SEO pricing model

what is the way to go

[jaski]

I got started with SEO 3 years ago. Suddenly I find myself transitioning more and more into an SEO than PHP MySQL coder that I mostly was till some time back. So far I did it just as a part of a coding projects.

Now people have started approaching for only SEO. I feel its about time I had my socks up and rules of engagement in place for only SEO gigs. better late than never ;)

I was wondering how pros do it and in the process found how Jill Whalen does it. ie provide a site analysis report for a fixed fee as first step. Provide quote as a part of it. Do SEO for only those who buy the report and discount the price of the report if they give SEO gig to you.

I think that is really good way to do it because you get enough time to analyse before giving the quote away. Any other ways ppl here prefer?

Pricing SEO after this is another tricky question which has no easy answers as its very difficult to know how much it is worth really? :) Any pointers highly appreciated.

[danrobjon]

I give a client an initial free chat in person. If I have to fly, they pay airfare, hotel, car rental and $200 to cover my meals, etc. If they want to work with me, they put me on a monthly retainer. Unused time gets forwarded to the next month. Overages get billed with net 10 day terms.

For strict SEO, its site anlysis fee starting at $1K min. Then I estimate the amount of time it will take me to do the SEO and give them that estimate. I have found that billing myself as a marketing consultant is more fun. I get to do print, TV, Trade shows, biz strategy, etc. SEO can be too short lived and I have to go out and market myself for a whole lot of small jobs instead of a few larger ones. Also, I feel I can impact the clients biz on a broader scale.

dj

[jaski]

Thanks for the reply dj.

SEO from a marketing consultant's perspective sounds quite different from one of a programmer's :)

We are mostly counting key phrases and thinking deliverables, which makes fundamental difference to the way one approaches the job.

[danrobjon]

Hello, jaski. I think the things I like about including marketing with my SEO (or SEO with my marketing) is that I'm doing customer service issues, nav design (I don't do colors and graphic design, just usability), even coaching on some back office systems integration. I like it. I suspect that although there is a place for a straight SEO person, that at some point there will be more SEO consultants chasing fewer jobs and those jobs are smaller than the ones I'm chasing and more limited. I HAVE found that for me, at least, focusing on a specific industry has been a big plus. I am part of the trade group, people know who I am, etc. I work primarily in the automotive aftermarket (also some motorcycle). Does that mean that I couldn't be effective in apparel? NO, but if I bounce around different industries, it is tougher to get the name recognition that I have in the auto market.

dj

[jaski]

Thanks again dj, your post made me think :).. even I have one area in which I have done much more SEOing than others . so it might be a good idea to focus on that alone than SEO in general .. hmm .. thanks :)

[nakulgoyal]

It also depends on what you do for the client in SEO. And does the client get happy and what kind of results you offer.

SEO is my passion. :-)

[anallawalla]

Danrobjon describes exactly what I do, but he's more expensive. :)

Being in Australia, I price myself between the US and Indian pricing and get mainly US clients. I avoid looking for local clients because I don't need to worry about registering for Australia's GST, as foreign clients don't have to pay that tax.

I bill by the day, not hour, and present myself as a consultant, not a contract worker. Ok, so I don't get to spend 2-3 weeks working on every page on the web site, but I'd rather use that time to do other marketing consulting.

I firmly believe in Brett's comment that pure SEO is not a long-term business strategy if you want to work with a few long-term clients. Therefore, I am doing the rest of the marketing mix as part of the client's team, and SEO pops up only now and then. PPC has a longer staying power.

Ash