Choosing an SEO package
SEO packages are hard to compare because they’re rarely like for like. Use this checklist to see what you’re actually buying.
Before you compare
Write down what you want from SEO and what you can spend each month. Then you can judge each package against your goals, not just against each other.
The checklist
- What tasks happen every month, in plain terms?
- Who does the work, and who checks it?
- Is content included, and who writes it?
- How are links earned, if at all?
- What’s in the monthly report?
- Is there a minimum term or notice period?
- Who owns the work if you leave?
- Do they promise rankings? (They shouldn’t.)
Reading the small print
Look for setup fees, minimum terms, notice periods and who owns any content or accounts created. Check whether the price shown is the full price you’ll pay each month.
Warning signs
Guarantees of page one. Large numbers of links for a small fee. Vague tasks like “optimisation” with no detail. Reluctance to give you access to your own data. Pressure to sign quickly.
Ownership and access
Whatever package you choose, keep ownership of your domain, your website, your Google Business Profile and your Search Console and analytics accounts. Give providers access as users rather than letting them set things up in their own name. That way, if you change provider, nothing gets lost and you’re not stuck asking for logins. Ask the same question about content. If a provider writes pages or articles for you, check the agreement says you own them and can keep using them if you leave. It’s rarely a problem, but it’s much easier to agree at the start than to argue about later. The same goes for any images, reports or keyword research they produce for you.
Comparing like with like
Packages are hard to compare because each one counts work differently. One quotes pages, another hours, another tasks. Turn each one into the same list: technical checks, pages improved, content, local work, reporting, contract terms. Then look at the price. Whito’s published-price count gives you a reality check: a median of £799 a month in June 2026.
Three questions that cut through
Ask what the provider will do in the first 30 days. Ask who you can contact when something breaks. Ask what happens to the work if you leave. Clear answers to those three tell you more about a package than any feature list.
Reports you can actually use
A good package report says what was checked, what was fixed and what’s next, in plain words. It links changes to pages you recognise. Pages of charts without explanation aren’t a report, they’re decoration. Ask to see a sample before you sign up, and check whether you’d understand it without a call.
How our package answers the checklist
Daily automated checks, monthly page improvements and content help, reviewed by people. No link buying. An easy to understand, in-depth monthly report. Rolling monthly, no setup fee, and you own your site and data. No ranking promises. Details are on our pricing page.
Common questions
Should I sign a 12-month package?
Only if there’s a clear exit clause and you trust the provider. A rolling monthly plan keeps the pressure on them, not you.
Who should own my accounts?
You. Give providers access as users and keep the owner role yourself.
Can I compare packages on price alone?
No. Line up what each one does each month first, then compare price.
Where this guide to choosing a package quotes prices, the figures come from Whito’s UK SEO cost research and Whito’s UK agency retainer research (2026). They’re typical ranges for planning, not quotes.
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