Content ROI Calculator
12-month forecast • Zero-churn approximation
Summary Metrics
Base ScenarioBreak-even Month
Month 3
12-Month ROI
1223%
12-Mo Recognized Revenue
$2,382,020
12-Mo Investment
$180,000
M12 Sessions/mo
48,107
Year-1 Sessions
254,788
Year-1 Signups
5,671
Year-1 New Customers
681
12-Mo Cash Collected
$2,382,020
Realistic Growth Modeling
12-Month Forecast
| Month | Base Sessions | SEO Sessions | Brand Sessions | Total Sessions | Signups (Classic) | Signups (AI) | Signups (Brand) | Total Signups | New Customers | MRR Added | Recognized Rev | Cum. Recognized | Cum. Investment | Cash This Month | Cum. Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,800 | 495 | 99 | 2,402 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 1.7 | $502 | $6,019 | $6,019 | $15,000 | $6,019 | $6,019 |
| 2 | 1,800 | 1,513 | 303 | 3,661 | 28 | 0 | 16 | 44 | 5.3 | $1,555 | $18,664 | $24,682 | $30,000 | $18,664 | $24,682 |
| 3✓ Breakeven | 1,800 | 3,081 | 616 | 5,636 | 57 | 1 | 34 | 92 | 11.0 | $3,214 | $38,565 | $63,247 | $45,000 | $38,565 | $63,247 |
| 4 | 1,800 | 5,226 | 1,045 | 8,385 | 97 | 3 | 58 | 158 | 19.0 | $5,531 | $66,374 | $129,621 | $60,000 | $66,374 | $129,621 |
| 5 | 1,800 | 7,976 | 1,595 | 11,969 | 149 | 6 | 89 | 245 | 29.4 | $8,564 | $102,768 | $232,389 | $75,000 | $102,768 | $232,389 |
| 6 | 1,800 | 11,357 | 2,271 | 16,450 | 214 | 11 | 128 | 353 | 42.4 | $12,370 | $148,444 | $380,833 | $90,000 | $148,444 | $380,833 |
| 7 | 1,800 | 14,875 | 2,975 | 21,211 | 283 | 17 | 170 | 470 | 56.3 | $16,433 | $197,195 | $578,028 | $105,000 | $197,195 | $578,028 |
| 8 | 1,800 | 18,502 | 3,700 | 26,222 | 354 | 24 | 214 | 592 | 71.1 | $20,728 | $248,739 | $826,767 | $120,000 | $248,739 | $826,767 |
| 9 | 1,800 | 22,211 | 4,442 | 31,451 | 428 | 33 | 259 | 721 | 86.5 | $25,231 | $302,774 | $1,129,541 | $135,000 | $302,774 | $1,129,541 |
| 10 | 1,800 | 25,974 | 5,195 | 36,865 | 504 | 44 | 307 | 855 | 102.6 | $29,915 | $358,977 | $1,488,518 | $150,000 | $358,977 | $1,488,518 |
| 11 | 1,800 | 29,765 | 5,953 | 42,429 | 582 | 56 | 356 | 993 | 119.1 | $34,750 | $417,005 | $1,905,524 | $165,000 | $417,005 | $1,905,524 |
| 12 | 1,800 | 33,556 | 6,711 | 48,107 | 660 | 69 | 405 | 1,135 | 136.1 | $39,708 | $476,496 | $2,382,020 | $180,000 | $476,496 | $2,382,020 |
Growth Trajectory Visualization
/ The Bottom Line Up Front
Content marketing is a compounding investment.
Unlike paid media that stops when you stop spending, content accumulates. Each page you publish builds on the last, creating an asset that generates traffic and leads for years. This calculator helps you model how content velocity translates into pipeline over 12 months.
How to use this calculator
Start by setting your content velocity — how many pages you plan to publish per month. Then adjust the conversion assumptions to match your business: average sessions per page, lead conversion rate, opportunity rate, close rate, and deal size.
The calculator models three scenarios (Low, Base, High) so you can see the range of outcomes. Use the Investment tab to add your content program costs and see true ROI.
All calculations assume zero churn — pages stay live and continue generating traffic. In reality, some content decays, but this gives you a useful upper bound for planning.
How the ROI calculator works
Set content velocity
Choose how many pages you plan to publish per month. More content means more compounding.
Adjust conversion rates
Set your funnel metrics: sessions per page, lead rate, opportunity rate, and close rate.
Add deal economics
Enter your average deal size and investment costs to calculate true ROI.
Compare scenarios
Toggle between Low, Base, and High scenarios to see the range of outcomes.
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Try itFrequently asked questions
What assumptions does this calculator make?
The calculator assumes zero content churn — pages stay live and maintain their traffic. It also assumes linear growth in sessions per page month-over-month. These are simplifying assumptions; real-world results will vary based on content quality, competition, and domain authority.
How accurate are the projections?
The projections are directional, not predictive. Use them for planning and budgeting discussions, not as guarantees. The three scenarios (Low, Base, High) help you understand the range of possible outcomes.
What counts as a "page" in this calculator?
A page is any content asset designed to rank in search or get cited by AI — blog posts, landing pages, comparison pages, guides, etc. The calculator models pages that generate organic traffic over time.
Should I include existing content?
The baseline sessions field lets you account for traffic from existing content. The pages per month field should reflect new content you plan to publish going forward.