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How your competition sells it

by dremora
7 replies
I was sitting at a Starbucks yesterday afternoon, buying some domains and working on a client's coupon campaign. There were some people discussing at a table across mine, I couldn't help but overhear their conversation. It was a local SEO consultant pitching a prospect. Then she dropped the bombshell: A $1200/mo price tag for SEO and Google places listing. She didn't even guarantee rankings! You didn't hear me wrong, a whopping $1200/mo for basic SEO and maintaining Google places, with no #1 ranking guarantee! The client was complaining about their YellowPages expenses, so what she offered sounded like a bargain compared to YellowPages ads.

Too bad I had to leave, otherwise I would give the guy my contact info and tell him I'll do everything she offers for half the price.

There are people out there pitching the most basic services for extremely high prices. This has encouraged me to go out there and take action to build a list of prospects, maybe do some free workshops to educate them on SEO, local directories, social media marketing etc (then upsell them services).

The clients are out there, with their wallets out, seeking for help to get them more business in this terrible economy, all you have to do is to be more active with your campaigns and take some action.
#competition #sells
  • Profile picture of the author Summertime Dress
    I have a similar story...a local SEO charging $1000/mo for article marketing. I think it really depends on your credibility. I'm reading a great book right now by Kevin Hogan, "The Science of Influence". Highly, highly recommend his stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    Wow, sounds like I need to raise my prices!
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  • Profile picture of the author jrod014
    It all depends on the SEO and their skills.

    I show all my potential clients my affiliates websites and traffic as proof of what I can do as a SEO/ IM.

    But I also DON'T guarantee any results because I'm not Google and don't control their algo. But I do reassure them that my tactics and strategies are legit and work for me, which is why I show them proof.

    It is encouraging to hear stories like this. It's a tough market here in Los Angeles but clients are out there, you just have to take action, which you are doing.

    Thanks for sharing. Now I have to get on my sales rep.

    Jerry
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  • Profile picture of the author SubUrbanHype
    I stay away from a #1 rank guarantee because you don't have any real control over that, and it depends on the market they are in and what keywords they want, and the site that is already at #1. Keywords that have over a million search results and the pages are all optimized, I would charge over $1200 cause that is a lot of time and work to go into one client. Cause you have those clients that after like 2 months of paying you and they don't see themselves on the first page they think you aren't doing your job and want to find a way to stop paying you because they aren't on the first page in 2 days.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rocketguy
    Yes, I have actually seen cases where some of my prospects are paying 5k a month. I actually didn't get the client because he couldn't believe I could do the samething for 1k a month.
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  • Profile picture of the author rizzy
    Originally Posted by dremora View Post

    I was sitting at a Starbucks yesterday afternoon, buying some domains and working on a client's coupon campaign. There were some people discussing at a table across mine, I couldn't help but overhear their conversation. It was a local SEO consultant pitching a prospect. Then she dropped the bombshell: A $1200/mo price tag for SEO and Google places listing. She didn't even guarantee rankings! You didn't hear me wrong, a whopping $1200/mo for basic SEO and maintaining Google places, with no #1 ranking guarantee! The client was complaining about their YellowPages expenses, so what she offered sounded like a bargain compared to YellowPages ads.

    Too bad I had to leave, otherwise I would give the guy my contact info and tell him I'll do everything she offers for half the price.

    There are people out there pitching the most basic services for extremely high prices. This has encouraged me to go out there and take action to build a list of prospects, maybe do some free workshops to educate them on SEO, local directories, social media marketing etc (then upsell them services).

    The clients are out there, with their wallets out, seeking for help to get them more business in this terrible economy, all you have to do is to be more active with your campaigns and take some action.
    Good for them if they closed that client for $1200 a month. $1200 a month is not a shocking price at all IMO. Depending on what the business is that could be a very affordable price. Sounds like you need to raise your prices if people in your area are paying for it. Why sell yourself short if you can deliver real results?
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  • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
    It's the Yellow Book guys that are charging $5k per month for local SEO too.

    Funny the guy was complaining about yellowpages because all they sell is SEO and give print in the book away.... As well as various other loss leaders.

    It really depends on the client and the presentation as to what you can get from potential SEO contract. Some are not comfortable with selling 5 figure deals... I don't know why not?

    All you have to do is say the price like you are saying the time. No big deal.... Easy Peasy.

    As long as you have built the value. Which is a perceived value anyway. You can ask whatever you want.
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