Content Marketing Pricing: How Much Does Content Marketing Cost in 2020?

How much does content marketing cost?

Now that you know why your business needs content marketing, you’re probably wondering how much you should expect to shell out for a content plan that drives results. We have you covered.

Here’s a look at how much you’ll pay for various content marketing services:

Content research cost

Before diving into content creation, it’s important to conduct initial research. An audit allows you to pinpoint areas of improvement, and it gives direction to your content strategy.

Unfortunately, there’s no industry standard when it comes to content research pricing. While some companies charge upwards of $25,000 (crazy, we know) for a content audit, others offer basic audits for $100 to $200.

At WebFX, we believe research is essential for effective content marketing. When you sign up for our content plans, we’ll take a deep dive into your existing content and conduct an initial audit to determine the best direction for your content marketing — and it’s included in the cost. 

Website content cost

In 2019, the average SMB spends $2000 to $10,000 per month for custom website content. While some writers charge upwards of $25,000 per page (an obvious extreme), others charge only $1 to $2 per word.

Ultimately, the price you pay for website content depends on the agency or writer you choose. However, keep in mind that companies that advertise “cheap” content marketing services tend to provide just that — and “cheap” writing doesn’t drive results for your business.

If you’re looking to invest in website content that helps you rank in search results and attract more customers, you can expect to pay between $2000 and $10,000 per month.

Blog content cost

Like website content, writers and agencies charge anywhere from $100 to $2000 for a 2000-word blog post.

Typically, you can expect to pay more as word count increases. So, you’ll likely pay more for a 3000-word blog post than you would for an 800-word post, regardless of who you work with to create the content.

One perk of working with a content marketing agency is that they can offer custom content pricing to fit your needs. They consider the number and length of your blog posts, as well as other kinds of content, that you need to rank at the top of search results and get the best possible results.

Social media content cost

The price of social media content ranges from $1000 to $5000 per month. Generally, a number of factors impact the price you pay for social content, including:

• Number of channels: The more channels you use for social, the more you can expect to pay. Just remember — the more channels you use, the more customers you can reach. However, it’s important to pay attention to the channels your target audience uses. There’s no reason to pay to maintain your presence on a social channel your audience doesn’t use. 

• Frequency of posts: Do you post to social once a week or several times a day? In general, you’ll pay more for more frequent posts. 

• Monitoring/reporting: Some content marketing agencies — like WebFX — offer content monitoring and reporting as a part of their content plans. This allows you to analyze and optimize your content to reach even more customers. This feature is extremely important if you want to get the highest return on investment (ROI) possible, but it often comes with a higher price tag. 

• Ad spend: The amount you’re willing to dish out for paid social ads also impacts the amount you’ll spend. At WebFX, we’ll help you monitor your ad spend to reach the most customers for the least amount of money.

Content updates cost

To maintain your search rankings and optimize your content to earn more traffic or even secure a featured snippet box, you’ll need to update your content regularly.

When you work with a content marketing agency, they often include this price as part of your monthly fee. At WebFX, we’ll help you continually monitor your content — as well as your competitors’ content — to implement updates that pack the most punch for your business.

Often, writers charge the same amount to expand or optimize existing content as they do to write new website copy — which means prices for content updates can range anywhere from $2000 to $10,000.

Content marketing models

When you want content for your site or social media, you have several options — and they impact your content marketing strategy pricing.

Freelancers

Freelancers or independent contractors can provide single pages of content or complete ongoing projects. Depending on the freelancer you use, they may charge by the word or a set price for a project.

While freelancers may seem appealing, it’s often difficult to find the right one for your project. You’ll want to be wary of freelancers who offer “cheap” writing services, as they often lack the expertise needed for your projects.

In-house

You also have the option to create content in-house. However, this means that you’ll need to pay someone (or a team of content writers). For most SMBs, it’s not worth the price to create content in-house.

If you want to create more content, you’ll need to hire more writers — a steep investment if you work with in-house writers. You’ll also have to invest in training to ensure that your in-house writers stay up-to-date with industry updates and have the technical knowledge needed to write content for your site.

Agencies

Finally, you can work with a full-service content marketing agency. Most agencies charge a monthly fee, and agencies like WebFX offer numerous options to fit your budget and goals.

The best agencies take the time to get to know your business and industry. They work as an extension of your internal team to produce content that drives the best results for your company.

If you want to learn more about what it’s like to work with an award-winning content marketing agency, give us a call at 888-601-5359.

Content marketing packages vs. individual pages

A question we often hear is, “Should I invest in a content marketing package or pay per-piece for website pages?”

