Page 2 - Charging for SEO based on results

I have to disagree with you and these very broad generalizations. It is all about risk vs. reward. Most companies are interesting in receiving qualified leads. Many will either pay you for the leads or a pay higher amount for converted leads. It completely depends on the project, the competition, the investment up front vs. the potential return and the honesty of the company you make the deal with (that is the hardest part IMO). You have to conduct very good due diligence.

I signed a deal with Health Insurance provider last February after I researched the competition for their niche. While they spent months trying to decide if they would invest in redesigning their website I got to work building link popularity. They are now #1 for terms like group health insurance San Diego and a number of other So. Cal geographies and other related terms too. Once they saw their rankings improve they stepped up and invested in a new website.

My cut...10% of the monthly premium for all web based leads for the lifetime of the client with a buyout clause if and when they sell the business. Six months notice if they want to cut and the contract is legit approved by our lawyers. My first check is being cut October 1st. You can bet my checks this time next year will be worth the risk I took.

This is just one of the share of revenue projects I'm working on. Each one is different. Some require some investment by them at certain times, splitting costs sometimes or me taking the initial risk like in this example. Diversify your portfolio. Give skin to get skin if it makes sense from an ROI perspective.

Working hourly sucks (IMO). Work smart not hard!

Congrats europa. That deal worked out really well for you. Ok my generalizations were a bit too...er...generalized. But then ...there are so many clients out there who find it very difficult to part with their money, it's really better to have yourself covered IMO.

All of the revenue share deals I'm working on with the exception of the Insurance company (who I met at a local Chamber of Commerce meeting) are with successful people I have known for a long time or current clients with new ideas. I'm a risk taker and have been all of my life.

I'm just saying there are opportunities out there and you shouldn't limit yourself (original poster). One size does not fit everyone. Offer flexible pricing, revenue share opportunities, training's for those who can't afford to retain a consultant. Essentially create customer focused pricing and services. Even though I have good SERPs related to SEO - 90% of my business comes from referral. Establish a good reputation and over time people will seek you out and you can pick and choose the projects you work on and the prices you charge for each.

Come and visit me my friend.. We will go to macau and clean up...

Gary I'll come with you but watch you bet. When the odds are stacked against you it is called target shooting not risk taking.

I would give the example of China which is our primary market. Some clients here focus on keywords, they don't understand keyword research nor do they listen to your keyword recommendations. They don't even care to learn about their traffic, visitors, website conversion rate etc. They just give you a list of keyword and ask you to get the job done.

For this type of clients we give them the following option: X% when your keyword enters the top 100, Y% when it makes the top 30 and the balance when it makes the top 10. And they pay by the keyword.