If you are a small business owner with a limited marketing budget, but you really want to start investing in SEO, it can be difficult to know where to start. For example, is it even worth spending money on cheap SEO or will you be wasting your money?

In this article, we’ll help you find a worthwhile solution. Let’s get stuck in…

There’s a difference between ‘cheap SEO’ and starting with a smaller budget

The first thing is to recognise the fact that there is a big difference between investing in cheap SEO and starting off with a smaller budget.

Case and point: if you come across an SEO agency that comes straight in with an incredibly low price – without having asked about your budget – then you should tread carefully. Often, in the world of digital marketing, if something is so cheap that it feels almost too good to be true, it almost always is.

However, if you come across an SEO agency that quotes you a monthly spend that is way out of your current budget, that’s not to say that there will be zero room for negotiation.

Most reputable SEO agencies will come back with an aggressive strategy to start building a solid foundation for growth, along with a long-term game plan. But if you are genuinely restricted in what you can afford in the short-term, a less aggressive strategy can be developed in its place.

For example, you could start with some local SEO; A Brisbane SEO company could help you perfect your Google My Business profile and start generating more local business in the meantime. Then, with each passing month, you could start working on different areas and expanding your online presence via link building – and even some PPC campaigns for short-term reward.

There’s less risk if you choose your SEO agency wisely (and set realistic expectations)

It is also worth taking a deep dive into digital marketing and learning as much about it as you can. The reason for this is largely because many business owners set a minimal marketing budget because they see SEO as a ‘cost’ rather than an ‘investment’.

For example, if you knew that within 6 to 12-months of investing, that you would likely start experiencing an attractive (and sustainable) return on your investment – would you be less or more prepared to invest?

Understandably, there’s an element of risk. However, you can alleviate much of that risk by choosing a reputable SEO agency with a long history of success. If they can provide countless testimonials from previous and existing clients, including a number of case studies and success stories, then there’s no reason why they will be unable to achieve similar results for you – if you are willing to put your faith in them.

Final thoughts

In conclusion: spending your money on cheap SEO and hoping to get killer results is wishful thinking. Instead, you are far better off investing in an established SEO company with a reputation for success.

Again, to the uninitiated, SEO feels like a cost. But if you shop on reputation, you won’t be wasting your money, you’ll be investing it in the long-term success of your business.

We hope you’ve found this article insightful and with you the best of luck with your online marketing efforts.