SEO promotion is usually paid monthly, starting from a few hundred euros, and the price depends on the level of competition for your keywords, the target region and the current technical state of your site. The key thing to understand: SEO is an ongoing investment, not a one-off expense, because rankings are earned and held over time. Below is why the price varies and what you get for the money.

What the price depends on

There is no universal SEO rate, because every site starts from a different level and targets a different degree of competition. Here are the main factors:

  • Competition — contested keywords need more content and quality links.
  • Region — local promotion (Chisinau) is cheaper than national or international.
  • Site condition — a slow or poorly structured site needs technical fixes first.
  • Content — new articles and pages written for real search intent.

What an SEO retainer includes

A retainer usually includes: a technical audit, on-page optimization (titles, structure, speed), content creation, link building and monthly reporting. Always ask to see exactly which deliverables you get per month — not the vague phrase "SEO work". A serious agency will show you the concrete tasks and how they connect to your business goals, not just traffic charts.

How long until you see results

SEO is not instant, and nobody reasonable will promise otherwise. First movements usually appear in 2–3 months, solid results in 4–6 months, depending on competition. That is why the budget should be planned for at least half a year: a single month is not enough for Google to re-evaluate your site and lift your positions. Treat SEO as a channel that, once built, brings traffic without paying for every click.

How to avoid wasted money

Run from "page 1 in 7 days" promises — they clearly signal risky tactics that can get your site penalized in the long run. A suspiciously low price is just as risky: quality SEO takes specialist time, and a below-market rate usually means automated work with no real value. Always demand full transparency: what is being done, why, and with what measurable result. Ask what happens to your rankings if you stop the collaboration. At shadowforge we work with measurable goals, clear reports and methods that build durable growth, with no tricks that put your site at risk. Message us for a free audit of your site and an honest estimate.