How much should I charge for S.E.O for a dentist?

28 replies
Hey folks, I have landed a dental client recently & I'm not sure what to charge them for optimization.

I am re-designing their websites & doing S.M stuff for them too, which I know will help with their SEO anyways. Plus I am using wordpress with all-in-one S.E.O & other useful plug-in's that will almost certainly get them the number one spot without any links etc.

The reason for this post is that I'm not really doing any 'hardcore' link building or anything so I'm really charging them for adding a free plug-in... :confused:
#charge #dentist #seo
  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    Depending on city I would start at $200/mn up to $500/mn. I would first try to sell him on some Google Adword Campaigns to make sure you are going after the correct moneymaking keywords. My numbers are based on my area as I know some areas like toronto are getting MUCH MUCH more depending on the client.
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    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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  • Profile picture of the author maxrezn
    Originally Posted by robgee123 View Post

    Hey folks, I have landed a dental client recently & I'm not sure what to charge them for optimization.

    I am re-designing their websites & doing S.M stuff for them too, which I know will help with their SEO anyways. Plus I am using wordpress with all-in-one S.E.O & other useful plug-in's that will almost certainly get them the number one spot without any links etc.

    The reason for this post is that I'm not really doing any 'hardcore' link building or anything so I'm really charging them for adding a free plug-in... :confused:
    I would give extra value by ranking him for other keywords..creating some articles to catch long tail keywords in the future...just overall get his SEO on two feet. Don't just do the bare minimum. If you get him to #1 and keep him there..$500 initial and $129 monthly maintenance is perfectly reasonable. His ROI will be 1000% if not more.

    Tell him you can do it for cheaper but it won't have such a dramatic long term impact.
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  • Profile picture of the author jtlucas2511
    You guys are low balling with a dentist. The average lifetime value of a customer for dentists is around $22,000, and just getting them on the first page in a decently populated area would bring in 10-15x more business easily.

    If I were going to do SEO for a dentist, I'd charge closer to 1K/mo.

    But that's just my opinion.
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    • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
      Originally Posted by jtlucas2511 View Post

      You guys are low balling with a dentist. The average lifetime value of a customer for dentists is around $22,000, and just getting them on the first page in a decently populated area would bring in 10-15x more business easily.

      If I were going to do SEO for a dentist, I'd charge closer to 1K/mo.

      But that's just my opinion.
      As I said, I was quoting what you would get in my city, where the average 4 bedroom house on a huge lot is going for $150K where in Toronto they would go for $400K. Just depends on your city and more importantly, what are the dentists other options if he does not use me? Can he get it for cheaper? Here he can.

      Actually, what is funny is since I have been in this city, almost every business I deal with has this bargain attitude where when I was in Toronto, it was like, where do I sign? I dont have time to find a cheaper price. I need it now.

      Interesting thing to research. "Does a city's economic disposition effect their buying decision process?"
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  • Profile picture of the author gmil88
    yea I wouldn't go lower than $795/mo for a dentist.
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  • Profile picture of the author DP55
    It all depends on search volume - if being in the top 3 will bring in a decent number of monthly converting visitors then you could charge $500+/month. If there's no high volume searches then you may have to lower to $200-300.

    It doesn't matter if you're not going crazy on backlinking - if the plugin brings in results then great!
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
    Originally Posted by robgee123 View Post

    Hey folks, I have landed a dental client recently & I'm not sure what to charge them for optimization.

    I am re-designing their websites & doing S.M stuff for them too, which I know will help with their SEO anyways. Plus I am using wordpress with all-in-one S.E.O & other useful plug-in's that will almost certainly get them the number one spot without any links etc.

    The reason for this post is that I'm not really doing any 'hardcore' link building or anything so I'm really charging them for adding a free plug-in... :confused:

    The bolded part of your comment worries me. Most local searches for dentist are pretty competitive, and it will take more than a plug in that helps the on-page SEO to rank him. First the on page SEO has to be done correctly in the plugin. If you take the number #1 spot for city name + dentist, with no back links, I'd like to see that. Maybe with an EMD, and no competition at all you can get there for a long tail keyword, because I have done that.

