One of the most common questions we hear is:

“How much does digital marketing cost per month – and what do you really get for it?”

When you google “digital marketing cost” or “marketing agency cost”, you often get either very vague explanations or price tags without context. In this article, we honestly reveal:

• what the cost of digital marketing consists of

• what kind of example budgets different companies typically use

• when a marketing agency is a sensible choice compared to hiring your own staff

The article is specifically aimed at SMEs, e-commerce businesses and B2B service companies that are considering systematic development of digital marketing – often just when entering “marketing agency Helsinki” or “digital marketing Helsinki” into the search bar and starting to compare options.

What does the cost of digital marketing consist of?

The cost of digital marketing practically consists of two baskets:

1. Service fees
   – strategy, planning, content production, advertising management, reporting

2. Media budget
   – the money used for advertising channels (Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube…)

In addition to these, there may be:

• workshops and coaching

• development of websites and landing pages

• video production and other separate productions

It is important to understand that the service fee is what is used for planning, testing and optimizing. The media budget, on the other hand, is the “fuel” that gets the message in front of the audience.

Example budgets: how much does digital marketing cost in different companies?

The following examples are not fixed price lists, but indicative levels of what SMEs typically invest when they want results.

1. Small local SME (early stage, 1–3 channels)

Typical total budget: €1,500–€3,000 / month
(e.g. €1,000–€2,000 services + €500–€1,000 media budgets)

Goals:

• first systematic campaigns

• visibility in the right channels (e.g. Meta + Google keywords)

• growth in contacts and website visits

At this stage, digital marketing is often built on basic pillars:

• social media content and organic presence

• basic advertising (leads, website visitors)

• simple but measurable reporting

2. Growing e-commerce or B2C brand

Typical total budget: €3,000–€10,000 / month
(e.g. €2,000–€4,000 services + €1,000–€6,000 media budgets)

Goals:

• growth in e-commerce revenue

• continuous advertising optimization (PMax, dynamic campaigns, remarketing)

• testing new channels (TikTok, YouTube)

At this stage, the marketing agency often has a role as an “external growth team” that helps scale advertising profitably.

3. B2B service company with a sales team and longer buying cycle

Typical total budget: €3,000–€8,000 / month
(e.g. €2,000–€4,000 services + €1,000–€4,000 media budgets)

Goals:

• quality and quantity of leads (contact requests, meetings)

• brand visibility in the right decision-making audiences (LinkedIn, Google)

• a clear lead path: ad → content → meeting

In such a model, a digital marketing agency often builds a comprehensive package together with sales, where advertising, content and the sales process support each other.

Marketing agency pricing – what does the service fee typically include?

Marketing agency cost can sound difficult to compare if different operators price differently. Typically, the monthly fee includes at least:

• strategy work and planning
  – yearly direction and quarterly emphases

• content production and publications
  – social media texts, imagery, possible short videos

• advertising management
  – building campaigns, targeting, optimization, testing

• reporting and meetings
  – monthly meetings to review results and next actions

Additionally, there may be:

• workshops (e.g. strategy day, customer journey workshop)

• video productions

• website updates (new landings, content updates)

The most important thing is that pricing clearly outlines what you get:

“X € / month → these channels, this amount of content, these reports, this team.”

How much media budget is needed for digital marketing to yield results?

A typical mistake is that the service fee is reasonable, but the media budget is too small. In this case, even good campaigns remain in the testing phase only.

Guidelines:

• if you are only doing light retargeting advertising, €500–€1,000/month may suffice

• if you want to acquire new customers from multiple channels, €1,500–€3,000/month becomes a more realistic level

• in e-commerce, as the revenue target grows, often 10–20% of the revenue is spent on advertising

The essential thing is to calculate:

• what is the value of one lead or customer (CLV)

• what is the realistic cost of acquiring one lead or customer

• at what point does the equation start to be profitable

A good digital marketing agency helps calculate this with you, so that the budget is not guesswork.

Marketing agency vs. own marketer – which is more cost-effective?

When talking about price, many compare:

“Should we take an external marketing agency or hire our own marketer?”

Own marketer (salary + costs)

• gross salary (e.g. €3,000–€4,500/month)

• side costs, tools, training

• often strong expertise in some area (e.g. social media), but limited time for multi-channel work

Outsourced marketing agency

• clear monthly fee (e.g. €2,000–€6,000/month depending on scope)

• responsible for the whole team (strategy + social media + advertising + design + video)

• easy to scale: if the need grows, the investment can be increased; if the need decreases, the agreement can be lightened

For many companies, an outsourced digital marketing team in Helsinki is cost-wise in the same category as one in-house marketer – but the expertise and capacity are many times more.

How can you tell if the cost of a digital marketing agency is reasonable for you?

Just because the price is “cheap” doesn’t mean it’s good. The price is reasonable if:

1. you know what you are getting
   – which channels are managed, what content is created, how often you meet

2. you see a direct link to goals
   – how the monthly fee + media budget support sales and growth

3. results are measured transparently
   – you have access to the numbers, not just a glossy pdf report

4. the contract is flexible
   – if the cooperation does not produce, you can exit without unreasonable costs

When these four points are met, the marketing agency cost starts to feel like an investment, not an expense.

How does VSCY price digital marketing?

VSCY operates as a marketing agency in Helsinki, Kalasatama. The starting point for pricing is not an hourly rate, but packages that support sales.

A typical VSCY package includes:

• social media strategy and content production

• paid advertising (Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok)

• reporting and coaching

• the possibility to include video production and website development

The budget is built based on goals and the starting point, not predetermined packages. The most important thing is that:

• you understand what you are paying for

• we stand behind the fact that the work aims for sales and growth

Summary: how much does digital marketing cost – and what next?

Short answer:

• at its smallest, digital marketing can be €1,500–€3,000/month (services + media)

• in growing e-commerce and B2B companies, it is typically €3,000–€10,000/month

• more important than the euro amount is what is achieved with the money and how results are measured

If you are considering a marketing agency in Helsinki and wondering what level is sensible for you, a good next step is to review the situation together.