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What do you charge for Google Places Listings?

by WillST
12 replies
I'm curious as to what to charge clients for GPL optimisation?

In my experience it takes a few months to get ranked on the first page from a standing start. Do you charge a set up fee? and have the monthly payment from month 1? Or do you work for free first, then charge once rankings are achieved?

Also, if there are any UK offliners offering this service, I would be curious as to what you can achieve, as (again) from experience, I've found that its a little more difficult getting large monthly retainers as compared with the US market (but maybe thats down to my mindset and nothing to do with external factors?!)

Anyway guys, would love to hear your thougts.

Cheers

JSTEF
#charge #google #listings #places
  • Profile picture of the author Voasi
    We'll charge setup fee plus a monthly retainer to get the job done. Our prices are:

    1 GPL (5 keywords): $499 - $799/mo. (depending on vertical and city)

    Additional GPL's we'll sell for $299-$399/mo. to the same client (upsells). Pricing really is determined on how your overhead is and how you value your time. We try and stay as competitive as possible. We're not the cheapest, but we'll not the most expensive either.

    I always tell my clients, "hey, you'd pay $3000/mo. if we got you $6,000/mo in NET profit" - and of course, they always agree.
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    • Profile picture of the author joefalk
      Originally Posted by Voasi View Post

      We'll charge setup fee plus a monthly retainer to get the job done. Our prices are:

      1 GPL (5 keywords): $499 - $799/mo. (depending on vertical and city)

      Additional GPL's we'll sell for $299-$399/mo. to the same client (upsells). Pricing really is determined on how your overhead is and how you value your time. We try and stay as competitive as possible. We're not the cheapest, but we'll not the most expensive either.

      I always tell my clients, "hey, you'd pay $3000/mo. if we got you $6,000/mo in NET profit" - and of course, they always agree.
      So you guarantee them A-G spots for 5 keywords?
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      • Profile picture of the author Voasi
        Originally Posted by joefalk View Post

        So you guarantee them A-G spots for 5 keywords?
        Hey Joe -

        No, we don't guarantee rankings. Reason we don't guarantee is let's say, for instance, Google goes out of business. Hard to believe yes, but then again, I would've guaranteed it.

        Another case in point - this just happened today. We tell a client we're doing all this work. Client has worked on their Places profile before, so they know the in's and out's of it. They decide we're working "too slow" (yup, since we can control when citations get picked up and where your address is located - meaning they leave in "small city" just outside of "big city" they want to rank for) and go in and tweak the Google Places profile, since they talked to their "buddy" who has ranked 1 Google Places profile before and is the "expert". ...another reason why we don't guarantee.

        My guarantee is this: If we don't rank your profile page within the contract term for at least 1 of their keywords, we'll work for free until we do.
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        • Profile picture of the author JayNine
          Originally Posted by Voasi View Post

          Hey Joe -

          No, we don't guarantee rankings. Reason we don't guarantee is let's say, for instance, Google goes out of business. Hard to believe yes, but then again, I would've guaranteed it.

          Another case in point - this just happened today. We tell a client we're doing all this work. Client has worked on their Places profile before, so they know the in's and out's of it. They decide we're working "too slow" (yup, since we can control when citations get picked up and where your address is located - meaning they leave in "small city" just outside of "big city" they want to rank for) and go in and tweak the Google Places profile, since they talked to their "buddy" who has ranked 1 Google Places profile before and is the "expert". ...another reason why we don't guarantee.

          My guarantee is this: If we don't rank your profile page within the contract term for at least 1 of their keywords, we'll work for free until we do.
          Sorry, but I had to laugh at your story. I've def been there before and feel your pain!
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  • Profile picture of the author JayNine
    Depends upon the sale/client.

    Usually I charge between $500-1000 depending upon how much needs to be done. My first clients were between $250-500, so I could get the experience.

    If it's a first time client, I generally require at least 50% upfront, sometimes more (depending upon how I got the client).

    If it is a returning client, usually I bill them for the service, but for the first month. I don't divide it or wait, but make them aware that it does take a little time (generally 4-6 weeks) to start taking full effect.

    As far as a reteiner goes, I usually have a seperate retainer for monitoring reviews and citations.

    Hope that helps! (I'm US, no experience in UK... Sorry!)
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    • Profile picture of the author 9bearz
      What type of service agreement do you use? What do you suggest?
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  • Profile picture of the author WillST
    Excellent guys! Thank you so much so far!

    Would anybody else like to throw their arrangement into the mix?
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  • Profile picture of the author Vanquish
    Price is dependent on the ROI you can provide for them.
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    Nothing to sell, only value to give and new knowledge to learn.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillST
    Anyone else like to share?
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  • Profile picture of the author Cardiologist
    Maybe it is just me, but I prefer charging a nominal perpetual monthly fee rather than a single lump sum payment.

    I have done split testing on credential affiliation, not enough to be considered factual empirical data; but enough to transcend the realm of mere anecdotal conjecture.

    For example, when a client or potential client knows that I am a medical physician, they will virtually pay any price I put forth. I usually have to tell them, something to the effect of,

    "no, no, that is too much you don't have to pay me that much."

    However, when the client does not know I am a physician, clients try to bargain and cut the price down.

    That being said, if you have credentials in one form or another, it may not be a bad thing to let your potential clients know.

    Sorry for the quasi-digression.
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    • Profile picture of the author Excel Fields
      Originally Posted by Cardiologist View Post

      Maybe it is just me, but I prefer charging a nominal perpetual monthly fee rather than a single lump sum payment.

      I have done split testing on credential affiliation, not enough to be considered factual empirical data; but enough to transcend the realm of mere anecdotal conjecture.

      For example, when a client or potential client knows that I am a medical physician, they will virtually pay any price I put forth. I usually have to tell them, something to the effect of,

      "no, no, that is too much you don't have to pay me that much."

      However, when the client does not know I am a physician, clients try to bargain and cut the price down.

      That being said, if you have credentials in one form or another, it may not be a bad thing to let your potential clients know.

      Sorry for the quasi-digression.
      Very interesting, how did you get into offline marketing sir? I'm curious....
      OP i apologize for the thread jack but this post really piqued my interest!
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  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    We charge a lump sum upfront and monthly maintenance fee. It also depends on the competitiveness. If you're going for a dentist in New York City then the price will very different if you are going for a dentist in Caribou, Maine.
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    -------->Started with $500 on Amazon and building it from there. Week #1 income report is live ($593.78 in revenue)<----------
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