What SEO really costs in 2026, and what you should get for the money
The average agency retainer and the most common one are very different numbers. Here's what sits behind SEO quotes, and how to tell a real retainer from a reporting subscription.
Growth marketing for the United States, Canada, the UAE and India
Rank Heights runs local search, SEO, content, social and paid ads as one plan, so every channel pushes the same number up: qualified leads.
Most businesses we speak to already pay for marketing. The problem is that nobody owns the result.
Your competitors take the three spots on the local map while your profile sits half filled in.
Fix it with GBP optimizationClicks come in and forms don't. Usually the audience, the offer or the landing page is wrong, sometimes all three.
Fix it with performance marketingA post a week with no topic strategy builds nothing. Buyers check your feed and see a company that isn't paying attention.
Fix it with social media handlingFive stages, run in order, each one built on the last. Scroll to see what happens, when, and what you get at every step.
Pick one or combine them. Every engagement is quoted on your goals, market and competition, not squeezed into a fixed package.
Show up in the local 3-pack for the searches that bring paying customers.
We track rankings on a grid across your whole service area, not from one pin at your office.
A feed that looks like a serious company and reaches the accounts you want.
Every post is approved by you, in writing, before it's published.
Rank for the searches your buyers make right before they pick a supplier.
We report on leads and revenue from organic search. Rankings come second.
Pages and articles that rank, then persuade the reader who lands on them.
Every statistic and claim is sourced and fact-checked before you see the draft.
Paid campaigns on Meta, LinkedIn and X, judged on cost per lead.
Your management fee is quoted separately from ad spend, and we never mark up your media.
Fast websites built to turn visitors into enquiries.
We agree a speed budget before design starts and test against it before launch.
Personal branding for leaders
For founders, CEOs and senior leaders who know they should be visible on LinkedIn and don't have the hours. A dedicated team runs it. You approve every word.
See the personal branding programYour dedicated team
Four commitments that change how the work feels from the first week.
Every engagement starts with data: your competitors, search demand and the questions your buyers ask. Our team has 8+ years of research and marketing experience behind it.
No one-size packages. You get a custom quote based on your goals and market, with scope and price fixed in writing before any work starts.
Nothing is published, launched or sent without your written sign-off. You stay in control of your brand.
SEO, local, social and ads work from one research base and one report, so they stop competing for credit.
| Area | Many agencies | Rank Heights |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | One-size packages with hidden extras | Custom quote, scope and price fixed in writing |
| Contract | 6 to 12 month lock-in | 15 days' notice to stop (SEO: 3-month first term) |
| Reporting | Rankings and impressions | Leads, cost per lead and pipeline |
| Who does the work | Senior pitch, junior delivery | A dedicated team with 8+ years' experience |
| Publishing | Posts go out on a schedule | Nothing goes live without your written approval |
| Accounts | Sometimes held by the agency | Always in your name |
Free growth audit
Send us your website and we'll review three things, then give you a prioritized list of fixes you can act on with or without us.
Delivered as a PDF within 3 business days. No obligation.
Short, practical reads from our research team. Open a quick take, or read the full article.
The average agency retainer and the most common one are very different numbers. Here's what sits behind SEO quotes, and how to tell a real retainer from a reporting subscription.
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Straight answers about pricing, contracts, results and how we work with you.
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Key takeaways
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