    This site would need fantastic on-page, and internal linking done perfect to rank so well with zero backlinks, imo.

    You charge the value you get across to the dentist, I agree with an above poster, shouldn't be less than 997/month. Why? 1 new client doubles his money back for the year , easily. Will being in the top spot land him more than 1 patient? More than likely, so what is 5,10,15 new patients worth to him? He laughs all the way to the bank if he is paying you a mere $200 a month. It also de-values your work. Your dentist wants to brag about the new shinny BMW he just bought, and his BMW equivalent marketing/seo guy.

    Ryan
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    • Profile picture of the author joe0074
      I have heard you guys say charging the dentist for $795/month, $997/month, 1K/month.
      I was wondering how many keywords for that price ?

      What do you guys charge for 1 keyword, 2 keywords, 3 keywords ?

      Thanks,
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      • Profile picture of the author jtlucas2511
        Originally Posted by joe0074 View Post

        I have heard you guys say charging the dentist for $795/month, $997/month, 1K/month.
        I was wondering how many keywords for that price ?

        What do you guys charge for 1 keyword, 2 keywords, 3 keywords ?

        Thanks,
        I'd say up to 3 keywords for $997/mo
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      • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
        Originally Posted by joe0074 View Post

        I have heard you guys say charging the dentist for $795/month, $997/month, 1K/month.
        I was wondering how many keywords for that price ?

        What do you guys charge for 1 keyword, 2 keywords, 3 keywords ?

        Thanks,

        My quote is for the 5 top local keywords per area, usually keywords come along for the ride and they are ranked for more terms as *added* value.

        "I told you I would rank you for 5 keywords, but if you google: kw6,kw7,kw8,k9 , you will see I also ranked you for those"

        If they want more, I quote for more..

        Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author iwillbeontop
    Call 5 local seo agencies. From that you will be able to determine the going rate in your local city for the respected services..
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    • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
      Originally Posted by iwillbeontop View Post

      Call 5 local seo agencies. From that you will be able to determine the going rate in your local city for the respected services..

      I wouldn't do that. Most SEO agencies have "set" prices, which is laughable. Every situation is different.
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  • Profile picture of the author dminorfmajor
    I didn't really know dentists were that high up on the food scale. Wouldn't lawyers be higher up than them?
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  • Profile picture of the author drlelong
    Pricing should be related to overall search volume and conversion rates. Once your getting visitors to the website, how are you making sure they pick up the phone and make an appointment?
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    • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
      Originally Posted by drlelong View Post

      Pricing should be related to overall search volume and conversion rates. Once your getting visitors to the website, how are you making sure they pick up the phone and make an appointment?
      If you are charging strictly as an SEO or backlinks, then what do you care about conversions?

      If you are charging as an all round about "consultant" then you should care about their conversions, and offer more services to build a better optimized website.

      If a dentist thinks you are worth 1K,2K,3K a month, then why wouldn't he pay it?

      Every car we buy is not truly "worth" what we pay, but we feel they are worth it. Look at Honda's and Acura's same damn near everything, but a few "whistles and bells" and people pay 10's of thousands more dollars for the "Brand" and "perceived value".
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  • Profile picture of the author link82
    I'm near San Diego (near, not in) and I have a client here who I am charging around $1500/month for just one city/area. He signed up for two (close to $2k). There are decent search #s and I have multiple properties ranking. I need to push them up to the top now but it's been going smooth so far.

    I don't understand why people charge $200/month for SEO. I'm not saying you can't do that for a certain industry/niche but this really cheapens our work. And I just started They may as well go get someone in India for $200/month because it's not worth my time. (No offense to anyone).

    Hope this helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author joe0074
      You are lucky, man. I get the dentist website ranked number 1 on page 1 for the keyword that has 480 exact search per month. She pay me only 2 month in a row then cancel my service. I only charge her $350 per month. That happened 1 and half year ago. Now her website is still sitting on number 1 on page 1 and enjoy lots of traffic. I think it is not fair for me It is hard to take her website down anyway.

