SEO in Exchange for Revenue Profit-Share

Hello,

I have a website site needing strong SEO, but in a relatively simple competitive market.

I am willing to share a portion of long-term profits in exchange for results. Profit potential is a proven $50,000/mo.

PM or reply please, but I'm not an Internet forum n00b. I know which posters to trust, so if you are a n00b as well, don't bother.

Thanks you very much for any offers... And I look forward to working with you! I will go over complete details via PM.

First no offense intended.

While I appreciate the usually cost/risk issue and trust, it goes both ways.

A SEO could over-promise, be paid, and under-deliver, and leave.

A client could over-promise, not need to pay, and once seeing results say "I don't think SEO is the way to go. We are changing marketing directions and have decided not to continue with SEO services."

Obviously, both conditions are a concern and both imply a measure of trust... what makes you more trustworthy than the SEO... your word correct?

"If" I was doing this:



That's a claim deserving serious consideration - but "long-term", "proven $50,000/mo", and implies the SEO takes all unfront risk...

Long-term means? 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 20, 50?

$50,000 potential and absolutely no risk

I would counter offer:

1. co-ownership

2. 50/50 split since you have the product/service of a proven profitable model but no expertise or cash flow and the "potential is ONLY induced by the SEO".

OR

If ownership isn't attractive since the all work must be completed upfront and less fruition early comparable to lesser backend work and great fruition (but possibly a discontinuation of service "IF" not a principal of the company)

1st year [75% SEO, 25% you first 6 months, latter 6 months 65% SEO], 2nd year 55% SEO, 3rd year 50% and thereafter.

OR if that isn't desirable either - pay upfront and reap the long term rewards "yourself" for assuming all the risk.

Seriously, if the potential is that "proven" and the profit is $50K/month a bank loan is a sure bet.

For your consideration.

Exactly who I wanted to reply... fathom and EGOL. Thanks for your time.

Yes, people would be relying upon my word, but I am also more than willing to sign a written contract if I have faith in the SEO expert.

50% seems a bit high, but if I was guaranteed effort (not results, but serious effort), that probably wouldn't be an issue; however, you guys have no idea about the effort involved in this project. No offense, but no analysis has been done. This project should be pretty easy, but I'm looking for guaranteed enthusiasm, not guaranteed results.

After a decent analysis by a qualified SEO professional, then it's time to talk money... Until then $25k a month seems a little steep.

Seriously though, thanks for your input, and I look forward to further discussion.

I think you're restricting yourself to an SEO noob since I know of no SEO 'pro' who will undertake a project without payment for services rendered. So let's get this straight you're going to pay me to work hard, not about the results? I can run while typing, that's hard relevant work, and now I"ll get paid, hoorAY

Agree - running any business is a serious long term committment. As a working SEO I had "no time" to invest in all the opprtunities that came my way... I had to outsource my businesses to others (or as I noted 'co-ownership').

That said: I have had some real winners in the SEO client world...

Some that hire and won't accept your advice, desire accountability but they determine what flawed SEO strategy is best based on some BS article.

Some that learn through your trusted guidance and then think they know it and start doing their own strategy. In one case 50 - 100% duplicated website in an attempt to pay once and receive X50 the return.

One that disputed CC payments, falsified a claim to VISA and thought half way around the world was "protection".

In any case risks and rewards are one 'n the same... whomever takes the most risk, takes most of the rewards... that's just smart business.

Your best bet "learn and do yourself" and generate a little success.

The advantages are:

1. You know how to tell a SEO that is all hype, learner, and experienced.

2. The risk isn't as high but the rewards are all yours, and

3. At some point, your time becomes far for valuable than your monetary retention - you have a business to run and that isn't a SEO business.

Today, I can hire even a learner, do absolutely no work, create a solid professional and because all my businesses are co-owned I don't do anything there either.

It took ten years but now I do only what I wish to do.

Be that as it may, hand 50% of your business over to a professional is the least risk with the most return early, simply because "you are not just the client" - they (the SEO) are as well.

And of course your expecting the seo to do months and months of work on your site and get great results and then possibly not get paid??? And how does the seo know how much your making so he can get the correct %?

Proven? By who? Your word again?

I am a wily old businessman with more years of running companies than you are likely years old; many of those years in the venture capital area. Your are asking some one to take a major risk just to share the profit. If your venture had potential and is truly "proven", I would fund you and take 80% of the equity. Interested?

I have heard claims much higher than yours, but if yours is true, you should be looking for funding not some independent SEO to take a major share. Some data: approximately 90% of all funded ventures go bankrupt.

