Local SEO/PPC Management, Pricing Help?

udt89

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Ok guys, I think I have read every thread regarding local SEO businesses I could find. I see some people saying charge nothing less than $600 others no less than $1200, others say they're getting $3k a month. Im so confused.

Can some people post here what they are charging company's per month and what that monthly fee includes? The services I provide are typical to everyone. Editing their current page for SEO or creating a new website, google + creation, the usual citations are created at yelp, merchantcircle, etc, manual link building 1-5 per month, rep management using a method here on BHW using post cards and dedicated review domain, call recording, and PPC campaign creation and management. Am I missing things that you guys are doing?

The only thing I feel comfortable with is charging 20-30% of their PPC budget for monthly maintenance. After that is where I get shaky. Can someone PM or post here what they are doing on a monthly basis to justify $3k a month? I just cant see it and its not because I dont know SEO. Or maybe I take for granted what I do, but I just cant see it. Should I be building more links? Creating fresh blog content for their sites every month? For instance, see below, I cant write blog entries for a business i know nothing about. Where do you find qualified writers? Ask the client to provide the articles?

I could really use the help, a mentor would be awesome.

I am currently employed by one business, a dentist, with 5 locations. I got in because of a family friend and by pointing out a flaw with their current guy who was wasting their money. I am charging them $650/month. It should be a lot higher but I got my foot in the door and now have someone to use as reference and maybe refer me. That monthly fee doesnt include separate fees for building a mobile site, new main site, google places creation (charged per page and put any maintenance within the $650), call recording, and any changes to the new properties after the first 30 days are extra.

Lastly, I am having new gutters and soffits installed on my home. They guy I went with has a crappy java intro website and it is basically an uploaded template with all the generic text still on the site, and the site was created 8/2011 and when i search his company name he comes up 6th, below angieslist, the BBB, and other citation pages which he hasnt claimed. This guy screams client. I was going to try and barter for my work but I'd rather just pay him and then land him as a monthly client and probably get more that way. How would you approach him? Is there a thread/WSO on what to include on a report for a prospective client?

Ok, ive rambled long enough. back to sleep since I couldnt while all this was on my mind.
 
one other thing, what program are you guys using to send the clients monthly reports? other than google analytics reports
 
UDT, there's really not a one-price, cookie-cutter package that fits all business owners. You have to understand their pain points, niche, budget, life-time client value, potential ROI, etc. Moreover, you also have to take into account what all you'll be doing.

Your pricing should reflect your time as well as the potential return the client can see. You mentioned you can't understand charging more, but if you don't value your own time, why should a client? Unless you're making guarantees (which you shouldn't), they are paying on a best-effort basis on the hopes of getting up ... you still pay an attorney if he loses.

If you're working with a high-dollar niche like a dentist, then your rates should definitely come up. In most larger cities, that will be a more competitive industry, but for good reason. Dentists see great returns, and not one-off clients (they build customer loyalty). If they give you more of a budget, then increase the work your doing - more links, more keywords, more articles, etc.

Ultimately though, you really shouldn't be going any less than $500 a month, which is still pretty low as it is. If a business owner can't value what you do at $1,000 month, then there's definitely going to be a lot of hand-holding involved, skepticism and they are honestly not the kind of client you want. If they worry every month if they are getting maximum return it'll strain the relationship - where as some businesses have thousand dollar monthly marketing budgets as it is and they see SEO / PPC / Internet Marketing as just one more investment in another marketing channel. While it's great to help Mom & Pop restaurants, don't kill yourself over it!
 
I have a few clients, I market my services based off an Attorney I took to page one of Google from page 15. I did this for not cost as a barter of sorts. So I worked my Ass off doing it, but it was one 1st flagship client. When people see that they are impressed etc. While your finding your comfort zone on price points.. 400 was my starting point for about 3 days of work. Now im 800 for the same amount of work. I got better, faster and well more confident in my abilities. I know have two very competitive clients in niches others on page one are paying 3-5k a month. Now I wish I had those, but I dont. Each pays me 800 a month. Its ok with me right now. Its building a relationship and refferals have come in already.

I market this way.

Keyword research
On-page Seo

These two are the most over looked aspect I run into. My advise got a flag ship client lawyer and offer help. "Go Local" Find a page three or two and email them.. This got me into higher billing and self worth. They are getting hammered by SEO firms and no what it costs.
 
What programs you using fir reporting and tracking improvements
 
Ok guys, I think I have read every thread regarding local SEO businesses I could find. I see some people saying charge nothing less than $600 others no less than $1200, others say they're getting $3k a month. Im so confused.

Can some people post here what they are charging company's per month and what that monthly fee includes? The services I provide are typical to everyone. Editing their current page for SEO or creating a new website, google + creation, the usual citations are created at yelp, merchantcircle, etc, manual link building 1-5 per month, rep management using a method here on BHW using post cards and dedicated review domain, call recording, and PPC campaign creation and management. Am I missing things that you guys are doing?

The only thing I feel comfortable with is charging 20-30% of their PPC budget for monthly maintenance. After that is where I get shaky. Can someone PM or post here what they are doing on a monthly basis to justify $3k a month? I just cant see it and its not because I dont know SEO. Or maybe I take for granted what I do, but I just cant see it. Should I be building more links? Creating fresh blog content for their sites every month? For instance, see below, I cant write blog entries for a business i know nothing about. Where do you find qualified writers? Ask the client to provide the articles?

I could really use the help, a mentor would be awesome.

I am currently employed by one business, a dentist, with 5 locations. I got in because of a family friend and by pointing out a flaw with their current guy who was wasting their money. I am charging them $650/month. It should be a lot higher but I got my foot in the door and now have someone to use as reference and maybe refer me. That monthly fee doesnt include separate fees for building a mobile site, new main site, google places creation (charged per page and put any maintenance within the $650), call recording, and any changes to the new properties after the first 30 days are extra.

Lastly, I am having new gutters and soffits installed on my home. They guy I went with has a crappy java intro website and it is basically an uploaded template with all the generic text still on the site, and the site was created 8/2011 and when i search his company name he comes up 6th, below angieslist, the BBB, and other citation pages which he hasnt claimed. This guy screams client. I was going to try and barter for my work but I'd rather just pay him and then land him as a monthly client and probably get more that way. How would you approach him? Is there a thread/WSO on what to include on a report for a prospective client?

Ok, ive rambled long enough. back to sleep since I couldnt while all this was on my mind.

Thanks for asking these questions OP. These are all the same questions I have as well.
 
can anyone recommend a good reporting software?
 
I dont need service
 
I just got a new SEO client on board for $3900 a month, with a $6800 startup cost. I personally don't really do much of anything unless I can bill around $150/hr usually or so.
 
Riekel, wow that's a huge monthly charge. What are you providing for that cost? Did you get first month plus startup cost at signing or more?
 
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