I have researched and gathered the most important SEO ROI statistics to help you understand the effectiveness of search engine optimization.
I will discuss facts about different types of SEO services and their varying ROI levels, enabling you to strategize effectively.
So, without any further ado, let us get right into it!
Top Picks: SEO ROI Statistics
- Organic search dominance drives website traffic by 53.3% on average across industries.
For B2B companies, organic search is even more effective, generating twice as much revenue compared to any other marketing channel, underscoring its high return on investment (ROI)
Industry-specific breakdowns showing the percentage of traffic and revenue attributed to organic search in various sectors.
Factors contributing to the growth of organic search include technological advancements and shifts in consumer behavior.
(Source- Brightedge)
- On average, businesses generate $2 in revenue for every $1 spent on Google Ads, demonstrating the strong return on investment paid search advertising can provide. (Google Economic Impact)
- Businesses can expect an average return of 200% to 500% on their SEO investments. (Source- Profitworks)
- A high-quality SEO campaign delivers an average ROI of 748%. This means that every business earns $7.48 for every dollar spent.
(Source- Sagapixel)
- SEO campaigns yield positive ROI in 6-12 months, with peak results in the second or third year. (Source- Firstpage sage)
- On average, SEO generates $2.75 in additional profit for every dollar spent, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies for long-term growth. (Source- Profitworks)
Industry-Specific SEO ROI
- The Real Estate industry boasts an astounding ROI of 1,389%, meaning every dollar invested can yield $13.89 in returns. This demonstrates the immense profit potential of effective marketing strategies.
Now let us have a look at other industries ranked based on their SEO ROI:
| Industry | Return On Advertising Spend (ROAS) | ROI | Time to Break-Even |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | 15.1 | 1389% | 10 months |
| Medical Device | 12.85 | 1183% | 13 months |
| PCB Design & Manufacturing | 12.4 | 1101% | 11 months |
| Financial Services | 11.1 | 1031% | 9 months |
| Higher Education & College | 10.4 | 994% | 13 months |
| Oil & Gas | 10.55 | 906% | 10 months |
| Industrial IoT | 9.85 | 866% | 7 months |
| Pharmaceutical | 9.85 | 826% | 9 months |
| Manufacturing | 9.5 | 813% | 9 months |
| Biotech | 9.2 | 788% | 8 months |
| Solar Energy | 9.2 | 770% | 9 months |
| Commercial Insurance | 9.05 | 758% | 9 months |
| Addiction Treatment | 8.9 | 736% | 8 months |
| HVAC Services | 8.15 | 678% | 6 months |
| B2B SaaS | 8.75 | 702% | 7 months |
| Construction | 7.4 | 681% | 5 months |
| IT Staffing | 7 | 612% | 10 months |
| Legal Services | 6.15 | 526% | 14 months |
| eCommerce | 3.65 | 317% | 16 months |
(Source- Firstpage)
SEO Service-Type ROI
- The average ROI of an eCommerce service type is around $2.75 for every $1 invested in SEO. Which translates to a 275% return on investment. (WebFX)
- 85% of online purchases begin with a search, highlighting the critical role of search engines in driving e-commerce. (Source- Diva Portal)
- Blogs appeared 511 times in the top 3 search results and 1,014 times in the top 5, making them essential for high visibility.
Ranking higher can lead to higher ROI. Here is a breakdown of the most common page types found in the top 10 in search results that will help you rank and earn better:
| No. | Page Type | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blog | 19% |
| 2 | General Pages/Product | 16% |
| 3 | Top Level Pages | 14% |
| 4 | Internal Search Results | 14% |
| 5 | Articles | 12% |
| 6 | Wiki | 9% |
| 7 | Video | 7% |
| 8 | Local | 5% |
| 9 | Reviews | 4% |
(Source- Bright Edge)
Learn how Semrush calculates traffic here.
SEO ROI Statistics
- 38.6% of respondents in a survey expressed a modest increase in ROI, suggesting that while their SEO investments have paid off, the results may not be as substantial as those who saw a “lot” of increase.
Here are the results of that study:
| ROI Category | SEO ROI |
|---|---|
| Increased a lot | 20.10% |
| Increased a little | 38.60% |
| Stayed the same | 21.30% |
| Decreased a little | 16.40% |
| Decreased a lot | 3.70% |
- Google commands 81.95% of all search traffic therefore, optimizing for this search engine is crucial for a good ROI. (Source- Statista)
- The #1 position in Google’s search results gets an average click-through rate (CTR) of 27.6%. The top 3 positions together capture over 54.4% of all clicks. Ranking within the top 3 is essential for maximizing SEO ROI. (Source- Backlinko)
Looking for an SEO tool that fits all your needs? Read my detailed comparison of the best SEO tools Semrush vs Ahrefs.
SEO vs. PPC Statistics
- SEO campaigns can generate a high return on investment (ROI), with studies showing that SEO efforts influence more than 50% of Google search results.
- Some companies, like the mattress business Otty, report an SEO ROI of 6:1, meaning for every $1 invested in SEO, they generate $6 in returns.
- The ROI for both SEO and PPC varies by industry. For instance, in 2005, the finance and mortgage industry had a cost-per-click (CPC) of $3.17, while retail had a much lower CPC of $0.32.
- Research shows that combining SEO (for long-term growth) and PPC (for immediate results) is the best approach for maximizing both short and long-term profits.
(Source- Diva Portal)
