SEO companies / biz

[Techie Turtle]

I would say I know enough about working a website into page 1 of the major SERP's through all the "tricks" and proper strategies. The ONE thing I do know is that it's not about doing ONE strategy to rank well but it's more like a coordinated, well-orchestrated endeavor. I'm talking about organic SERPs, nothing paid.

So I just about have a client or two (I've been warming them up) but it occurred to me that running an SEO business isn't like running a lawn service! With a lawn service, you perform the service, the client is happy with the work, and you get paid. However, SEO work is not so easy to "prove" that you've done a lot of work and expect to get paid. Or should I say, without giving the client all the tricks of the trade to show how much work you've done.

I know part of doing an SEO campaign for a client involves targeting the right KWP, something not too competitive but still gets plenty of search volume, etc. So a client hires me for their SEO work and pays me $xxx. After 30 days, most non-techy business owners expect to see their website in the #1 position. I don't think they would give a care if their website was on page 10 but moved up to page 4 with all the SEO work done. I know part of the "deal" is explaining what the process is like and setting realistic expectations and such.

So any of you SEO people do this? Do you charge ahead of time to start your work or do you do the work and bill them every month? I know that moving someone up the SERPs can be seen and proven by anyone with an internet connection but what's to stop a client from claiming that they're not on page 1 so they're not paying. If you tell them it takes "time" and you need to keep working at it, they feel like you're stringing them along.

Any insights?

[hbseo]

Its an interesting question, no doubts.

In my case I made an agreement with one client for three monthly installments, with small units of work to be done every month. That gives time to achieve the business objectives and do some consistent work on SEO, linkbuilding, etc...

[Techie Turtle]

And it occurred to me, if their site gets de-indexed in the process of SEO work I wonder what the legal ramifications would be? There's really not a toll-free phone number a business owner can call to appeal to a search engine that their site was removed/penalized because an SEO "expert" was working on their site.

[Techie Turtle]

Originally Posted by elena1234

we create first estimation, for illustrate we are targeting 10 keywords than and fix previous how many time spent for particular keywords, as soon as coming possibility for raising #10 in search engine than demand for paying.

So you work on 10 keywords and when your client's website breaks into the top 10 (1st page) for 1 of the k/w then payment is due? Am I reading that right? Sounds interesting because the client has nothing to lose and forces the SEO expert to produce results.

[menj]

Usually the way I go around this is to give the client updated reports of the activities we have done in SEO building, such as the number of directories submitted, social bookmarking submissions, etc. We also provide a detailed report of where the link appears when the submission is approved, so the client does see the "work" that has been done and is satisfied. So far, no issues with doing that

[shaktimaan]

Originally Posted by Techie Turtle

And it occurred to me, if their site gets de-indexed in the process of SEO work I wonder what the legal ramifications would be? There's really not a toll-free phone number a business owner can call to appeal to a search engine that their site was removed/penalized because an SEO "expert" was working on their site.

Luckily it never occurred to me. It depends on what type of links are you creating. If a site de indexed in the middle of a project or i am not paid by the client, i shall go where i dropped the links and shall edit those links or shall use those links for other clients.

Profile links are best. You own them and they are editable. When required ranking is achieved and you are paid then you can diversify your links with social bookmarking, articles and directory submission.

Originally Posted by Techie Turtle

So any of you SEO people do this? Do you charge ahead of time to start your work or do you do the work and bill them every month? I know that moving someone up the SERPs can be seen and proven by anyone with an internet connection but what's to stop a client from claiming that they're not on page 1 so they're not paying. If you tell them it takes "time" and you need to keep working at it, they feel like you're stringing them along.

I do not know where you work. I work at freelancer sites and asked the clients for escrow. Some clients are willing to pay when they notice some improvement in ranking and some does not pay in advance until there site is on page 1.