SEO Copywriter Rates & Pricing

Standard long-form articles (1,500–2,500 words): $200–$600 for most competent generalists, $400–$1,000+ for B2B specialists with verifiable ranked content. Deep-research pieces, comparison pages, and pillar content tend to run higher given the additional research involved.

Comparison and alternatives pages: $400–$1,200+. These require understanding the competitive landscape in depth—how the products actually differ, what objections buyers have, and how to position one option clearly without making the piece read like a press release. The research load is higher and the strategic stakes are higher.

Landing pages targeting specific search queries: $300–$900+. The copy has to serve two masters simultaneously—search intent and conversion. Pages that do both well are harder to produce than standard articles and priced accordingly.

Content refreshes: typically 40–60% of new-content rates, though this varies based on how much of the original structure stays intact and how substantial the additions need to be.

The factors that justify higher rates are almost always verifiable. A writer who can show you five articles ranking in the top three for competitive keywords in your category has demonstrated something real. That track record is worth paying for. Paying less for someone whose content never ranks is more expensive in total.

Technical specialization also carries a premium. B2B SaaS SEO copywriting requires understanding how software buyers evaluate products: the specific searches they run at each stage, the content types that serve them, and how to write comparison content that positions a product credibly. That knowledge takes time to build.

Original research capacity also justifies premium rates. A piece based on your own customer data, original survey findings, or a genuinely new framework can’t be replicated by a competitor the next week. That defensibility compounds over time in ways that aggregated-information articles don’t.

Per-piece arrangements work well when your content needs are irregular, when you’re evaluating a new writer, or when you need a specific type of content that doesn’t require ongoing strategic input. You pay for what you get and can adjust the volume up or down without a commitment.

Monthly retainers make more sense when you have consistent output needs and want the writer embedded in your content strategy. A writer who has been in your program for several months understands your audience, your product, and your competitive landscape in ways that a fresh engagement can't replicate.

Typical retainer ranges for B2B SEO copywriters: $2,000–$5,000 per month for two to four long-form pieces with keyword research and brief creation included; higher for specialists who are providing strategic direction alongside execution.

Content mills and platforms offering articles at $50–$150 typically produce content that reads acceptably but lacks the strategic layer. The pieces are usually structured around a keyword brief without genuine SERP analysis, and the writers are producing content too quickly to do the competitive research that produces differentiated pieces.

The risk is rarely that the writing is bad. The risk is that you pay for pieces that never rank, which means the cost-per-outcome is higher than it looked. A $600 piece that ranks and drives ten qualified leads for a year is cheaper than twelve $150 pieces that collectively drive nothing.

AI-generated content at scale has similar limitations. It’s fast and cheap, but it lacks the strategic judgment about search intent and competitive positioning that produces ranking content. For commercial content where ranking matters, AI-assisted drafting without significant editorial oversight usually doesn’t deliver.