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Looking for quality SEO work

by Tjmcnich
16 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hey guys I just landed my first client... heres the deal.... she owns a Chicago Salon and Day Spa.... I need to get the first page of Google for "Chicago Day Spas" which has 12,400 competing pages with 4,400 searchers per month... She wants to make google page one without quotes... I told her let me plug some numbers and Ill call her back..

My question is what is a fair price to charge this person?
- A ballpark figure would be fine I would like an idea of a fair price. I was thinking between $200-350

and what is a fair price for me to pay for outsourcing?
I was hoping this would cost me no more than 200-300 flat rate to get it onto the first page of Google. with maybe 20-50 bucks a month to have it stay on the first page.

I would like to have this on Google Page one within 6 months. Anyone know someone from the forum who does great SEO work?

www.alluredevia.com is the website... I'm not the one making the site either.

Thanks for your help!
Tommy Mac
#quality #seo #work
  • Profile picture of the author Tim Norton
    Hey Tommy,

    As it's a local term we can do some reduced SEO work (we normally charge a flat rate of $1500 per month per project) but the competition is always easier locally.

    I can give this a full SEO analysis and put together a plan with your say so and we can work out a monthly deal on this so you get a good % profit! Then if things work out i would be more than happy to take on more local SEO work if you provided the clients and again left you a good % for your troubles (and i can stay behind the scenes too).

    My email is timnorton2011 @hotmail.co.uk

    Look forward to hearing from you

    Tim
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  • Profile picture of the author dburk
    Hi Tommy Mac,

    According to Google's keyword tool that term gets 260 searches per Month and there are 304 pages that target that term with the keyword in the page title. There are an additional 130 searches per month that include that phrase in the term being searched.

    I would consider this low competition with low search volume. You should be able to get where you want within the budget you have in mind.
    Signature

    * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management |
    *     Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Tjmcnich
    Dburk where did you find those results? I'm also using the Google Adwords tool and its telling me last month there was 4,400 searches..

    Thanks!

    Tim holy hell what kinda competition are you getting $1500 with? Most SEO packages I've found were about $500 real extremely competitive keywords and guaranteed first page within 6 months... that was a flat rate of 500 not per month
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    • Profile picture of the author scott g
      If you haven't already you should add the business to Google Places:

      http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...cm1ZiS5BoHkcOg

      As far as EXACT monthly searches goes:


      As far as competition goes:


      With some hard work and motivation, you could get the site to rank on page ONE yourself in a couple of months.

      CHEERS!

      P.s. The site http://www.alluredevia.com/ won't load. I guess it's not done yet...? If they can get the keywords in key places like the title and maybe in a <h1><h2><h3> tag and sprinkle it in the content, it would make your job a lot easier!
      Signature
      scott g
      "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."
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    • Profile picture of the author Tim Norton
      Originally Posted by Tjmcnich View Post

      Dburk where did you find those results? I'm also using the Google Adwords tool and its telling me last month there was 4,400 searches..

      Thanks!

      Tim holy hell what kinda competition are you getting $1500 with? Most SEO packages I've found were about $500 real extremely competitive keywords and guaranteed first page within 6 months... that was a flat rate of 500 not per month
      We take on a complete strategy! Most people find one keyword and go for it! But there is loads more traffic to be had and we work on getting traffic from day 1 so the client see's results.

      If it was only 1 keyword then OK $500 a month is a reasonable rate for that but we prefer to take on no more than 5 clients every month and charge a higher rate and supply a complete service for them.

      Tim
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      • Profile picture of the author Tjmcnich
        Scott thanks for that visual! for the second part of that picture what tool was that, where the sites are lined up 1-20?

        Isn't $500 dollars a month extreme for a keyword that only gets 280 searches per month? That's almost 2 dollars every-time someone types in Chicago Day Spas... I bet the adsense/adwords thing isn't even 2 dollars a click...and with a click atleast I know they are going to my site... am I totally missing something here?
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        • Profile picture of the author Tim Norton
          Originally Posted by Tjmcnich View Post

          Scott thanks for that visual! what the second part of that picture what tool was that? where the sites are lined up 1-20?

          Isn't $500 dollars a month extreme for a keyword that only gets 280 searches per month? That's almost 2 dollars every-time someone types in Chicago Day Spas... I bet the adsense/adwords thing isn't even 2 dollars a click...and with a click atleast I know they are going to my site... am I totally missing something here?
          He was just giving an example of a quote he had for a more competative keyword!

          The main problem with SEO is the results don't come all that quickly so they would see ranking increases but wouldn't see 1st position for at least 1 month!

          Tim
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        • Profile picture of the author scott g
          Originally Posted by Tjmcnich View Post

          Scott thanks for that visual! for the second part of that picture what tool was that, where the sites are lined up 1-20?

