How much does it cost to hire a digital marketing agency?

That’s probably one of the first questions you’ll ask when you’re thinking about getting support for your business online.

The short answer? It depends. The long answer? Let’s break it down.

At Net Branding, we’ve been helping businesses across Auckland, New Zealand and globally, for years. From Asia to the USA, from local tradies to export brands or B2B business. And what we’ve found is, pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Here are the main factors:

• What you want done
  A one-off SEO audit? Monthly GEO content updates? A full social media campaign? Different jobs need different time, tools and people.
• The size of your business
  A small local shop won’t have the same digital needs as a multi-location service provider.
• How competitive your industry is
  Trying to rank for “Auckland electrician”? That’s hard work. Takes more time and regular updates. A niche B2B business? Still competitive but differently.
• How fast you want results
  Need leads in two weeks? That means paid ads, landing pages, remarketing. A slower organic SEO approach takes time but costs less per month.
• The experience of your agency
  Net Branding’s been doing this a long time. We’ve seen fads come and go. You’re not paying for someone to guess, you’re paying for proven strategies.

Keep in mind, these are ranges and they change based on the detail of the job.

• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
  Monthly packages from approx. $1,500 per month with ranges dependent on many variables.  With an average cost of search engine optimisation in New Zealand is $1,000 to $3,000 per month.
  This Includes in part, keyword tracking, content, backlinks, tech audits, and more.
  The bigger and more competitive your niche, the more these costs.
• GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation)
  From $950 per month when managed in conjunction with an SEO Package. And certainly is dependent on areas of focus and geographical location or locations.
  Content tailored for visibility in AI-powered results and search summaries.
• Google Ads
  In New Zealand, the average monthly cost for Google Ads can range from NZD 500 to NZD 10,000 or more.  This is dependant of area, niche, geographical focus and more.
  A good agency will also help set realistic ad budgets.
• Social Media Management
  In New Zealand, the average cost for social media service per month typically ranges from $500 to $5,000, but this can vary widely depending on the specific services needed, the size of the business, and the experience level of the provider. This includes posts, and reporting.  It excludes any photography.
• Content Creation
  Blog writing: $200–$500 + /post.
  Video content: depends heavily on quality and length and may require a videographer to support this.
  Remember, content isn’t just “filler, it’s how people find and trust you.
• Website Design and Development

The average cost of a website in New Zealand can range from a  $900 for a basic one-page site to tens of thousands for a complex e-commerce or custom-built site. Generally, small business websites in New Zealand can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $4,000, while more complex websites with e-commerce functionality or custom features can cost $5,000 to $50,000+.

Ongoing maintenance usually billed monthly or as-needed

• Website Maintenance per month

You could. And sometimes that works, for simple tasks.

But here’s the thing: digital marketing is not set-and-forget. It’s not like jelly in the fridge. It moves fast.

• Algorithms change
• Competitors start copying what works
• Platforms add new features
• And users shift how they search

An agency like Net Branding isn’t just doing “tasks”, we’re tracking trends, updating strategies, and keeping your online presence fresh.

Plus, you don’t have to manage five freelancers. You get one team that works together, under one roof.

You also get…

• Access to our tools (and yes, they cost us money each month)
• Managers who know your business
• Reports that make sense, not just spreadsheets with numbers
• Proven results (our Google Reviews say a lot)

And if you’re not sure what you need? We tell you. We’ve talked some clients out of spending money when we knew it wouldn’t give them results.

They ask three questions:

1. What do I need right now to move the needle?
2. What’s my monthly marketing budget?
3. Who do I trust to spend it wisely?

If that sounds like you, we’re ready to talk.

We’ve helped hundreds of businesses, just like yours, be seen, be heard and be found online.

A: Absolutely, you can start with SEO. Many of our clients begin there, then scale once they see results. We always match services to your needs. Definatelyy not the other way around.

A: Our SEO includes content, keyword tracking, on-page updates, backlinks, reporting and more. We adapt based on what works for your industry and goals and your current budget.