We’re glad you asked.

If you’re looking to write a few pages for your site, paying per-piece may be a good option for you. However, it’s often wise to invest in a comprehensive marketing plan. Why?

Content requires continual monitoring and updates to maintain your rankings.

Often, agencies include this cost as part of their content marketing packages. However, if you pay someone per-piece, you’re responsible for monitoring and updating the content once its live on your site — a big task for busy SMBs.

When you invest in content marketing packages from a full-service agency, you’ll also receive access to SEO and social media experts who can help you maximize the impact of your content. Again, SEO and social media promotion are often included as part of comprehensive content services.

While it’s tempting to pay for each piece of content, investing in a content package often offers the biggest bang for your buck.

In 2019, you can expect to pay $2000 to $10,000 per month for a comprehensive content marketing package. For that price, make sure the package you choose includes research, website copywriting and SEO implementation, and social media content.

You’ll also want to ensure that you’re working with a reputable, full-service agency that has experience in numerous areas of digital marketing, from content to SEO and more.

What do content plans include?

Depending on the agency you work with and plan you choose, you will receive a number of content assets including:

Blog posts and articles

Search engines and site visitors alike love fresh, quality content.

Your blog is a great place to share regular updates and valuable information that encourages people to take the next steps with your business. If your blog is a bit sparse, don’t worry. A custom content plan from WebFX can take your blog from zero to hero and help you connect with more customers.

In addition to sprucing up your blog, content plans focus on optimizing your site content to rank higher in search results and provide more valuable information to searchers. Not only does this help you expand your reach online, it also boosts your chances of closing more deals. A win-win situation for your business.

Social media monitoring

Speaking of expanding your reach — effective content plans should also include social media monitoring to help you reach even more customers. When you create custom content, sharing it on social media will boost brand awareness and allow your business to earn more connections.

Your followers can also share your content with friends and family members who might be interested in your products or services. If people have questions about what you offer, you can easily respond on social media and develop relationships that encourage more purchases.

Infographics and motion graphics

Did you know that people process visuals 60,000 times faster than text?

In addition to written content, you’ll want to include visuals, like infographics and motion graphics, to engage your audience and make your content more memorable.

Infographics help break down complex processes and make information easier to digest. This is extremely beneficial if you want to explain how your products or services work — especially if you offer complex products or services.

When people understand your business, products, and services, they can make more informed decisions and feel more comfortable in choosing your company.

Custom videos

Customers are 10 times more likely to interact with a video than a block of text. So, if you’re looking to boost engagement and interaction with your brand, you’ll want to make sure your content plan includes video.

Video is extremely important since you’re 53 times more likely to rank on the first page of Google results when you use videos on your website.

In addition to creating custom videos for your site, a content marketing agency like WebFX can help you film videos for your social media ads, emails, and more.

Not convinced? Including videos on landing pages can increase conversions by 80 percent. If you want to get more from your content plan, make sure it includes video marketing.

What to look for when researching the cost of content marketing

When researching the cost of content marketing, you’ll need to keep in mind that several factors can impact the cost of your project.

How much content do you want to create?

As we mentioned above, you can expect to pay more based on the scope of your project. If you only need to create 10 pages of content, you’ll pay less than if you need 100 pages. 

That being said, you need to create enough content to ensure you rank at the top of search results for high-impact keywords in your industry. If you’re an ecommerce site, you’ll also want to create custom pages for your product offerings and keep them updated with the latest information and prices.

When you work with a content agency, they’ll help you create a game plan for the amount and type of content you’ll need to create to achieve the best results.

What type of content do you want to create?

Do you want article pages, blog posts, or social media content for your business?

The type and length of content also impacts the price you’ll pay. A well-rounded content strategy includes website articles, blog posts, visuals, and social media content.

You might also wonder how long content needs to be to rank in search results. The answer? It depends on the type of content.

As a general rule, check out these guidelines:

• Informational articles: Between 1500 and 2000 words
• Blog posts: Around 1000 words
• 10X content: At least 2500 words

Instead of focusing only on one type of content, you’ll want to create content of various types and lengths as part of a robust content marketing strategy.

Are you interested in other services?

While some agencies combine other services, like SEO and social media marketing, into the price of their content plans, others may require you to pay extra for additional services.

For more information about what you can expect to pay for other digital services, check out these pages:

• SEO pricing
• Email marketing pricing
• Website design pricing
• Social media pricing

It’s important to remember that your company is unique — and you deserve to be treated as such. Steer clear of companies that offer “one size fits all” content marketing packages.

Your business has a unique budget and needs, and you should choose a content plan tailored to your goals.