Freelance SEO consultant Leeds

It really depends on your business and how competitive your space is — but most small businesses in Leeds spend somewhere between £500 and £1,500 a month on SEO.

If you’re a local business — like a café, builder, or hair salon — you can usually make strong progress on the lower end of that range. A steady flow of content, local SEO work, and a few good backlinks can take you far.

For more competitive industries like law, finance, or e-commerce, the investment’s higher. You’re fighting against established local names and national brands, which means deeper content, stronger link building, and more ongoing optimisation.

You’ll also find plenty of freelancers and boutique agencies in Leeds who handle smaller one-off projects — audits, content planning, or local setup — starting around £300–£600.

The thing about SEO is, it’s not a one-off job. It’s something that compounds. The longer you stick with it, the stronger your results get — and the harder it is for competitors to catch up.

My approach is simple — I don’t throw out prices until I know what you actually need. I start with an in-depth audit, get clear on your business goals, and then put together a proposal with timelines and costs. That way, you’re paying for the SEO that moves the needle — nothing more, nothing less.

Get in touch to request an audit.

Link building for a local businesses isn’t always about chasing big headlines.

It’s about doing the small, genuine things that show Google — and people — that your business is part of the city.

Easier said than done.

But here are some ways I’d go about doing that:

• Sponsor something local — a community event, a charity match, or the Leeds 10K. It’s good for the city, good for your brand, and usually earns you a solid link in return.

• List your business where locals actually look — add yourself to Visit Leeds, Leeds Local, and Leeds List. They’re not glamorous, but Google trusts them — and that local trust carries weight.

• Give Leeds media something to talk about — do something interesting, helpful, or just a bit different, then reach out to Yorkshire Evening Post or Leeds Live. They’re always on the lookout for local stories worth sharing.

• Team up with other Leeds businesses — a bar and a brewery. A florist and a wedding photographer. Partner up, feature each other, and link naturally. It’s simple, and it works.

• Connect with Leeds universities — University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Leeds Arts University all feature local partners who support students, run workshops, or collaborate on projects. Those links are worth their weight in gold.

Google Ads are quick. You pay, you show up, and as soon as you stop paying — you vanish.

SEO’s slower, but it builds something permanent. Instead of renting space at the top of Google, you’re earning it. Once your site ranks, you keep getting traffic and leads without paying for every click.

For most Leeds businesses, it comes down to timing. If you need customers fast — maybe you’ve just launched or have a short-term campaign — Google Ads can give you an instant boost. But if you want long-term, steady growth that compounds over time, SEO is the better investment.

The smartest approach? Often both. Run ads to bring leads in now, while SEO quietly builds your foundation in the background. Over time, you’ll rely less on ads and save more per lead.