Why there is no single price for SEO
An online clothing store in Tashkent with hundreds of product pages and a dental clinic with a dozen pages need very different amounts of work, even though both want to rank on Google.
A good specialist therefore starts with questions rather than a number: what is the site built on, which pages bring enquiries, who ranks above you today. If someone names a price in their first message without looking at your site, treat it with caution.
What the cost of SEO is made of
The price reflects specialist time plus the amount of work your particular project needs. Most proposals include some combination of these blocks:
- a technical audit: loading speed, indexing, mobile version, errors in code and structure;
- keyword research in Russian and Uzbek, based on how customers actually search;
- site structure and landing pages for services, products and districts;
- copy, headings, metadata and internal links;
- external mentions and links, where the niche calls for them;
- analytics: Search Console, counters, tracking of leads and phone calls;
- regular reports and adjustments based on the data.
Pricing models you will meet
A one-off audit suits companies that already have a developer or an in-house team. You pay for a document with a fix list and carry out the changes yourself.
A monthly retainer is the most common model. SEO compounds over time, so a single round of optimisation with no follow-up usually has a weak effect. Make sure the contract lists concrete tasks instead of the vague word “promotion”.
Pay-for-position or pay-for-results deals sound attractive, but a ranking for a chosen keyword is not the same as a customer. You can reach the top for a phrase nobody buys with. And nobody can guarantee a specific place in search, because the algorithms belong to the search engine, not the agency.
What moves the price most in the Uzbek market
The first factor is niche and competition. Real estate, healthcare, education and e-commerce are more crowded in search results than a narrow local service, so they need more effort.
The second is language. If your audience searches in both Russian and Uzbek, the site needs proper versions in both, not machine translation. That widens the keyword set and the volume of copy.
The third is the condition of the site itself. A project on an outdated builder, with slow pages and a confusing structure, often hits technical limits, and part of the budget goes to repairing basics instead of growth. Site size, geography (Tashkent only or the whole country) and how involved you are, for example supplying materials and approving texts, also change the final figure.
How to check that you are not overpaying
Ask for access to Google Search Console and your analytics from day one. That data belongs to you and should stay with you even if you change contractors.
Agree on metrics in advance: growth in impressions and clicks for target queries, the number of enquiries from search, and cost per lead compared with paid ads. A report that says “work is in progress” proves nothing.
Red flags include a guaranteed first place, refusal to show what was done, hidden access to your site, bulk purchases of questionable links and a complete lack of questions about your business.
SEO and website development are one task
The cheapest time to plan for SEO is while the site is being built: a thought-out structure, fast loading, responsive layout, clean page addresses and two language versions. Fixing these on a finished site almost always costs more.
So if you are planning a new site or a rebuild, discuss promotion together with development. At markdev we build websites on a turnkey basis with search requirements in mind from the start, and then help you judge how much SEO work your project really needs, without inflated promises.
If you want to know which budget is realistic for your niche, describe your goal and we will review the site and competitors, then suggest a clear plan with measurable targets.
FAQ
Can I learn the exact price of SEO without an audit?
Not an exact one. You can get a rough idea of the work format, but the real price depends on the state of the site, the niche and the number of pages. At least a short analysis comes first.
How long does SEO take to show results?
It depends on competition, site age and how much needs fixing. Search engines need time to re-index pages, so changes are rarely visible at once. Any precise timeline given without looking at your site is a guess.
Is SEO better than paid social or search ads?
They are different tools. Ads bring enquiries quickly but only while you pay for them. SEO is slower but builds up over time. Many businesses combine both and compare cost per lead.
Do I have to pay for SEO every month?
Not always. A one-off audit and a round of fixes is possible, but growth in a competitive niche usually needs ongoing work: content, updates and keyword analysis.
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