          Isn't $500 dollars a month extreme for a keyword that only gets 280 searches per month? That's almost 2 dollars every-time someone types in Chicago Day Spas... I bet the adsense/adwords thing isn't even 2 dollars a click...and with a click atleast I know they are going to my site... am I totally missing something here?
          That tool is Traffic Travis. It's really not that great of a tool (not always accurate), but it's good to use to get a glimpse of your competition - PLUS it's a lot easier to take a screen shot of than the actual SERPage! I use SEO Quake Add-on for Firefox all the time... I don't know what I would do without it... I surf and research at the same time!

          designerjack is really right... You should have posted this or been looking in the Warriors for Hire Subforum:

          Warriors For Hire

          CHEERS!
          Signature
          scott g
          "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."
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  • Profile picture of the author scott g
    Originally Posted by JacobH View Post

    SEO can also help you get some online jobs that related in online advertising and marketing like for example facebook and twitter marketing. You can really earn instant cash from them.
    LOL! Dude... You're spamming your sig to an SEO/IM Community! You can't get much dumber than that... I looked at your 5 other posts that you posted tonight in about 5-minutes. Weird... You have 5 total posts?! Coincidence...?

    I THINK NOT!
    Signature
    scott g
    "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."
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    • Profile picture of the author designerjack
      You need to look in the right place...

      I would try searching "Warriors for Hire" section to see if you can
      find an expert who has posted their SEO Qualifications.

      You may want to post on what you plan to get done
      and you'll probably get a message or two.
      Signature

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      • Profile picture of the author gbsint
        Tommy,

        There are obviously many factors that you must consider! How cheaply are you willing to work? $20-50 a month for maintenance and you are planning to outsource this?

        Based on the previous comments, the business does not have a current website. If it does, you did not mention where they already stand in the Google search. One thing to keep in mind in a larger city, are they trying to market to everyone in the Metropolitan area or the suburb they are in and the surrounding suburbs? ( I am working with a face painter in the DC area that has a friend in Chicago.)

        The business can rank number one for their suburb and still show up in other areas, depending on how their website and citation sites are setup.

        You mentioned you expected to be on page one in 6 months, you are under charging if you expect to do that much work (or have it done for you for them).

        The initial set up is where "most" of the hard work will be done. What are you planning to do in order to get them there?

        Your goal is to get them to #1.

        What is your plan to get them there?

        If your automatic transmission is slipping, what is the cost?
        Can of transmission fluid $5. If fluid was low, it is fixed!
        Rebuild transmission $800
        Replace transmission $1500

        Would you spend $800-1500 to fix a transmission if your fluid is low?
        (I'm not a mechanic, the prices are a wag! The fixes are minimum of what can be done)

        If you are tweaking a website, it might not take too long or it might be better to start over!

        What do you believe needs to be done to get them to One? Once your have the list, it will be easier to project your costs to outsource and then to determine your profit and what you need to charge your client. If the market won't bear it, then don't do it.

        Jerry

        PS I have seen suggested prices all over the place, but most are around $500 for each item done initially and then $500-1000 a month for maintenance.
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        • Profile picture of the author ObsidianKnight
          Originally Posted by gbsint View Post

          Tommy,

          There are obviously many factors that you must consider! How cheaply are you willing to work? $20-50 a month for maintenance and you are planning to outsource this?

          Based on the previous comments, the business does not have a current website. If it does, you did not mention where they already stand in the Google search. One thing to keep in mind in a larger city, are they trying to market to everyone in the Metropolitan area or the suburb they are in and the surrounding suburbs? ( I am working with a face painter in the DC area that has a friend in Chicago.)

          The business can rank number one for their suburb and still show up in other areas, depending on how their website and citation sites are setup.

          You mentioned you expected to be on page one in 6 months, you are under charging if you expect to do that much work (or have it done for you for them).

          The initial set up is where "most" of the hard work will be done. What are you planning to do in order to get them there?

          Your goal is to get them to #1.

          What is your plan to get them there?

          If your automatic transmission is slipping, what is the cost?
          Can of transmission fluid $5. If fluid was low, it is fixed!
          Rebuild transmission $800
          Replace transmission $1500

          Would you spend $800-1500 to fix a transmission if your fluid is low?
          (I'm not a mechanic, the prices are a wag! The fixes are minimum of what can be done)

          If you are tweaking a website, it might not take too long or it might be better to start over!

          What do you believe needs to be done to get them to One? Once your have the list, it will be easier to project your costs to outsource and then to determine your profit and what you need to charge your client. If the market won't bear it, then don't do it.

