The formula
If organic search brings Rs 600,000 in a period and the SEO cost Rs 200,000, the ROI is 200%.
A worked example
A Lahore clinic, figures for illustration only:
| Step | Figure |
|---|---|
| Organic visits per month | 2,000 |
| Visitors who enquire (3%) | 60 |
| Enquiries that become patients (25%) | 15 |
| Average value per patient | Rs 20,000 |
| Monthly revenue from organic search | Rs 300,000 |
| Monthly SEO cost | Rs 80,000 |
| ROI | 275% |
Put your own figures into the SEO ROI calculator.
What to count as revenue
- Online stores: organic revenue from Google Analytics 4.
- Lead businesses: organic leads × close rate × average sale value.
- Include calls and WhatsApp enquiries, which are often most of the leads in Pakistan.
- Consider lifetime value if customers return.
What to count as cost
- Agency or freelancer fees
- Staff time
- Content, tools and developer work
Why ROI starts negative
In the first months you pay for work that has not yet ranked. ROI is usually negative until somewhere between month four and month nine, then climbs, because the cost stays level while traffic grows. Judge SEO over twelve months, not three. See how long SEO takes .
Common mistakes
- Counting all traffic growth as SEO, including people who searched your brand name because of an advert
- Ignoring phone and WhatsApp leads
- Measuring rankings and not revenue
- Stopping at month three
Frequently asked questions
What is a good ROI for SEO?
It varies widely by industry and margin. What matters is that it beats your other channels over a year.
How do I track leads from SEO?
Set up conversions in GA4 for forms, call clicks and WhatsApp clicks, and ask every new customer how they found you.
Related guides
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