bigjohnt - 1:56 pm on Nov 4, 2000 (gmt 0)

<--PR guy, direct marketing, communications, AND SEO loonie.
We just switched from a "project" based one time shot <ineffective> to a setup and maintenence. We need to be VERY careful about pricing. A simple 100 page site does not compare to the giant corporates that we are now handling - who need humungous traffic in several phrases.

We ballpark a bid and an hourly rate for additional hours worked. We tell them right up front that we cannot possibly know all that needs to be done at "first blush". We also set a monthly fee for a set number of hours tracking, adjusting, etc.

We gain respect when we explain the value of keyword marketing research beyond PPC buys and optimization. Many are floored...
When it turns to a hard sell,<seldom> we explain how positioning, and the necessary research is an asset that frequently appreciates.

IMHO the toughest part is keeping the client going forward with the things we need them to do - content, approvals, CHECKS - as they say out of sight out of mind. Nearly ALL of what we do is invisible. Got to figure the hand holding/phone calling/emailing/pestering/begging/pleading into the project fees.