Loads of business owners pay for SEO every month without really knowing what they’re getting. A report lands in the inbox, the graphs look busy, and nobody explains what actually got done. If that sounds like you, this one’s worth five minutes.
What should a monthly SEO fee actually pay for?
Work. Real changes you could point at if someone asked. New pages, fixed problems, a busier Google listing and more reviews coming in. A report is useful, but it’s the receipt, not the meal. If the report is the only thing that changes each month, something’s gone wrong.
What should happen every month?
It varies with the business, but for most local firms I’d expect a mix of these.
Your Google listing
Posts, photos, answering questions, checking your hours and services are right, and keeping reviews flowing. For local searches this is often where the quickest wins are. I’ve written more on getting into the Google Maps top 3.
Pages on your website
New or better pages for the jobs and areas you want more of. A page for boiler repairs. A page for Crosby. A page that answers the question everyone rings up to ask. This is the bit that builds up over time and keeps working.
Technical fixes
Speed, broken links, mobile problems and anything Google Search Console flags. Not glamorous. It still matters, because a slow or broken page drags everything else down.
Listings and links
Making sure your name, address and phone number match everywhere online. Picking up links and mentions from real local sites, not junk.
AI visibility
Making your site clear enough that ChatGPT, Gemini and Google’s AI answers understand what you do and where. It’s mostly the same work as good SEO, done with a bit more care. See AI SEO: what you need to know.
Why do the first few months look different?
Because they’re mostly fixing. Sorting the site, setting up tracking with Google Analytics and Search Console, getting the Google listing right and writing the main service pages. After that the work shifts to steady growth. Both are normal. What matters is that someone tells you which stage you’re in.
What does a good monthly update look like?
Short and plain. What was done, what moved, and what’s next. You shouldn’t need a dictionary or a meeting to understand it. I’d rather send a few clear lines on WhatsApp than a 30 page PDF nobody reads.
The numbers shouldn’t be locked away until the end of the month either. Every client I work with gets a live reporting portal they can log into any time. Rankings, Google visits, calls and clicks from your listing are all in one place. So the update from me is the story behind the numbers, and the portal is where you check them for yourself.
How do you know if it’s working?
Look at calls, enquiries and bookings. Rankings are nice to look at but they don’t pay the bills. A good update should tell you how many leads came from Google and whether that number’s going up. If nobody’s tracking that, ask why.
What are the red flags?
The biggest one is not getting a straight answer about what was done. If you ask and get waffle, that tells you plenty. A report that’s all jargon with no plain summary is a close second. So is an SEO person who has never asked which jobs you actually want more of. How can they aim the work if they don’t know?
Watch out for rankings reported on searches no customer would ever type. Being top for “best quality bespoke plumbing solutions Walton” is easy and worthless. A long contract is another warning sign. If the work is good, nobody needs to lock you in. My no contract SEO post goes into why I don’t.
The last one is your Google listing or website login sitting in their name, not yours. I see that more than I’d like. If someone else controls your listing, getting it back can be a real headache.
What shouldn’t you be paying for each month?
You shouldn’t be paying every month for something that was a one-off job. Setting up Search Console, claiming your listing or fixing a slow theme only needs doing once. If it’s still on the invoice in month six, ask what’s actually happening.
The same goes for long meetings and fancy reports. A bit of contact is good. You want to know what’s going on. But if half your fee is going on calls and PDFs, that’s half your fee not going on your website. And steer clear of anyone charging monthly for bulk links or directory submissions. That sort of thing can do more harm than good, and I’ve explained why in backlinks: quality over quantity
How do I handle it?
One price, £125 a week, on a 30 day rolling basis. It covers your SEO, Google listing, AI visibility and looking after your website. I do what your business needs that week and you get told what it was. Everything stays in your name. The full breakdown is on my SEO campaigns page, and if you’re comparing prices, read how much SEO costs in the UK.
Not sure what your SEO fee is paying for?
Send me your website and I’ll look at it myself. I’ll tell you honestly what I can see has been done and what I’d do next. If your current person is doing a good job, I’ll say so.
If you want me to crack on, it’s £125 a week, about £18 a day, on a 30 day rolling basis.
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Rather message? WhatsApp 07463 631121 or call 0151 402 0925.
Questions people ask me
What’s included in your monthly SEO?
Your SEO, Google Business Profile, AI visibility and looking after your website. It’s £125 a week on a 30 day rolling basis.
Will I get a monthly report?
You’ll get a plain-English update on what was done and what moved. No 30 page PDF.
Do you write the content?
Yes. I write the pages, and I’ll ask you for the bits only you know, like prices and the jobs you want more of.
Can I see what you’ve changed?
Always. You get a live reporting portal you can log into any time, and I’ll show you any change you ask about.
What if I already have a web designer?
That’s fine. I can work alongside them or hand them a list of fixes.
Why have my rankings dropped this week?
Rankings move about daily. One week tells you very little. Look at the trend over a few months.
Who owns my Google listing?
You do. It should always be in your name, with your SEO person added as a manager.
Can I pause for a month?
Talk to me. It’s 30 day rolling, so you’re never stuck.
Do you do Google Ads too?
Yes, as a separate service. See PPC campaigns.
Keep reading
If you’ve been sold SEO by the hour, read how many hours of SEO you should get each month before you sign anything. My take on contracts is in no contract SEO: why I work 30 day rolling. And if you’re thinking of switching, how to choose the right SEO company has the questions worth asking.
Hi, I’m PetePaying for SEO and not sure what you’re getting?
Send me your website and I’ll give you an honest second opinion. If your current person is doing a good job, I’ll tell you that too.
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