The verdict in three sentences
For a London company targeting francophone Africa in 2026, a French-speaking SEO agency typically charges an audit of EUR 1,200-4,000 then a retainer of EUR 800-2,500/month. First traffic and lead gains appear in 4 to 8 months, driven by bilingual content and technical work. The real edge is mastering the local SERP (Google Business, mobile-first, French/Wolof queries) rather than copying UK recipes.
What a French agency covers for the African market
Markets like Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire are 85 %+ mobile and competitive on queries like "agence immobiliere Dakar" or "grossiste alimentaire Senegal". A structured agency works four axes: technical, content, local link building and Google Business Profile.
| Service | What it covers | 2026 budget (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial SEO audit | Technical, keywords, competitors | 1,200 - 4,000 |
| Monthly retainer | Content + optimisation + tracking | 800 - 2,500 / month |
| Optimised article | 800-1,200 words, keyword research | 40 - 120 / article |
| Local link building | African media and directory links | 60 - 230 / link |
| Google Business Profile | Optimisation + reviews + posts | 75 - 180 / month |
For a firm targeting West Africa, a EUR 1,200-1,800/month budget covers a realistic growth programme: 3-4 bilingual articles, ongoing optimisation, GBP management and reporting.
Cost grid by objective
| Level | Goal | Monthly budget (EUR) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local start | GBP profile + 5 queries | 800 - 1,200 | 3 - 5 months |
| Growth | Regular content + links | 1,200 - 2,000 | 4 - 7 months |
| Sector leadership | Pan-WAEMU authority | 2,000 - 2,500+ | 6 - 10 months |
Content is the main engine: a quality optimised article (EUR 40-120) matching a buying intent pays off more than an isolated link. Expect 3-4 bilingual articles per month in the growth phase.
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Mini case study
Sophie, CMO of a London logistics-tech firm targeting Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire, received 5 contact requests per month from her francophone landing pages. She commits to a EUR 1,500/month retainer for 12 months, i.e. EUR 18,000. By month 6, the firm ranks page one on "solution logistique Dakar" and requests reach 14 per month. With a 25 % conversion rate and an average deal of EUR 3,000, the 9 extra requests produce roughly 2 deals/month, i.e. EUR 72,000 annualised. ROI clearly positive.
FAQ
How much does an SEO retainer for the African market cost? Between EUR 800 and 2,500/month via a French-speaking agency, depending on ambition. A firm generally targets EUR 1,200-1,800/month for a complete growth programme.
How long to see results in West Africa? Expect 4 to 8 months for significant movement. Low-competition local queries move in 3-4 months; real estate or commerce take 6-8 months.
Do we need Wolof content? Rarely for text SEO: searches are typed mostly in French. Wolof is valuable for video, social posts and the Google Business Profile.
Does link building work in West Africa? Yes, via credible local media and directories (EUR 60-230/link). The pool of quality sites is smaller than in Europe, so selectivity is crucial.
Can content be bilingual FR/EN? Yes, and it is recommended for firms serving both francophone Africa and international clients. Bilingual content widens reach but roughly doubles the writing budget per topic.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your sector, target queries and indicative monthly budget (EUR 800-2,500): we'll cost an SEO plan tuned to the West African SERP. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
