Sphinn Home » SEO
Avatar Went Hot: November 2, 2007 - 9:36 am
Posted By: Lyndon 309 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.highrankings.com)
Category: SEO
Jill Whalen shares how she charges her clients.
5 Comments     

Comments

from tonynwright 308 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
+ -

I've found that the very best way to charge for SEO services is by charging by the hour. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but this seems to work for me. After all, the only thing I really have to sell is my expertise and my time!

from g1smd 308 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
+ -

Do you take into account how much the client is benefiting from your work?

Do you charge the same to a business where you are going to help them make a few thousand extra per month, as one where you are going to help them make a few thousand more per day? If so, why?

from Jill 307 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
+ -

Really, Tony? I find charging by the hour the worst way to go, although I do it sometimes for small consulting jobs.

from TimDineen 307 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
+ -

Most of the time it depends on the size of the client whether you can get paid a certain way - but experience and reputation will determine whether you'll get the contract.

I did SEO consulting for many years before going In-House and for most small businesses you simply need to charge by the hour and do so on a monthly cycle... most couldn't afford an at-once upfront fee. (Also, SEO was so new at the time that many didn't want to shell out the cash without seeing something in return.)

So, on the clients' behalf, we generally started small and gained some "wins" early-on would help them see some value in order to help them decide to keep moving forward.

I learned quickly, though, that the monthly fee wasn't enough (for my agency) to get the ball rolling quick enough in the first few months when research and strategy are so important, so we then moved to a upfront + monthly contract that was always dependant upon the number of hours that'd be put in on their behalf. So, essentially we charged by the hour.

I feel that only with years of experience and a great reputation, like Jill's, can you expect an upfront fee to be acceptable to most clients.

from nsmseo 306 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
+ -

I think its a two-way exchange when consulting with a client for SEO. You need to figure out what is the clients budget and also explain in clear and crystal terms what they will be getting for their money.

As Jill stated that its all down to experience and understanding what work would be required in order to satisfy the clients needs within their market place.


Log in to comment or register here.

Top 10 Most Sphunn
In What's New

  1. 10 Search Engine News Blogs You Oug... (20)
  2. How to get 3,000 visitors per month... (20)
  3. Cleaning Up the Retail Site Navigat... (18)
  4. How Google Chrome Will Win the Brow... (17)
  5. SEO and Web Accessibility Come Hand... (17)
  6. Four Good Reasons to Use the Alt At... (15)
  7. A reputation 2.0 problem - wiki-cir... (12)
  8. How to Seduce the Cash-Strapped Sho... (11)
  9. The Dilemma Over Deep Linking (11)
  10. If Content Is Google’s King – Then ... (11)

Latest Comments

Search Marketing Expo

Save the date for:
• SMX China (Nanjing) - Sept. 23-24
• SMX Stockholm - Sept. 23-24: See who's speaking or register now.
• SMX East (New York City) - Oct. 6-8: See the agenda or register today and save!
• SMX London - Nov. 4-5: Pre-agenda rate now available. Click here.