A Question was asked in a FB group I lurk in... and I figured I would answer HERE...

The Question: "So you charge a client 2k per month for SEO... How much ROI should that client make each month from your SEO efforts?"

I did not answer on Facebook... WHY? Because that group gets a bunch of questions from vendors trying to justify undercutting the market, and IMHO not focusing on things that matter in the whole picture... SO what is MIKES Answer

ROI on SEO: It's About Business Goals, Not Marketing Metrics

When discussing ROI for SEO, it’s essential to frame the results in terms of business metrics rather than just marketing KPIs. SEO isn't a one-size-fits-all solution; the ROI will always depend on the specific business goals of the client and how SEO aligns with them.

Here’s How It Breaks Down:

Understand the Client's Objectives Ask: "What does success look like for your business?" For one client, it might mean driving 100 new leads/month. For another, it could mean increasing the lifetime value of existing customers by improving their online experience.
Tailor Marketing Goals to Business Goals If the client invests $2K/month in SEO, the expected ROI should reflect their unique goals:
SEO’s Role in the Funnel SEO often supports long-term brand visibility and lead generation. Its ROI may take months to manifest but can lead to exponential returns when paired with proper sales processes and nurturing campaigns.

Real Results from My Clients:

With one of my $7.5K/month SEO clients, we recently focused on promoting their Open House event in November. The results?

$380K in online sales in 24 hours.
Combined with in-house sales, the event generated over $500K in a single day.

Why Did It Work?

Our strategy was custom-tailored to their goals:

We optimized their site and created buzz through targeted SEO campaigns that drove significant traffic leading up to the event.
Rankings for key terms and localized visibility ensured they captured an audience ready to convert.

This wasn’t just about clicks—it was about translating SEO efforts into real, measurable business outcomes.

The Big Picture:

ROI is rooted in: