(Entry was posted by Tim Qui on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 12/04/2013).

Could you guys give me some advice on SEO fee schedules?

I`m currently transitioning into a career in SEO and I wondered if you guys could give me some advice on fee schedules.

I am working with my first client who I haven`t been charging as I am using his site as a test bed for my learning. So far results have been positive but to really give him the boost he is looking for I need to start a sustained content building strategy. Obviously this is a considerable time investment on my part and I need to start charging.

My client is talking about performance related payment but as with any SEO I can`t guarantee serp rank or timeframe. Should I be charging an hourly rate or per blog post that I write? Should I get a bonus when I hit certain KPI`s?

This is new to me so any advice would be appreciated.

+Jim Munro I appreciate this isn`t a technical question so If this is the wrong place let me know and I`ll take the post down.?

This question begins at 00:20:27 into the clip. Did this video clip play correctly? Watch this question on YouTube commencing at 00:20:27

Share on Twitter

Share on Facebook

YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

Tim Quin: I'm currently transitioning into a career in SEO and I wondered if you guys could give me some advice on fee schedules.

I am working with my first client who I haven't been charging as I am using his site as a test bed for my learning. So far results have been positive but to really give him the boost he is looking for I need to start a sustained content building strategy. Obviously this is a considerable time investment on my part and I need to start charging.

My client is talking about performance related payment but as with any SEO I can't guarantee serp rank or timeframe. Should I be charging an hourly rate or per blog post that I write? Should I get a bonus when I hit certain KPI's?

This is new to me so any advice would be appreciated.

+Jim Munro I appreciate this isn't a technical question so If this is the wrong place let me know and I'll take the post down.
Sandra Sinclair: I would love to take part in these schedules as well so if anyone has some information they want to share, please do! Thanks!
Patrick Rabanser: I charge a hourly rate, for a simple reason a SEO does a lot of different things...

If your work only consists in writing Blog posts (I hope not) then you should charge per Post!
BUT if you do Link Building, On-Page Optimization, Local SEO, &c. then you should charge hourly rates.

About the Bonus, ;thats a good question!
Personally I'm not a big fan of bonuses, I think it gets complicated over time as u have to adapt your Bonus for every new client and Work, but thats just a personal decision.

Try to run some calculations: what would bring you good "money" and what would be the most fun for you to work!
Chad Spencer: I agree with Patrick. I work for Gravitate Online and we charge an hourly rate that has been broken up into tasks. We give the clients three options of payments meaning if they dont mind waiting ten ;months they can pay a lower per month charge but if they want to get there in four or so months they pay about double the amount. Google is always changing so never put your pay on results because you can work your tail off and an update will kill your rankings. ;
Jim Munro: I guess the others will correct me if I am wrong but I think it is a reasonable question of interest to our community, Tim. :)
Wilfredo P. Kaamiño Jr.: Charge the hourly rate or organize deliverable in smaller units as search engine algorithm keeps being updated your efforts now while correct may be outdated in a month. ;
Tim Quin: Thank you for taking the time guys, this really helps me get some clarity on how to bill my clients.