If you're a Brisbane business owner watching competitors show up on Google while you're nowhere to be found, you're probably wondering if SEO is actually worth the investment.
Here's the thing: over 90% of online experiences start with a search engine.
When someone in Brisbane searches for what you sell, either you show up or your competitor does. If you're not ranking, you're losing actual revenue every single day.
A quality SEO agency can help you get there!
But before we go there, here's that the numbers say.
What the Numbers Show
We have helped many companies grow using SEO. We have also helped companies from nearby regions like the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast tap into this ever-growing market.
Here are some economic stats that prove how valuable SEO is and will continue to be in future.
Brisbane remains the most populated city in Queensland and is projected to increase to 1.76 million people by 2046 (Queensland Government population projections, 2023 edition: LGAs and SA2s). Any business that invests in SEO now will reap the benefits of this growing city long into the future.
The "State of the City Report" developed by the Brisbane Economic Development Agency forecasted:
- A 34% Real GRP growth forecast (2021-2031)
- $275B Forecast size of the economy by 2041
- 1.18 million jobs projected by 2046 (Brisbane Economic Profile, published by Brisbane City Council)
With Brisbane's market predicted to grow, investing in SEO today will create incredible ROI as rankings will continue to provide more value in a growing economy.
What It Costs vs What It Returns
If you're getting 50 clicks per day from Google Ads at $8 per click, that's $12,000 per month just to stay visible. With SEO, once you rank, those 50 daily clicks cost you nothing. Over 12 months, that's $144,000 saved.
SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate. Outbound marketing sits at 1.7%. People trust organic results more than paid ads.
And here's what most people miss: SEO and ads shouldn't compete. Your ads should target high-intent commercial keywords. Your SEO should target the content and questions people search before they're ready to buy. Now your brand shows up twice, and you're warming up leads before they even click your ad.
That's how you get the most out of both channels.
How Long Until You See Results?
It takes 3-6 months to see solid results. But there are quick wins in the first 30 days.
Fixing your title tags, removing technical blockages, and getting your content dialled in can shift rankings fast. You've got to prove your worth in the first 30 days.
Ideally, you want to show you can impact rankings positively and get an outcome that makes money within that first month.
Is Paying an Agency to Do SEO Worth It?
Yes, it is worth hiring an SEO for your website, especially someone with experience with campaigns in Brisbane like us.
Having achieved more than 5,000 first-page rankings for our clients, we know a well-strategised SEO campaign generates more leads, calls, and sales than any other digital marketing strategy. The key to success is finding a company with experience and the ability to offer the SEO services you need.
A good SEO consultant asks questions like, what are you doing with your Google Ads? What's your social media strategy? Because if everything is going in different directions, you're wasting money.
If your social media team is doing something completely different to your SEO, and your ads are doing their own thing, you're paying money in three different directions. Your SEO should support your ads. Your content should align with what your social media is sharing. That's when you get real momentum.
What Most Brisbane Businesses Miss
Most businesses don't track the full picture.
Rankings is one signal. Traffic is another signal. Conversions are another signal. One may be trending up, but you're not there yet for it to impact traffic and sales. Doesn't mean you're not on the right track.
If you're not tracking all three, you're not understanding whether your SEO is working properly or not.
So, Is It Worth It?
Yes, SEO is worth it for Brisbane businesses.
Brisbane's population is growing. The economy is expanding. The businesses that invest in SEO now will compound those gains as the market grows.
But it takes 3-6 months to see real results. It requires working with someone who knows what they're doing. And it works best when it's integrated with your other marketing channels.
If you're still relying purely on Google Ads, you're paying for every customer forever. SEO is the asset you build once and benefit from for years.
Ready to see if SEO will work for your Brisbane business?
Book a free SEO consultation or get a free SEO audit to see where you stand.