork — a dedicated team of professionals will recommend specific tactics to help your website reach its full potential.
Overall, SEO in Singapore is more than worth the investment! You just need to find the right people for the job.