Hook: Buying SEO is hard because the product is invisible — you're paying for future traffic from providers whose work you can't watch. The fix is knowing what a standard package contains module by module, so any offer becomes comparable in five minutes. (The buying decision framework: what SEO services include.)
In this guide
- The standard modules of an SEO service package
- Price bands and what they should include
- The scope checklist (compare every offer against this)
- Patterns to refuse
- FAQ
The standard modules of an SEO service package
| Module | Work performed | Verifiable deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis & strategy | Full technical/content/link assessment; keyword map | Report + roadmap |
| Technical SEO | Indexation, speed, schema, mobile, redirects | Fix log |
| Content production | Articles/pages from the keyword map | Pieces × word count |
| On-page iteration | Titles, metas, internal links, structure | Change list |
| Link acquisition | Guest posts, directories, resource pages | Source URL list |
| Reporting & iteration | Actions + data + next-month plan | Report + call |
A package that can't name deliverables per module isn't a package — it's a subscription to hope.
Price bands and what they should include
| Band | Monthly | Realistic contents |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $500–1,500 | Tech fixes + 2–4 articles + reporting |
| Growth | $1,500–4,000 | + links 4–8/mo + keyword-map management |
| Scale | $4,000+ | Multi-market, PR, dev-coordinated work |
Under ~$500 "everything included" — the delivery is automation: bulk links, generated filler. The costs arrive later as penalties and prunes (cheap SEO economics).
The scope checklist (compare every offer against this)
- □ Articles: how many, what length, who reviews?
- □ Technical items: which checks, what fixes, how verified?
- □ Links: how many, which methods, are sources previewable?
- □ Reporting: what data, from whose accounts, how often?
- □ Ownership: do Search Console/GA4/assets stay yours?
- □ Exit: can you stop monthly, with assets intact?
Six yeses = a real package. Fewer = keep shopping (agency evaluation).
Patterns to refuse
- "Guaranteed page one in 30 days" — white-hat work can't promise that
- Results-based quotes with no action list — nothing is actually being committed
- "Proprietary link network" — a resold PBN wearing a suit
- Screenshot-only reporting — demand live dashboards in your accounts
- Annual prepay with no exit clause
FAQ
Q1: What's the minimum viable package? Around $500/month for real foundation work; under that, DIY with the 12-step tutorial beats what automation delivers.
Q2: Do packages include content writing? Good ones do — confirm word counts, review process, and who provides industry knowledge.
Q3: How fast do packages show results? Indexation and long-tail impressions in ~3 months; meaningful traffic in 4–6 (timelines).
Q4: What's in timseolab's package? All six modules with contract-attached deliverables — request a sample scope.
Conclusion: SEO service packages become easy to compare once you price the modules, not the promise. Use the scope checklist on every offer — including ours.
*Related: SEO services explained · Outsourcing contracts*
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum viable package?
Around $500/month for real foundation work; under that, DIY with the 12-step tutorial beats what automation delivers.
Do packages include content writing?
Good ones do — confirm word counts, review process, and who provides industry knowledge.
How fast do packages show results?
Indexation and long-tail impressions in ~3 months; meaningful traffic in 4–6 (timelines).
What's in timseolab's package?
All six modules with contract-attached deliverables — request a sample scope.