Meeting with my first client, HELP!

[WebOracle]

At $50 a month for SEO you might as well do it for free in exchange for them sending you over referrals and letting you use them as a reference. But whatever you do, do not devalue this industry and undersell your services. I charged my first client $750 a month and had no problem doing so because I built value in the service and educated my client on the benefits as well as ROI of SEO. If you do this properly you can charge whatever you want.

Some tips-

Business owners only care about how their site looks/navigates and if you are going to get their phone ringing and customers coming through the door. They do not care about how you are going to go about doing this. So I would show them some examples of your work, then explain the importance of having that website being found on Google and how you will get them there without talking nuts and bolts too much.

Keep it short and to the point and educate your potential client on why it is important to be in the top of the SERPs, talk number of searches, potential visitors, etc.

At the end of your pitch don't ask them "so is this something you want to go ahead and do?"

>>Assume the sale.

Briefly reiterate the services and price, then close, a line I might use would be... "So what email address would like me to send your receipt to?"

GL and remember get a contract and don't undersell your services.

 

[jake454]

I personally wouldn't take this on if I was not sure what to do, you are talking about her business here. Its mad at how many people just think of the money instead of the real rewards that SEO can bring. If your not up to the job and dont thinking you can have a positive impact for her and dont feel she will get a good ROI then walk on man, let the pro's do it and keep learning.
I have a manager like this, he just see's the pound signs, sometimes our customers sign up for monthly contracts and they will never really get a ROI for the money.
Shame

its not so much that I dont think this will help her, because I know it will and I know I can do it. The only issue now is the fear of this being my first professional client and I am liable for fucking it up or doing good lol.

 

[jake454]

I think he is talking about "All I know is that I'm gonna ask for money" when "all you should know" is telling her exactly how you are gonna help her business. You can do that, right?

really good point, lol I definitely took a new look at how I was gonna come about this because of everyone and thanks WebOracle, good points.

 

[accelerator_dd]

Stick to what they would benefit if they go with you.

since its webdesign and seo, talk about how it'll increase their sales. Also see if they are interested in some PPC management if you have any experience with that as offline businesses are big into outsourcing ppc management.

 

[GuruDog]

Don't fear the zeros. Instead of asking for $50/month try $500/month and see where she swats you back down to. It may be that she already has a few quotes and is already comfortable spending $400/month.

 

[jake454]

SWEET! ended up getting the client, I asked for 800 startup and 300 a month. unded up getting 300 start up and 100 a month. not bad for my first client and their a small business. I am still a little worried about ranking them but im pretty sure I can do it.

one question though, should I set my clients sites up on different hosting than my own experimental websites?

 

[rugbyjack2005]

50$ a month is not a lot. You're not talking about link building here, you're talking about an SEO contract where they will expect results. The money takes into account the time you take doing the work, running costs (things like program license fees, office rent, computer costs etc.) and the time you spend managing the client (writing reports and explaining them, telephone calls, emails).

Your price should be based on the work that you are proposing to do. It shouldn't just be a figure plucked out of the sky based on what you think they will pay.

My advise would be to go there, be yourself and ask them what they want, what results they are after and if you get into a conversion on prices, talk ball park figures. Tell them you will email through a proper proposal in the next fee days. Then go home and start working things out properly and work out what SEO work is needed to achieve their goals and how much it is going to cost.

When you have done a few, it will be much easier. We've all been there and it's a steep learning curve...

 

[rugbyjack2005]

50$ a month is not a lot. You're not talking about link building here, you're talking about an SEO contract where they will expect results. The money takes into account the time you take doing the work, running costs (things like program license fees, office rent, computer costs etc.) and the time you spend managing the client (writing reports and explaining them, telephone calls, emails).

Your price should be based on the work that you are proposing to do. It shouldn't just be a figure plucked out of the sky based on what you think they will pay.

My advise would be to go there, be yourself and ask them what they want, what results they are after and if you get into a conversion on prices, talk ball park figures. Tell them you will email through a proper proposal in the next fee days. Then go home and start working things out properly and work out what SEO work is needed to achieve their goals and how much it is going to cost.

When you have done a few, it will be much easier. We've all been there and it's a steep learning curve...

It looks like I was writing this at the same time you were writing your post! Oops. Well done on getting the client.

 

[jake454]

It looks like I was writing this at the same time you were writing your post! Oops. Well done on getting the client.

thanks and yeah, what you said makes alot of sense to me. I guess I was naive in just throwing out random numbers based on what people said.

 

[r97584]

I am just starting myself, and had a similar problem. I wanted to get my first client, so I charged too little (300/month). But I gave them a free website (5 pages)+hosting, with agreement they are going to be using my service for at least a year. In hindsight I should have charged around $500/month. I am hoping that I might get a referral out of it down the road to make up for it. BTW it was a doctor, so maybe when I approach another doctor I will look good because I have already done one in their field.

Just a side note at first $300 a month sounded like a lot, but saying $3,600 a year made it seem like a smaller amount because in their mind they compared the $3,600 to what they made the previous year....I guess, or maybe they compared it to what they spend on advertising a year. Either way $3,600/year was an easier number for him to wrap his head around.

 

[firebolts6]

Be comfortable, don't worry

 

[WebOracle]

I am just starting myself, and had a similar problem. I wanted to get my first client, so I charged too little (300/month). But I gave them a free website (5 pages)+hosting, with agreement they are going to be using my service for at least a year. In hindsight I should have charged around $500/month. I am hoping that I might get a referral out of it down the road to make up for it. BTW it was a doctor, so maybe when I approach another doctor I will look good because I have already done one in their field.

Just a side note at first $300 a month sounded like a lot, but saying $3,600 a year made it seem like a smaller amount because in their mind they compared the $3,600 to what they made the previous year....I guess, or maybe they compared it to what they spend on advertising a year. Either way $3,600/year was an easier number for him to wrap his head around.

Just up-sell them additional services. mobile website, GP SEO, etc.

 

[Loco4SEO]

Congrats on getting the client!!!!!!

 

[synfig]

Glad to hear that you got the client. Keep the following things in mind next time.

Take laptop or tablet with you. Show the client your sample work and also show what you can do about their business. If you're going to ask the client what they want then you're in uncomfortable position. Sell the client what you can do for her instead of asking. Negotiating based on their preference is harder. So if you already know what client is going to buy from you, show the clients some sample work and the way with which it will be carried out.

Make your presentation in such way that it gives them confidence for working with you. Remember that if you want to get their money on monthly basis, you have to make your client a friend and not some money making machine.

Think about their profit and they will hand over money to your service. Keep your attention on the deal and avoid thinking about vague stuff like "i never done this", " i have no confidence " and stuff", think money, keep eye on the service that you are going to give and yes, you have to win customer with trust.