          Jerry

          PS I have seen suggested prices all over the place, but most are around $500 for each item done initially and then $500-1000 a month for maintenance.
          Jerry,

          My last transmission replacement was fr a 94 Dodge Ram 1500 and it cost $2000 (with discounted rate as my cousin was the Shop manager), and it still had to be replaced 3 times (damm dodge factory rebuilds)

          That aside. OP, Jerry is likely more correct on the pricing. Many marketers could charge an offline client $500 for the content just discussed in this post. You have to rememer a few things:

          1 Dont sell yourself short. If the client feels like they are getting sub-standard service, they may be dissappointed.

          2: IMPORTANT: Many offline business EXPECT to pay higher prices. In many cases, they know it is going to cost them some money. But they also know how expensive traditional marketing is. Go post an ad in the local yellow pages and you will spend several hundred bucks easily.

          Below are some questions you can ask yourself or your customers.
          Questions To Ask Yourself before planning an Internet Marketing Strategy.

          Do you have a value position of Internet utilization?
          Do you have a web site?
          Do you have full time employees focused on Internet Development?
          Is your web site costing more than it's making?
          Do you integrate process, marketing and sales via use of the Internet?
          Do you know the short and long term effects of the Internet on your industry?
          Are you leveraging your company's intellectual properties on the Internet?
          Is the Internet having a positive impact on your business?
          Do you know what your next step is in regards to your business's Internet Strategy?
          Do you have a trusted place to go to help you improve and benefit these topics?

          Make your customer fully appreciate what effort goes into your work. Remember they are paying for "YOUR EXPERTISE".

          Heck, as a computer tech, my "family rate" is $50 an hour. Could you afford to handle a hundred customers a month at your projected cost?

          Also, It helps to let your customer know what they stand to gain from your efforts.

          see this other post I just made for Im strategy benfits.
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  • Profile picture of the author ObsidianKnight
    Tommy,

    SEO pricing will vary depending on what methods you are using to get SEO for them.

    As you pointed out, you are not making the website. Please bear in mind that so much of the SEO aspects come from how the site is created.

    • Website Optimization (SEO)
      • Keywords
      • Titles
      • Descriptions
      • Meta Tags
      • On page Links
      • Sitemaps
      • Page linking structure
    Obviously if you cannot modify these aspects, your job will be harder.

    SEO ranking can often be manipulated much easier by offsite factors. These can increase ranking drammatically. Depending on what methods you use, this increase can be fast or slow.



    off page factors
    1. incoming links
      1. blogs
      2. forums
      3. article directories
      4. press releases
      5. General directories
      6. Niche Directories
      7. RSS submissions
      8. web 2.0 / social networks
      9. social bookmarking
      10. audio - webinars, teleseminars
      11. video submissions
    You will also need to know what apsects they are utilizing, if any, to make an assessment of what methods to use.


    For instance, I worked for a company that was doing press releases every month. However, they never once created a "web PR release" that included links to the site or linked keywords.

    A single PR can hit thousands of news agencies overnight. This can bring in considerable link love, especially for such a low volume keyword.

    A single PR might only take 2 hours a month to do, while other methods might take 2 hours every day.

    If the company has never done a good PR, then this might be all you need.

    Remember, you also only have to out perform the competition. Most competitors are not likely using many SEO practices. If the keyword term can be snagged by posting to related blogs once a week, go for it. If it will take hundreds of articles, then increase your costs.

    If only one competitor has good SEO, then just do a little bit more SEO then they have done.

    By providing more options to the customer, you in turn provide much more service to your customer.

    In the long run, you should structure the services that you are able or willing to provide. Find an outsourcer if you need one and then track what it will cost you. Then build in some level of profit you feel comfortable changing.
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  • Profile picture of the author carroll548
    seo quality is not much easier to get it at high ranking but you can get to manage their website quality and rules .
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  • Profile picture of the author Tjmcnich
    The website they currently have now they decided to scratch and let me build them a site optimized for my specific keyword... This should help a lot I hope.
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    • Profile picture of the author ObsidianKnight
      Originally Posted by Tjmcnich View Post

      The website they currently have now they decided to scratch and let me build them a site optimized for my specific keyword... This should help a lot I hope.
      What about the next keyword?

      Remember pages rank individually. You can have a main site that is gear for customer interaction, retention and conversion, and have sub-pages that rank to bring in the traffic.

      You might even want to consider looking for a site structure guide. (been a while since I looked it up.

      Basics: top page with main industry seo apsects
      then subsections expand on keywords and link to main page
      additional seubsections further expansio, more internal linking, and so forth.

      I know I have a copy of it somewhere if I can find it.

      Site structure can help quite a bit because your are hitting internal links, and since a page can rank on it's own, you stand to have multiple pages in the Google listing.

      For instance, would you rather have Google page 1 with only one listing, or page of of Google and have 3,4 or even 5 listings or more for their "chosen keywords".
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