Last question: why would anyone, unless they are in the business of risk, take all the risk of making your venture a success?

That's a pretty bold claim!

Lost a bundle when the UNSINKABLE Titanic sunk huh?

If I was on either side of this transaction, I would be talking to someone about an ownership stake or a piggy back rather than a perform for me first and get paid later.

A few approaches - outside of the box thinking....

1) Offer to put up some equity - as suggested by fathom. Put your site on the line or a stake in it - this done in exchange for the SEO effort. You want labor and expertise up front but nobody wants paid later. The middle ground is equity in the property that the SEO will enhance. If I had equity in the site I would work a lot harder than if it were owned by some JoeBlowe who promissed to pay me. Research this person carefully before you sign the deal and have performace benchmarks so that the equity build is tied to accomplishment.

2) Or, I would go out looking for an unmonetized site or poorly monetized site that ranks well in this theme and either.... a) try to buy it, or b) talk to the owner about renting you a folder with full-site linkage into it, or, c) work an affiliate deal with them and you build the links. These deals could get you a fantastic head start on an established site.

3) Find another site that already ranks well in this theme and offer them an affiliate deal that is better than what they already have.

Right now you don't have much to offer yet you want a bundle from another person. The deals above will put you on more even ground with the person who has the ability to help you make your goal. I have done 2a, 2c and 3 (in reverse) and have been happy with how it worked.

I have consultants billing well over that per month on projects where payment is guaranteed, and the contrat is from a multi-billion dollar company, not a new member of a forum.

I'm sure from your perspective it seems like you have something valuable to offer, but honestly, any top consultant - be it in this field or any highly desired field - can make that kind of money with little or no risk. If you want the best to work for you AND to take significant risk, you need to offer far more that market rate or a little above. Top SEO firms are billing out consultants with half the knowledge and experience of the 2 who posted above me at $150 - $250 per hour. I also know plenty of SEOs who work in the affiliate market place where they get paid 100% based on performance, but the payments are guaranteed and begin immediately upon generating the leads/sales. Many of them make over $25K per month as well, and again, they take little risk and only have to wait as long as it take them to generate the first conversion.

I don't mean to put down or belittle your request/offer. I just hope to put it in context. To me, the offer looks like one that would only be apealing to someone who has not yet proven him/herself, or who is not good at selling themselves. Anyone who is really good with a strong track record and who knows how to sell themselves need not take on so much risk in order toreceive the benefits you seem to be offering.

Thank you to everyone for your input... Obviously I have a lot to learn. I certainly didn't mean to insult anyone's intelligence with this proposal, so I apologize if anyone was offended.

I didn't know that it would be such a time-consuming task for an SEO to undertake, but according to many of you I under-estimated the job. The reason for this is that I made a request on eLance a month or so ago and had 20 or so bids from "SEO"s who seemed very interested once they heard the details. These bids ranged anywhere from $200 to $1,000, and a few of them had a relatively long history of satisfied customers. I was still unsure, however, and left it at that.

I've been reading and searching these forums extensively for the past few weeks, and my head is spinning. I was very close to buying some links on linkadage, but beforehand did a search on the forums looking for advice on this. After reading everything I could find, I came to the conclusion that buying links wasn't the way to go (am I right/wrong?).

I also learned that link exchanges have little weight these days, and that even if I find a site that has a relevant theme, I'll likely just be placed on their "Links" page which I've learned is worthless as well. Regardless, 90% of the time I make a request or complete their "link exchange" form, they don't follow through anyway.

I've also spent quite al long time submitting to directories... This also seems like a big waste of time, since they seem to be nothing but link farms which have little or no weight in the search engines.

I guess I no longer know where to turn, and have a limited budget, so I decided to throw this proposal out there.

Thanks again for replying and putting me in my place... I sincerely appreciate it.

Ps. So basically you guys are saying either do it yourself or shell out $25k a month without knowing if I will get the results I need? Very discouraging

x2ski,

I don't think you've offended anyone - certainly not me. Also, I don't think the 2 options you laid out above are your only 2 options. You may very well be able to get someone to do the job for far less than $25K per month. My first question is why would you not have hired one of the SEOs who said they would do it for $1,000 or less?

In my view, if you want someone proven, you will either have to pay them their hourly or project rate OR offer a lot more if you want them to take all the risk. But the bottom line is, there are MANY good SEO's out there, so you have a good market to choose from. Make specific offers to some that you like. If they accept, you're golden. If not, you know you are offering less than the market will bare.