Digital advertising
How much Google Ads costs: spend, management fees and a realistic budget
How much Google Ads costs: what you pay Google, what an agency charges to manage it and what budget you need for it to pay off.
21/09/2026
SEO consulting is a professional analysis and diagnostic service that identifies what is stopping your website ranking well in Google. Unlike an ongoing SEO service, consulting is a one-off: you get a report with prioritised recommendations and an action plan.
Hiring an SEO consultancy is especially useful if your traffic has fallen, if competitors are beating you, or if you want to prepare your site for Google’s AI Overviews, which only feature technically sound sites with quality content.
In this guide we explain what SEO consulting includes, what it costs and how to choose the best option. From our search marketing agency, where we run consultancy projects for companies in every sector.
A SEO consulting is a professional service that analyses your website to identify what is preventing you appearing in Google’s top results. The aim is to build a tailored strategy that improves your online visibility and attracts qualified traffic.
Unlike other marketing services, SEO consulting focuses specifically on organic rankings, that is, appearing naturally in search engines without paying per click. That includes analysing your site’s technical structure, content, keywords and domain authority.
The output of good consulting is a detailed report with prioritised recommendations and an action plan for implementing the improvements needed.
If your site gets no organic visits or does not convert, something is wrong. SEO consulting helps you find out exactly what and how to fix it. If you are wondering why your website does not appear in Google, consulting is the first step to finding out.
SEO is also not something you do once and forget. Google’s algorithms change constantly, the competition evolves and search trends shift. Periodic consulting keeps you up to date and helps you adapt your strategy.
Investing in professional SEO consulting can be the difference between a website that generates customers and one that simply exists without contributing anything to your business.
There are different types of SEO consulting depending on each project’s needs:
Technical SEO consulting: Focused on loading speed, indexing, crawl errors, URL structure, the robots.txt file and the sitemap. Essential for sites with technical problems blocking their rankings.
Content SEO consulting: Analyses the quality and optimisation of your copy, your keyword strategy, your information architecture and the content opportunities you are missing.
Local SEO consulting: Specific to businesses with premises that want to appear on Google Maps and in local searches. It covers Google Business Profile optimisation, review management and citations.
E-commerce SEO consulting: Focused on online stores, covering product pages, categories, filters, pagination and product structured data.
Complete SEO consulting should include the following:
A technical audit: Analysis of indexing, loading speed, crawl errors, URL structure, redirects, canonicals and structured data. To learn more, see our guide on how to run an SEO audit.
Keyword research: Identifying the searches your potential customers make, analysing search intent and finding ranking opportunities.
Content analysis: A review of the quality of your existing copy, detection of cannibalisation (pages competing with each other) and proposals for new content.
Competitor analysis: A study of the competitors ranking best, to identify what they are doing well and how to beat them.
A linking strategy: A review of internal linking and an analysis of your backlink profile to improve your domain’s authority.
A prioritised action plan: A document listing the recommendations by impact and urgency, so you know where to start.
The price of SEO consulting in Spain varies with the scope of the project and the professional’s experience. These are the usual ranges in 2026:
One-off SEO consulting: Between €600 and €2,500 for a complete analysis with a report of recommendations. The price depends on the size and complexity of the site.
SEO consulting by the hour: Between €75 and €150 an hour. Useful for resolving specific questions or ongoing advice.
Monthly SEO management: Between €600 and €3,000 a month, depending on the volume of work and how competitive the sector is. It includes consulting plus implementing the improvements.
Be wary of offers that are too cheap. SEO takes time, professional tools and specialist knowledge. A very low price usually means superficial or automated work that will not produce results.
Complete SEO consulting covers both, but it is worth understanding the difference:
Technical SEO consulting: This focuses on making sure Google can crawl and index your site properly. It includes analysis of loading speed, site architecture, server errors, redirects, canonicals, structured data and everything technical about rankings.
Content consulting: This focuses on what content to create, how to optimise what exists and which keywords to target. It includes keyword research, search intent analysis, proposals for new content and on-page optimisation.
Which do you need? It depends on your situation. If your site is new or has obvious technical problems (slowness, indexing errors), start with the technical side. If your site works fine technically but generates no traffic, you probably need to work on content.
The ideal is an initial diagnosis to determine which area needs most attention. In many cases, the two go hand in hand.
