In a city as fast-moving as Bangkok, many businesses are turning to SEO—or Search Engine Optimisation—to help customers find them on Google.
But once the SEO campaign starts, a big question comes up:
Is it actually working?
Am I getting results for the money I’m spending?
To answer this, you need to measure something called ROI—Return on Investment. And the good news is, it’s easier than you think.
This article explains, in simple language, how Thai businesses can measure the success of their SEO campaigns and see if their online growth is worth the cost.
What Is SEO and Why Do Bangkok Businesses Use It?
SEO helps your website show up higher on Google. When someone searches “best café in Ari” or “Thai massage near Asoke,” you want your business to appear at the top of the page.
Many businesses in Bangkok—from beauty clinics and cafés to hotels and fitness gyms—are now using SEO to attract more customers online. It’s a long-term strategy that, when done well, can bring in leads, phone calls, bookings, and sales.
But because SEO results take time, business owners often ask:
“How can I see the results? How do I know I’m getting a return?”
What Does ROI Mean?
ROI stands for Return on Investment. It tells you if the money you’re putting into something is giving you more money back.
The basic idea is simple:
ROI = (Money You Make – Money You Spend) ÷ Money You Spend
Example:
You spend ฿20,000 on SEO. From this, you earn ฿60,000 in new customer sales.
(60,000 – 20,000) ÷ 20,000 = 2
Your ROI is 2, or 200%
That means for every ฿1 you spent, you made ฿2 in profit.
Why Is It Important to Measure ROI?
Many Bangkok business owners pay agencies or freelancers to improve their SEO. But if you don’t measure results, you won’t know if it’s helping.
Measuring ROI helps you:
- Know if your money is being used well
- Decide whether to keep or stop the SEO work
- Understand which customers came from Google
- Plan better for your future marketing
How to Measure ROI from SEO: Step-by-Step
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to follow some easy steps.
Step 1: Know What You Want
First, you must decide what success looks like for you.
Is it:
- More people visiting your website?
- More calls or messages?
- More bookings or online orders?
- More people walking into your shop?
Example:
You own a beauty clinic in Thonglor. Your goal: 30 new bookings each month from your website.
Step 2: Track the Cost of Your SEO
Add up how much you’re spending on SEO every month. This includes:
- Monthly fees to your SEO agency or freelancer
- Content writing (blogs, articles)
- Technical website updates
Example:
You spend ฿25,000/month total.
Step 3: Watch Your Website Traffic
Use Google Analytics (a free tool) to check how many people are visiting your website—especially from Google searches.
Look for something called “organic traffic.” That means visitors who found you by searching on Google—not from ads.
If more people are finding you each month, your SEO is working.
Step 4: Track What People Do on Your Website
Now, don’t just count visits. You want to know how many people take action:
- Fill out a contact form
- Call your number
- Book a service
- Buy something
These are called conversions—and they are the most important part.
Step 5: Count the Money You Make from SEO
Try to match your website conversions to actual sales.
Example:
- 40 people booked a service from your website this month
- Each booking = ฿1,500
- 40 x 1,500 = ฿60,000 in revenue from SEO
Step 6: Do the ROI Math
Now use the formula:
ROI = (Money Made – Money Spent) ÷ Money Spent
From the above example:
(60,000 – 25,000) ÷ 25,000 = 1.4 or 140%
That means your SEO is working. You’re getting ฿1.40 back for every ฿1 you spend.
Simple Tools to Help You
Here are a few free tools you or your team can use:
- Google Analytics – Tracks website traffic and conversions
- Google Search Console – Shows which words people search to find you
- Google Business Profile – Helps with local searches and Maps
- Looker Studio – For simple, visual reports
These tools may sound technical, but they are easy to learn with help from your SEO team or agency.
A Real Bangkok Example
Business: A Japanese restaurant in Silom
Goal: Get more dinner reservations
SEO cost: ฿15,000/month
Result: 50 new table bookings a month
Average spend per table: ฿2,000
50 x 2,000 = ฿100,000 in monthly revenue
ROI = (100,000 – 15,000) ÷ 15,000 = 5.6 or 560%
That’s a great return.
The restaurant owner said they never expected SEO to bring so many direct bookings—most came from foreigners searching “best sushi near Chong Nonsi.”
Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best businesses make some mistakes. Avoid these:
Not Tracking Anything
If you don’t track phone calls, forms, or bookings, you won’t know what works.
Giving Up Too Soon
SEO is slow but steady. It can take 3–6 months to see big results.
Only Counting Website Visitors
Visits are good—but real value comes from action: calls, messages, bookings, sales.
Bangkok Is a Unique Market
Bangkok is home to both locals and foreigners. This means you need SEO that speaks both Thai and English.
Localised SEO can help you reach:
- Thai-speaking customers using Thai keywords
- Expats and tourists searching in English
Working with a team that understands this, such as those behind SEO campaigns in Thailand with IBEX, can help your business succeed in both Thai and international markets.
Final Thoughts
SEO is not magic. It’s a smart, long-term strategy to grow your business online.
If you are spending money on SEO, you deserve to know what you’re getting in return. By setting goals, tracking results, and doing a little simple math, you can clearly see if SEO is giving you value.
In a busy city like Bangkok—where everyone is online—SEO can be your secret weapon. Just make sure it’s working for you.
