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We recently had a new client who like most want to be top, however as their site is hosted on their server and is powered by a Database with complex programming! what is the best way to approach them before starting work?
For example I am thinking of this:
Stage 1 - Cost 1 days technical reporting of current site
Provide a technical report of their current web site highlighting areas that need work before SEO is performed. This work must be carried out by their in house web developer or the persion who originally built the web site other wise we won't take on the project.
Stage 2 - Cost 1 - 5 days work (depending on project)
Perform SEO on the agreed targeted keywords by either supplying them with new pages or work on their site directly with FTP details
Stage 3 - Cost 1 hour per month for general performance reporting
Provide a customized report of current search results for latest news to keep them up to date with ways to improve their rankings in the long term.
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Is the above reasonable and fair?
We never promise top positions as this is a very irresponsible promise plus we mainly work on a hourly basis.
Do many here work on a performance basis for example top 5 for a period of 2 to 3 months will earn you a bonus payment?
My main concern is the technical side that some sites are to complex for search engines, we are more inclined to turn them down or provide just the stage 1 consultancy service.
I am sure many here have had sites/projects in a similar state would like to know how people manage with difficult projects.
Oh and not forgetting the site you optimize and the customers goes and changes some of the content or adds links the next day how do people handle this?
I tend to find the SEO business very messy and every project has different terms and conditions.
:)
Customer once said: why have we dropped? (the day after they placed two links on every page to a PR0 web site)
I always offer up other clients I've worked for.
I always offer up good sound advice.
I always offer up good work.
I always offer up experience.
I always get paid what I'm worth.
I know this doesn't directly answer your questions, but I think it's relevant to what you're really asking. "What's really fair?" It's what's fair for you and your client. You shouldn't short-change either.
You have to directly inform them of how their architecture is effecting things, and offer recommendations on how to overcome the issues with how their database inhibits getting traffic.
Stage 1 - Cost 1 days technical reporting of current site
Which things do you analyse for technical reporting of current site from SEO point?
I look forward to ur reply.
other factors like redirects detected in the web sites, including rewriting url's, IP addresses, multiple web sites that exsist and could cause problems that we had not been informed about.
Stage 1 may not be required by many sites but i see it as a way of demanding changes etc that would help their site for search engines before seo work is required.
Some projects are hands on work by ourselves whilst others have their own web development team. Stage 1 is a way of telling the in house developers to change their web site in preperation for our seo work.
After Stage 1 is completed we could then move on. We would be happy with the site structure etc and so would the client.
At the end of the day we are here as consultants to help them appear in Search Engines no matter how much SEO you perform if their site is structured wrong or they produce duplicate content over the same ip address etc their site won't perform and you will end up with complaints.
Would appreciate any comments or views to this.
We have just aquired a new client that wants SEO however their site is all flash and graphics and they dont want to change it .... not an easy job for me to get them higher in the SERPS. On the flip side another client said they didnt care what it looked like, they just want the traffic ... all depends what your specific client wants really.
