Performance based SEO Pricing?

Hi guys,

I've been referred to a guy whom wants his eCommerce website ranking for highly competitive keywords (1.8m local searches PCM) and variations of 60k and 48k. He doesn't really want to pay monthly which is how I work... How much would you charge for such a client/website with such keyword complexity?

I was thinking...

I.E....
Rank #1 | Brand name | = $$$
Page #1 | Keyword 1 | = $$$$ (What prices would you charge?)
Page #1 | Keyword 2 | = $$$$
Page #1 | Keyword 3 | = $$$$

Would you ask for any upfront to cover costs of your operations?

I would of looked at people providing these types of SEO services but none give a rough estimate just quote based..

Thanks in advance !


E: Do you think charging the amount of hours you work on the site X your above your normal hourly rate would suffice?

Good question propertyse,

In my experience, letting the client tell you how to run your business never works out good for you. Naturally though, I understand that it can be difficult to turn down work.

If I were you, I would estimate how long (number of months) it would take you to accomplish what the client is asking and then multiply your monthly rate by that number of months. This way you are pretty much working under the same structure as before but from your client's point of view, he has a set amount and time frame.

Another thing is that I doubt you will get an answer from anyone as to how much you should charge and if you do it will not be accurate because we don't know what the keywords are, we can't see his website, we don't know what hes selling, and there are about a dozen other variables that would affect the cost of services as well as the time frame to accomplish the work.

There are some interesting concepts in this post about flat rate SEO services,

http://www.seobook.com/why-99-flat-rate-seo-service-pricing-scam

Hope that helps you out,

Shawn

just calculate the apx cost and time it will take you to rank.. make sure you take atleast a few more than what it;ll cost you to rank the site on page 1 as upfront money and start working..

propertyse said:

E: Do you think charging the amount of hours you work on the site X your above your normal hourly rate would suffice?

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No, I do not recommend this.

1. you got know how, not only your time
2. how would you prov your hours ?
3. you can't put price tag on some things, like scrapebox running 24/7 on VPS

e doesn't really want to pay monthly which is how I work

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If you know how SEO works you must convince him against or do not start working on this project.

If he is asking for a one off price to rank for those keywords forget it - your wasting your time - just tell him to find someone else.

You have to have monthly income to cover all the Google Updates - extra work that maybe needed - and for competitive words to make sure
your keeping up with the competition.

If he tells you - you don't know what your talking about - just tell him to go to Adwords -- most people after blowing 5k there - will come running back.

It's not a good idea on the long run.

$15,000
If he say that that's too expensive tell him to find somebody else
Those kind of clients are the worst people.

I would never do this and I do provide SEO services BUT with that said if you do go forward put the funds in escrow. SO say after 3 months (if this was your agreement) you get him the position talkd about or better escrow will release the funds. DONT GO BUY TRUST that he will pay you when ankings are reachd. Let the third party escrow do that.

sahilsxy29 said:

just calculate the apx cost and time it will take you to rank.. make sure you take atleast a few more than what it;ll cost you to rank the site on page 1 as upfront money and start working..

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This is what I thought originally, seem to be mixed views on this. Work has gone slow recently so turning down work isn't really an option.

mate if the client is telling you how you should do your service tell him to take a hike.

those clients will never ever work out, who cares what he wants to pay or how he wants to pay, you dictate the pricing and payment terms.

You will regret it if you do it, but if you really want his business I would just do enough to prove your skills "at a fair price of course" and make him come back to the table.