Hourly Consulting Model for SEO Services How Does It Work
De BISAWiki
treinamento empresarial
One of the mostcommon questions a consulting client asks before hiring a SEO consultant: Howmuch should I pay for hourly consulting? Here are some tips..
Search EngineOptimization or SEO is still a new industry, which is why most firms andindividuals are still trying to figure out the most appropriate pricing modelfor their services – one that is fair to the interests of clients and serviceproviders alike. The hourly consultingmodel seems to be a fairly common pricing strategy.
Charging hourlyfor SEO services is about as simple and as straightforward as it can get. AnSEO provider presents a flat hourly rate for individual or a combination ofservices depending on client requirements. Hourly rates works especially wellfor consulting and site review work, although plenty of SEO firms use them forkeyword research, tutorials, web design and other services.
One of the bestthings about this pricing model is the flexibility that it offers. Serviceproviders can easily adjust the amount of hours depending on the needs andbudget of a client. This is especially important if the client goes through thelow end of an earnings cycle and wishes to downsize their SEO initiatives. Keepingtrack of work done and the costs they entail is also relatively easy for firmsand their clients. For larger firms, charging hourly also allows them tooptimize the distribution of manpower for each of their accounts. Independentcontractors are also in a stronger position to attract small and mediumbusinesses as clients because the figures do not appear as high as they couldwhen dealing with other pricing models. Clients are also well served knowingthat their SEO initiatives can easily evolve without dealing with the hassle ofperiodic contract reviews.
However, thereare also several downsides to this type of pricing. Its flexible nature mayalso pose problems in matters such as the scope of work. Additional ad hocrequests from the client, and the SEO provider’s own client servicing standardscan lead to higher work load and time requirements. This is because most hourlyrates also operate on mere assumptions and estimates of how long a certainproject may take. Often enough, things do not go according to plan and changeshave to be made – including the scope of services required.
Given thesepotential drawbacks, it is important to draw up an agreement that specifies indetail the scope of work, maximum hours, and an approval process in case morehours are needed. Price stability is another important factor, and it isimportant for SEO providers to maintain a predictable pricing scheme and offeradvance notice for rate increases. Progress reports and invoicing also need tobe as detailed as possible, highlighting accomplished tasks and theircorresponding hours. Experts generally advise weekly and bi-weekly reporting asbeing ideal for most cases.