There are key moments when SEO consulting matters most:
Before building a new website: Planning the architecture and content strategy from the start avoids errors that are expensive to fix later.
Before a migration or redesign: Changing domain or CMS, or redesigning a site without SEO advice, can destroy the rankings you had. Consulting beforehand minimises the risk.
When traffic falls for no obvious reason: A sharp drop in traffic can be down to a penalty, an algorithm change or a technical problem. An expert can diagnose the cause.
When you cannot get ranking: If you have spent months creating content with no results, something is wrong. Consulting tells you what.
Periodically: Even if all is well, an annual review is worth doing to spot opportunities and get ahead of problems.
Not all SEO consultants are the same. Here are some criteria for choosing well:
Demonstrable experience: Ask for case studies or references from previous clients. A good consultant has no problem showing real results.
Up-to-date knowledge: SEO changes constantly. Ask about the latest Google updates and how they factor them into their work.
Transparency: Be wary of anyone promising guaranteed results or specific positions. SEO does not work that way. A serious professional explains what they can and cannot do.
Clear communication: The consultant should be able to explain technical concepts in a way you understand. If all you get is impenetrable jargon, that is a bad sign.
A defined methodology: Ask how they work, which tools they use and what deliverables you will receive. A structured process is a mark of professionalism.
Specialisation in your sector: It is not essential, but a consultant who knows your industry can add extra value.
Some situations need a professional’s immediate attention:
Your organic traffic has fallen by more than 30%: A significant drop can indicate a manual or algorithmic penalty that needs urgent diagnosis.
You do not appear in Google even searching for your company name: That indicates a serious indexing problem preventing Google showing your site.
Competitors have overtaken you in the SERPs: If competitors who were below you are now above, they have done something you have not. A competitor analysis will reveal what.
You have received a manual action notice in Search Console: Google has penalised you manually and you need professional help to resolve it.
Your site is very slow: Poor loading speed directly affects rankings and user experience. Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor.
You have gone more than 6 months without results: If you have invested time in SEO with no improvement, something in your strategy is wrong.
Before hiring, make sure you ask these questions:
What exactly does the consulting include? Ask for a detailed breakdown of the deliverables: which analyses are carried out, which reports you will receive, whether it includes recommendations only or implementation too.
How long will it take? Complete consulting can take between 1 and 4 weeks depending on the size of the site. Be wary of instant delivery.
Which tools do you use? A serious professional uses paid tools such as Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Semrush or similar. Free tools are not enough for a professional analysis.
How will we measure results? Define clear KPIs from the start: positions, organic traffic, conversions and so on.
What happens after the consulting? Ask whether they offer follow-up, implementation of the recommendations or training for your team.
Do you have experience in my sector? It is not compulsory, but knowing your industry can speed up the diagnosis.
Avoid these common mistakes:
Choosing on price alone: Cheap SEO usually turns out expensive. Superficial work will not produce results and you will have lost time and money.
Believing promises of guaranteed results: Nobody can guarantee first place in Google. Algorithms are unpredictable and your competitors are working too.
Not implementing the recommendations: Consulting is useless if you never apply the changes. Make sure you have the capacity to implement, or hire that service too.
Expecting immediate results: SEO is a medium to long-term strategy. Results usually start to show from 3-6 months. We explain more in how long it takes to rank a website.
Not giving access to the necessary tools: The consultant needs access to Search Console, Analytics and possibly your CMS to do the job properly.
Hiring without defining objectives: Without clear objectives it is impossible to measure success. Decide what you want to achieve before you start.
To know whether your investment in SEO consulting has paid off, measure these indicators:
Positions in Google: Monitor the positions of your target keywords. You should see progressive improvement once the recommendations are implemented.
Organic traffic: Use Google Analytics to see whether visits from search engines increase. This is the most direct indicator of SEO success.
Impressions and clicks in Search Console: More impressions means Google shows your site more often. More clicks means people are clicking your results.
Conversions: Ultimately the goal is business. Measure whether organic traffic turns into leads, sales or whatever objective you have set.
Technical problems resolved: If the consulting found errors, verify they have been fixed by checking Search Console and running follow-up audits.
ROI (return on investment): Compare what you have invested with what you have generated. SEO usually has one of the best returns in digital marketing.
