What an SEO package should include
An SEO package is a monthly bundle of work meant to increase the enquiries your website earns from search. The label tells you very little, because two packages at the same price can contain completely different things. Before you compare prices, compare scope.
A sound package includes, at minimum, a technical review and fixes, research into what your buyers search for, content or page improvements each month, tracking that connects visits to enquiries, and a report you can read. If any of those is missing from a proposal, ask why.
Our packages are built around that list, and each one states what it leaves out, so you can see where a larger package adds value and where it does not.
Foundation: R8,500 a month
Foundation suits a business that needs a steady, well-organised start: a site that has never had proper SEO, or one that needs the basics fixed before anything more ambitious.
What is included
- Technical SEO audit and fix list
- Keyword and intent map for up to ten pages
- Two articles or page rewrites a month
- Google Search Console and GA4 set-up
- Monthly report in plain language
- A dedicated account lead
What is not included
Paid media, link outreach and a website build. If you need those, look at Growth or Authority, or add them separately.
Growth: R15,500 a month
Growth is our most popular package. It suits businesses with a working site and real competition, where steady content and visibility in both search and AI assistants will make a difference.
What is included
- Everything in Foundation
- Four articles or pages a month
- AI search visibility work: structured data, quotable answers and crawler access
- Internal linking and topic clusters
- Local and city SEO where relevant
- A fortnightly check-in call
What is not included
Paid media management and a website build.
You can read more about the AI search element on our AI search optimisation page.
Not ready for a retainer? Start with an audit
An SEO audit and strategy is a once-off piece of work for R9,500. It is a full technical, content and AI-visibility audit, with a prioritised plan. Many clients start here, then choose a retainer once they can see what needs doing. Others use the plan with their own team. You own the plan either way.
If you want to know what an audit involves, our guide on what a technical SEO audit is explains it in plain language.
What affects the price of SEO
SEO prices differ for real reasons. Understanding them helps you judge a quote.
- Competition. Winning searches that dozens of established firms target takes more content, more authority and more time than a niche with little competition.
- The state of your site. A site with serious technical problems needs fixing before growth work pays off, and that takes effort up front.
- Volume of content. The number of articles and pages produced each month is the largest driver of cost, which is why our packages state it.
- Geography. Serving one city is a smaller task than competing nationally or across several cities.
- Authority building. Earned links, digital PR and expert contributions take skilled outreach and are priced accordingly.
- Speed. Faster targets usually need more resource, and nobody can honestly promise to speed up how Google responds.
What to expect month by month
In the first month, we audit, fix and set up tracking, so there is little visible change in rankings. In months two and three, new and improved content goes live and Google begins to index and test it. From the fourth month onward, you can usually see which pages are gaining ground and which enquiries are coming from search. We report all of this plainly, including the parts that are not working.
The packages side by side
| Foundation | Growth | Authority | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price a month | R8,500 | R15,500 | From R27,500 |
| Technical audit and fixes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content a month | 2 pieces | 4 pieces | 8 pieces |
| AI search visibility work | No | Yes | Yes |
| Local and city SEO | No | Where relevant | Where relevant |
| Digital PR and link outreach | No | No | Yes |
| Google Ads management | No | No | Yes (spend separate) |
| Check-ins | Monthly report | Fortnightly call | Weekly reporting |
How to choose between them
Choose Foundation if your main problem is that the basics are missing: tracking, technical errors, unclear pages. Choose Growth if the basics are sound and you need a steady flow of content and a plan that covers AI search and local visibility. Choose Authority if you compete against well-funded rivals and need earned links, paid search and weekly optimisation working together.
If you cannot tell, book a consultation. We will say plainly which package fits, and sometimes that is the audit alone.
How to compare SEO packages from different agencies
- Compare deliverables, not names. Count the pieces of content, the fixes and the reports.
- Check what is left out. A cheaper package that excludes tracking or technical fixes is not cheaper.
- Look for guarantees. Promises of rankings are a red flag. Nobody can guarantee a position on Google.
- Ask who owns the work. Content and accounts should belong to you.
- Read the contract. Look for minimum terms, notice periods and exit costs.
Our guides on how much SEO costs in South Africa and how to compare SEO company quotes go further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do SEO packages cost in South Africa?
Prices vary widely. Our packages are R8,500 a month for Foundation, R15,500 for Growth and from R27,500 for Authority. A once-off SEO audit and strategy is R9,500. Each package lists what is included and what is not.
What is included in your SEO packages?
Every package includes a technical audit and fixes, keyword research, content or page improvements, tracking and a plain-language report. Growth adds AI search work and more content. Authority adds digital PR, Google Ads management and weekly optimisation.
Is there a minimum contract?
Retainers run for a minimum of three months so there is time to see results, then month to month on 30 days’ notice. Project work is fixed price and agreed in writing.
Do you guarantee rankings?
No. Nobody can honestly guarantee a ranking. We commit to the work we will do, report openly and measure against your enquiries and revenue.
Is VAT included?
All prices are in South African Rand. 1st Content is not VAT-registered, so no VAT is added. Ad spend, software subscriptions and third-party costs are separate.
Can I upgrade or change packages?
Yes. Many clients start on Foundation or with an audit and move to Growth. Tell us what you need and we will propose the right mix.
How long does SEO take to work?
Technical fixes can show results within weeks, but meaningful movement in rankings and enquiries usually takes three to six months or more, depending on competition and your starting point.
How do I get started?
Book a consultation and tell us about your business. We reply within one working day with a practical next step, which might be an audit or a package.