      Thanks,

      Originally Posted by link82 View Post

      I'm near San Diego (near, not in) and I have a client here who I am charging around $1500/month for just one city/area. He signed up for two (close to $2k). There are decent search #s and I have multiple properties ranking. I need to push them up to the top now but it's been going smooth so far.

      I don't understand why people charge $200/month for SEO. I'm not saying you can't do that for a certain industry/niche but this really cheapens our work. And I just started They may as well go get someone in India for $200/month because it's not worth my time. (No offense to anyone).

      Hope this helps.
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      • Profile picture of the author link82
        Originally Posted by joe0074 View Post

        You are lucky, man. I get the dentist website ranked number 1 on page 1 for the keyword that has 480 exact search per month. She pay me only 2 month in a row then cancel my service. I only charge her $350 per month. That happened 1 and half year ago. Now her website is still sitting on number 1 on page 1 and enjoy lots of traffic. I think it is not fair for me It is hard to take her website down anyway.

        Thanks,
        I am learning that it's all about control. I am not working on his website. I am working on properties he is technically renting through me. I am also promoting his videos that are under my account. If we part ways, the websites are mine. I will probably leave the videos alone but the new client will get these ranked sites. Learn from you first mistake; don't be discouraged from it!
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        • Profile picture of the author ronr
          Dentists are just any other. Some willing to invest in their marketing and some won't. I have one dentist that paid me $3500 up front and $250/month because I know him. Another one I just do a little for because he won't pay me anything upfront and just $250/month.

          I've found it all depends how big the city is, how badly they want new business and most importantly how much they believe you can help them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
    As far as charging, you probably want to charge a setup charge in addition to the monthly recurring charges. And a guarantee of a first page listing within maybe 3 months or you will work for free to get them there ... or refund their money.

    For anyone who thinks the guarantee is not a good idea, I'd say if you can't guarantee your work, then you have no business (pun intended) in this type of environment. And that guarantee should help you to filter your prospects to match them to your abilities.

    And to deal with the person who wants to drop your services, make sure they know that if they do, you will go to their next competitor to put them on the first page. Telling them you will only have one client per business type would probably add some incentive for them to stay.

    Just make sure you can deliver!

    Marvin
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  • Profile picture of the author sabreena
    hi,

    I completley agree with karan1070.... and 2ndly i think you have to charge him 3 keywords for $997/m....
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  • Profile picture of the author Google1982
    yes around 1000/month for 3 keywords looks fine
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Originally Posted by robgee123 View Post

    Hey folks, I have landed a dental client recently & I'm not sure what to charge them for optimization.

    I am re-designing their websites & doing S.M stuff for them too, which I know will help with their SEO anyways. Plus I am using wordpress with all-in-one S.E.O & other useful plug-in's that will almost certainly get them the number one spot without any links etc.

    The reason for this post is that I'm not really doing any 'hardcore' link building or anything so I'm really charging them for adding a free plug-in... :confused:

    Hey Rob, you might want to check out this article.

    How to Charge for SEO

    Oh, and while we're at it - I disagree completely with charging a client more, simply because of the profession they're in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Torro
    If possible, get your numbers first. What would each phone call to the dentist on average be worth, or each customer? How much money is on average spent on equipment and dental products for each customer? Find out how much the dentist earns for him/her self after all expenses.

    Then you can estimate/calculate how many visitors your SEO could bring, what is the conversion-rate, and how many customers would that lead to? Also,

    When you know numbers like this, it's MUCH easier to know how much your service is worth, and what you can charge.
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    At least $995 upfront.... Covers 5 keywords
    Then $495/month there after.

    Doesn't matter what niche. I don't charge more due to profession.

    As well as additional if I am doing On-page... But this is a one time fee
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Take this post of mine on John Durham's TMF and modify it (easily) for SEO.

    Your work is worth a lot more than you think. Move off the solution. Your prospect doesn't care how you get there--what they want is a steady stream of qualified inbound leads. Talk about that. Bring them that, and they'll be happy to reward you.
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  • Profile picture of the author 919492
    Also track things.. I would use a tracking phone number so that you could show them that you are producing phone calls and visits to the website. Tracking is everything.
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