Just got approval to invest in AI search optimization. Now I need to figure out what to actually spend.
Our situation:
What I’m trying to understand:
Initial quotes I’ve received:
The range is huge and I can’t tell if one is too cheap or another is overpriced.
Share your real costs and what you’re getting for them!
I run a GEO agency. Let me break down what you’re actually paying for.
The cost components:
| Category | Description | Monthly Range |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring tools | AI citation tracking, analytics | $300-800 |
| Research & strategy | Topic analysis, competitive intel | $1,500-4,000 |
| Content production | Writing, editing, research | $3,000-12,000 |
| Technical optimization | Schema, site structure | $500-2,000 |
| Ongoing optimization | Testing, updates, refinement | $1,000-3,000 |
Why agency prices vary:
What to ask each:
My recommendation:
For B2B mid-market, budget $8,000-12,000/month for a serious program. Less than that, you’re doing partial work.
In-house perspective on costs:
Our in-house program costs:
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Am I Cited (monitoring) | $299 |
| SEO tools (Ahrefs) | $179 |
| Content production (4 pieces) | $4,800 |
| My time (40% FTE) | ~$5,000 |
| Occasional consultant | $800 |
| Total | ~$11,000 |
What we get:
In-house vs agency trade-off:
In-house:
Agency:
My recommendation:
If you have someone who can own this, start in-house. If not, agency for first 6-12 months, then bring in-house.
Let’s talk about content costs specifically:
Content pricing tiers:
| Quality Level | Price Per Piece | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Low | $100-300 | Generic, AI-assisted, minimal research |
| Medium | $400-800 | Original angle, decent research |
| High | $1,000-2,000 | Expert-level, original research, data |
| Premium | $2,500-5,000 | Original studies, surveys, expert interviews |
For AI citation success, you need Medium-High quality.
Why cheap content fails for AI:
AI systems detect and ignore generic content. If your content doesn’t add unique value, AI won’t cite it.
Our content investment:
Total content budget: $5,000-8,000/month
The math:
If each piece has a 25% chance of getting AI citations, you need volume. But quality determines that 25%.
Don’t skimp on content. It’s the core of the investment.
The essential tool stack and costs:
Must-have tools:
| Tool | Purpose | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Am I Cited | AI citation monitoring | $199-599 |
| Ahrefs or SEMrush | SEO + backlink analysis | $99-399 |
| Google Analytics | Traffic analysis | Free |
| GSC | Search performance | Free |
Nice-to-have tools:
| Tool | Purpose | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Clearscope/Surfer | Content optimization | $100-400 |
| Screaming Frog | Technical SEO | $200 (annual) |
| Hotjar | User behavior | $99-389 |
Minimum viable stack: ~$400/month Comprehensive stack: ~$1,200/month
Why Am I Cited is essential:
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Traditional SEO tools don’t track AI citations. This is the core tool for AI visibility.
Tool ROI:
Our tool spend ($800/month) has helped us identify opportunities worth $15,000+/month in equivalent traffic value.
Startup/small business reality check:
Our budget (lean approach):
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Am I Cited basic | $199 |
| Ahrefs Lite | $99 |
| Content (2 pieces) | $1,600 |
| Founder time | ~$2,000 |
| Total | ~$4,000 |
What we sacrifice:
What we don’t sacrifice:
Results:
Started 8 months ago. AI citation rate now 23% for our niche topics.
The lean approach works IF:
Recommendation for startups:
Start at $3,000-5,000/month. Scale up as you see results.
Enterprise perspective on costs:
Our GEO program budget:
| Category | Annual Budget |
|---|---|
| Content production | $180,000 |
| Tools and platforms | $36,000 |
| Agency support | $120,000 |
| Internal team allocation | $150,000 |
| Research/surveys | $50,000 |
| Total | ~$536,000/year |
That’s ~$45,000/month for comprehensive program.
What we’re doing:
Why this scale:
Enterprise vs mid-market:
You don’t need our budget. Scale to your revenue potential.
Rule of thumb:
If a qualified lead is worth $10,000+, investing $10,000+/month in AI visibility makes sense.
Match investment to revenue potential.
Let’s talk realistic ROI timelines:
What to expect:
| Month | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | Setup, baseline, initial content |
| 3-6 | First AI citations appearing |
| 6-9 | Consistent visibility growth |
| 9-12 | Measurable business impact |
| 12+ | Compounding returns |
The patient reality:
AI visibility takes longer than paid ads to show ROI. You’re building an asset, not buying clicks.
Leading indicators (track these early):
Lagging indicators (6-12 months):
The budget implication:
Plan for 6-12 month investment before clear ROI. If you can’t commit to that timeline, wait until you can.
Incredibly helpful discussion. Here’s my budget framework:
For our mid-market B2B situation, I’m planning:
Monthly Budget: $10,000-12,000
| Category | Budget | % |
|---|---|---|
| Content production (4 pieces) | $5,000 | 45% |
| Monitoring tools | $500 | 5% |
| Agency/consultant (strategy) | $3,500 | 30% |
| Technical optimization | $1,000 | 9% |
| Research/quarterly study | $1,000 | 9% |
Why this range:
Timeline expectations:
What I’m choosing:
The range from quotes:
Thanks everyone - this gave me the framework to make a smart decision!
Get personalized help from our team. We'll respond within 24 hours.
Monitor and improve your AI search visibility with Am I Cited. Affordable plans for businesses of all sizes.
Community discussion on budget allocation between SEO and GEO. Real numbers and frameworks from marketing leaders balancing traditional search and AI optimizati...
Community discussion on whether traditional SEO remains valuable in the AI search era. Real ROI data and experiences from marketers balancing SEO and AI optimiz...
Community discussion on GEO budget allocation. Real numbers and strategies for investing in generative engine optimization.
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze our traffic. See our privacy policy.
