6-#1 Rankings in "G" Advice needed please

[Mike Linley]

thanks guys

[RevSEO]

Sounds like BS to me...

I also worked for one of the larger SEO companies around...One day they popped the same question on me. You know what my answer was?

Get lost.

NDA is one thing, but exclusivity and non-compete is ridiculous, especially for two years.

You know I'm glad that I never signed one either. That could easily come back to bite me in the ass in the long run. You never know how things are gonna end with your company, and do you REALLY want to limit yourself to a company that isn't paying well already?

All signs point to NO. If you are as good as you claim you are then you are needed commodity for most SEO companies. Don't screw your career by signing something like this.

[Derek S]

Ask yourself if you are satisfied working for your companies clients or if you ever want to become the boss and have your own clients anytime soon. I never get people who are good at seo and spend their time doing it for others (especially for others working with a company that will only pay them a fraction of the contract).

What they are doing is very common in the corporate world. I live in the same city that R.I.M has its headquarters and needless to say about 1/3 of my friends are all employees (or at least where before they cut over 2000 jobs, because they suck at the "motion" part of their name lol).

All my friends who are developers are contractually obligated to give over all ownership to any side projects they have.

Same goes for the guys I know at Google here in Waterloo. Two google employees here created a fun side project that allowed you to take a photograph on your phone and have more information about what you took the photo of come up on the screen... Because they are google employees they are forced to report and hand over the project and we now know their program as Google Goggles.

It all comes down to what you are personally satisfied doing with your life. Creating success for others or creating success for yourself. If you choose the working for others then sign the contract

[Illuminart]

It is after all up to you. If you are very confident or looking forward that you can put up your very own company in the near future, then you should stay away from them. However, if you just don't foresee yourself doing so in the near future, an NDA with exclusivity and non-compete clause won't be a huge hassle.

[johnben1444]

Perhaps its time to be on your own. Well, this also depends, been in their service will make you indomitable and untouchable but as time goes on when your value become less, you will be eventually show the exit door.

[Global365]

Originally Posted by johnben1444

Perhaps its time to be on your own. Well, this also depends, been in their service will make you indomitable and untouchable but as time goes on when your value become less, you will be eventually show the exit door.

I second that...if you are that good, then you should be creating and SEO'ing your own sites. The nda is one thing, non compete, tell them to bite the big one. Good luck with your choice..

Barry

[Raitei_Ericko]

Just a suggestion.
If starting on your own, probably you might want to lower your price or if you are really confident with your skills then you could do it first for them and get paid later. This might help to build relationship with clients until people start recommending you.

[athenistic]

And don't limit yourself to advertizing your services online. Go offline. Network with business owners in your area. Show up at meet & greets held by your local Chamber of Commerce. You'd be surprised how interested people can become when they learn that you can do something to help them.

And don't forget the value of a business card.

[yukon]

I would never sign anything without a check in my hand.

Tell them If they want a 2-year guarantee you'll need 2-years worth of paycheck in your hands first. You already know the answer to that one.

[Raitei_Ericko]

Originally Posted by athenistic

And don't limit yourself to advertizing your services online. Go offline. Network with business owners in your area. Show up at meet & greets held by your local Chamber of Commerce. You'd be surprised how interested people can become when they learn that you can do something to help them.

And don't forget the value of a business card.

Second this. You will be surprised that you can get clients easily by just talking to the business owners around you.

[Mike Linley]

I don't think anyone got a chance to see my update to respond.

Any thoughts about this?

Thanks so much.

Mike Linley

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Mike Linley

Okay, so I think I have a plan to continue working for this SEO company for the next year or maybe two years but then at some point I will sell my corporation and then start a new business ventur outside SEO.

So my question now is how much is an SEO business worth and how much can I sell it for, if it is making 18,000-20,000 dollars (PROJECTED INCOME) per month? This business is growing a lot and I fully expect it to reach that level. Would it be hard to sell it for six figures?(200K-300K) Or maybe sell 90% of the ownership or shares?

Thanks

Just like anything else, it's only worth what another person is willing to pay for it.

If I was looking to buy, I would want to know what's the projected earnings/contracts for clients already signed. What will the business earn with the current clients If your business model doesn't change after the sale of the business for the next full year?

Some folks might simply want the existing clients. If you have some big clients, that alone is a huge selling point.