contracts!

Hiya all, I have recently suffered some grief off a none paying customer which was highlighted in seo chat and I got a lot of help and advice. I have also read several posts about seo companies not performing. The use of a contract would help solve many of these problems and I am wanting to write a contract that will need to be signed but don't want to frighten potential customers away. As I am sure many of you will understand seo is not understood by your average joe and they don't get anything tangible, customers have to place a lot of trust in their chosen seo company.
Would anybody care to give me some pointers as to where to start in drawing up such a contract or could you send me any examples of contracts that you have seen or use.

A good place to find something would be
http://www.google.com/search?source...d+conditions%22

There seems to be a few examples there. You might want to run any draft past a lawyer befor emaking it final though.

My vast experience indicates be very, very specific in a contract as it protects you and the client.

Scaring clients away - not the ones that matter it won't.

A contract is a legal binding agreement where one party performs said services for a fee, and the other benefits from said services and regardless of the maximum return, the service provider get no more than the agreed amount.

You really can't get around this. A loose contract will allow you to capture nickle and dime clients, but you loose credibility with the clients that matter... thus no matter which way you go... you will lose potential clients.

Just don't promise the world, and avoid using "guaranteed" as in this business that word is noting more than a marketing ploy.

i have a site dedicated to this. try www.web-proposal.com . hope it helps you.

Cheers all, most helpfull, as always:grin:

do what fathom said and be very very specific, i always include a guarantee of top 30 rankings (depending on competitiveness) but i always explain that about 80% of my clients acheive top 10 rankings (i provide case studies and actual results for proof).

Just a note about guarantees - they mean spit. It is better to avoid using that word.

In addition - quoting ranked position not that much either, site visitation is the important part.

With all contracts you cannot guarantee any "performance" however, you can show past successes.

I have found through experience (and trial and error) this if you want to gain clients you must target at your level of experience and perfromance.

With all new clients I provide tracking accounts (Hitslink, Indextools, etc.) and use these to show the level of "performance" I develop at (to new clients).

In addition, I provide potential clients a list of current projects, the contact person and a basic summary of the project, and inform them to contact any and all if need be.

These methods - provide far more credibility, integrity, and trust then a "guarantee of anything".

If however, you must offer a guarantee of some type... I personally believe: providing contact information of any clients who have "invoked" that guarantee to further the business relationship - makes for a sound strategy to show -"your word is your bond"..

There are many things that cause less perfromance (regardless of what performance you quote).

The obvious - search enigne changes, more competitive, or changes in market querying habits.

Less obvious - Low seasonal trends, regional disasters, acts of god, etc.

I'm sure many SEOs optimizing for travel (say to Canada right now or Hong Kong) due to SARS or loss ranks due to Google changes is feeling the pinch right now - with lots of clients "MY GUARANTEE SAYS".

Don't get caught in that loop - it will cost you either revenue or credibility.

Well said, however, I believe it is a matter of perspective now. I KNOW from MY experience, slapping in a guarantee and providing my current / previous client's REAL clickable results has help win me over many prospects.

What works for me obviously won't work for everyone!

hi dazzlindonna,

It was just what I was looking for.

Thank you.