Choosing between one-off consulting and an SEO agency depends on your situation:
Choose one-off SEO consulting if: You have an in-house team that can implement the changes, you only need an initial diagnosis to know where to start, or you want a second opinion on your current strategy.
Choose an SEO agency with monthly management if: You have no in-house team to implement changes, you want continuous results without worrying about execution, or you need content creation, link building and other recurring work.
The ideal combination for many companies is to start with consulting for a complete diagnosis and action plan, then decide whether to hire an agency for implementation or do it in house.
If you are in Barcelona or Catalonia, we are an SEO agency in Barcelona. We offer both: one-off consulting for companies that want to implement themselves, and full monthly management for those who prefer to delegate the whole process.
If you are looking for professional SEO consulting, JRC WEB has spent more than 20 years helping businesses improve their rankings in Google.
Our approach is built on real results: more customers, not just more traffic. We work mainly with companies in Barcelona and across Catalonia, though we also work with clients elsewhere in Spain.
Why choose us?
Proven experience with case studies across many sectors. A tested methodology combining rigorous technical analysis with content strategy. Clear, transparent communication throughout. A practical approach focused on implementation, not just theory.
If you want to know how we can help, get in touch and we will explain with no commitment what we can do for your project.
If, after reading this guide, you think a freelance consultant is not enough, an SEO agency may be the better option.
When to choose an agency
Your project is complex or has many URLs. You need several services: SEO + content + design + Ads. You want a team with different specialists. You want continuity even when people change. Your budget allows a serious investment.
What to look for in an SEO agency:
Demonstrable experience with case studies. An in-house team (not everything subcontracted). Transparency about methods and prices. Smooth, personal communication. No abusive minimum terms.
Be careful of:
Agencies promising the impossible. Suspiciously low prices. A lack of communication or no fixed contact. Contracts with long compulsory minimum terms.
A good agency combines the best of both worlds: the specialisation of a freelancer and the resources of a full team.
If you are looking to hire professional SEO services, JRC WEB can help. We are a SEO agency with more than 20 years of experience in digital marketing.
What we offer:
A complete initial audit of your site. A strategy tailored to your goals. Technical and content optimisation. Ethical link building strategies. Transparent monthly reporting. Direct communication with no intermediaries.
Why choose us:
Real experience with demonstrable results. We work mainly with companies in Barcelona and Catalonia. If you are in Barcelona, visit our local page for SEO agency in Barcelona. A close, personal approach. No abusive minimum terms. Prices suited to small businesses.
Next steps:
Get in touch for a free initial consultation. We will look at your situation and tell you honestly whether we can help and what results you can expect.
Every SEO consultancy project starts with an in-depth analysis of your website as it stands. If you want to understand the process step by step before hiring, we recommend reading how to run a complete SEO audit and the key points it should cover.
No. No serious professional can guarantee specific positions in Google. Algorithms are unpredictable and your competitors are working on their SEO too. What can be guaranteed is rigorous analysis, data-based recommendations and best practices that maximise your chances of success. Be wary of anyone promising first place.
It depends on the size and complexity of the site. Complete consulting for a small or medium site usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. For large sites or e-commerce with many pages it can stretch to 3-4 weeks. That covers the analysis, the report and the presentation of results.
It depends on your technical knowledge. Some recommendations are simple to implement (improving titles, adding content), but others require web development knowledge or server access. The consulting tells you what to do; you decide whether to implement it in house, delegate it to the consultant or hire someone else.
Generally, one-off SEO consulting covers the analysis and recommendations, but not implementation. If you need the changes applied too, you have to hire that separately or choose a monthly SEO management service covering both diagnosis and execution.
At least once a year, to catch new problems or opportunities. It is also worth doing before any major change to the site (a redesign, a migration, launching new sections) and after significant traffic drops. If you have monthly SEO management, continuous diagnosis is already included.
Yes. Professional SEO consulting analyses the technical, content and authority factors Google weighs for both organic rankings and AI Overviews. The report will include recommendations on schema markup, content structure and technical optimisation that improve your chances of appearing in AI-generated answers.
Hiring SEO consulting is a smart investment for any business that wants to improve its visibility in Google. The key is choosing a professional you can trust, having realistic expectations and committing to implementing the recommendations.
If you have doubts about the state of your site or want to know what you could improve, an initial consultation is the first step towards real results.
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