Page 3 - What should an SEO be getting paid per client?

web_productions,

Can you generate detailed traffic reports easily that determine your monthly billing?

@factoryboy I was, im not anymore lol. one time fees per domain cost a client mimimum $1,200 now. even that however is substantially less than many 'big' companies charge and vast difference in ROI than any expensive banner campaign can achieve.

Probably still undercutting myself but the market I primarily target (the german market) is not ready yet for the kind of fees many of the us/uk based companies are charging.

It all depends on a lot of factors, whether your providing them with PR as well from your own domains (Which I do) as well as like webby said "what you are comforatable with" Other Factors come into play as well, geographical area (If you live in Thailand your cost of living is way less than if you livein England for instance) and then of course there is track record, reputation etc. If your starting out usually you need to prove yourself before you can charge bigger money, but most of all be fair to yourself - IF you think its to much it probably is, if you think your worth more YOU ARE!
Good luck

I thought that I would throw my two - cents into this thread.

My company, RustyBrick and I are strong believers that all PUBLIC sites should be designed, programmed and structured with search engine optimization from day one. That is not to say that in the past we have not put up non optimized sites, but today we won't launch a new site that was not built for search engines and the users that visit them.

Most "non-optimized" sites can use a re-write and many of those can use a redesign.

RustyBrick does not charge for search engine optimization services, we charge for Web development and design services (which is inclusive of a search engine friendly site). Most of what an SEO does is clean up code and re-write a lot of it. So I would quote X hours to re-write, add, delete, design changes, URL re-writing, etc. at $X per hour.

We also do give site consultations, most of which are those phone calls (free, - like Webby's idea on that http://forums.seochat.com/t6088/s.html ). We give seminars and I spend some time here contributing information, writing articles and that sort.

SEO, besides for the link building (which any body really can do) is mostly Re-Design and Re-Development Services.

Anyone disagree?

"SEO from the ground up" http://www.seo-guy.com/seo-tutorial...dly-design.html

Good call barry, optimization from inception is always the most effective SEO strategy, and can be called "SEO" can be called "effective site design" can be called many things.

But the fact is, its just another skill to add to the resume of "website developement" and something that makes you a more valued comodity nomatter what you call your knowlege and implimentation of search engine friendly construction.

Yup.

BUT One day I suspect it will be a prerequisite to Web site development.

SEO Guy,

You said, "whether your providing them with PR as well from your own domains". Do you 'host' clients on your domain so they can benefit from your linkability? I have a client with good linkability as a result of being hosted by a well-linked domain. Getting good rankings for him is a snap. I wonder how to find similar 'hosts' for other clients.

It isnt about hosting, you dont have to host a domain to link to it from high PR doains in your control, however yes in fact in many occassions I do the complete package ie: graphics, host, write content, optimize, track, set up shopping cart etc and cover bandwidth for a monthly fee as a complete online marketing solution. Lots of ways to skin a cat

The home page is extremely important
because if it is "friendly" the visitor
is more inclined to make a purchase.

In contrast, if your home page is "hostile" -
if is confusing with wild colors and strange schemes,
you will not only lose the sale,
but the visitor is likely to never return to your site
and may even convince friends that your site is no good.

This will impact your bottom line.

First you will have a low percent conversion rate
of clicks to sales.

This means little money for you pay an SEO to get good placement on the major search engines.

A low rank on SE creates a perception of poor quality.

To generate more sales you begin to bid on low-quality
third tier PPC SE to generate even more traffic.

Second the users that do come to your site are eating up
valuable bandwidth without buying product.

So you pay a lot for bandwidth,
but have few sales.

Even offering FREE gifts and other incentives
does not generate sales.

Third the sales you do get are of low cost items
that you are dras·ti·cal·ly discounting to gen some income.

Now you are in financial trouble.

So in desperation you turn to an email blast
to round up more potential clients.

Your "rep" and "street cred" are now zero!

Endgame is bankruptcy.

I charge about 200 EURO per hour + a bonus for the increase in (quality) traffic. I also get paid in trade, in 1/3 deals I am buying something back from the company in question, or there is a trade of service.