Are there any SEO companies out there with success-fee pricing models?

[the_internets]

I'm considering investing in SEO services, but flat-fee pricing makes me nervous, and incentives aren't completely aligned. If there is a company or consultant out there that operates on a success-fee model (eg, $x for page 1 result for search term y), that would make me much more confident spending the money.

On the other hand, if there's not, then it stands to reason that there's a good explanation for why not (eg, the company isn't confident in delivering on advertised results).

Anyone out there willing to share their thoughts / stories?

Thanks!

[Ecommerce web design]

Hi

You will probably find that lots of members on here offer seo and therefore will not recommend the competition, but there numerous companies that offer this facility you just need to Google them. Im based in the UK so I dont know any in the US off hand.
Good luck with your online marketing campaign.

[knysna]

Hi the_internets.

DON'T Google SEO companies.
You going to be ripped off by some wanna be SEO that knows nothing.

I suggest you go threw a couple of the SEO forum profiles and view there comments. You'll quickly pick up whether they're competent or not, then simply contact them.

[SteveGerencser]

Name any other marketing type that lets you get free marketing work for well, the promise of getting paid later? Phone book? TV? Radio? Sign makers?

SEO is so much more than just trying to make your site preform well on one search engine for one term. But the pay for play companies almost never tell you that.

I've done this in the past. What you are asking for is a 'partner' not a for hire company. As a partner I don't want to make you successful only to get a few hundred/thousand dollars, I want a percentage of your company. Are you willing to trade a percentage of your company for "free" marketing? Add to that, if we are to become partners, I want full control over the website, marketing, conversions, layout, design, all of it. Oh yeah, and full access to the books so I can make sure that I'm getting my fair share for the work I do.

[morestar]

DON'T Google SEO companies.
You going to be ripped off by some wanna be SEO that knows nothing.

That's kind of weird. If a business owner searched for SEO in my city, I might get ripped off but not the other way around.

And to the OP, just know, if you're willing to pay a fee per first page ranked keyword, be ready to still pay the amount you'd pay within a contract.

If I'm going to be working SEO on your website, I'll be asking for your FTP, probably need to edit files, maybe request admin access to your blog, Facebook, Twitter and other social accounts. I may have to determine if your page layout is not in line with Google's page layout recommendation, if your website is too slow, I may have to do some programming and trouble shooting (now you're paying for programmer fees). I may have to take care of a slew of things related to the success of your "keyword".

Really, if you want me to take care of all the technical and social aspects of "getting you on page 1 for your keyword" I see that you'll start seeing your site on page 1 for several keywords. Will we be making an agreement that if my work spawns success with other high search volume keywords that you'l pay me for those too?

[the_internets]

Name any other marketing type that lets you get free marketing work for well, the promise of getting paid later? Phone book? TV? Radio? Sign makers?

SEO is so much more than just trying to make your site preform well on one search engine for one term. But the pay for play companies almost never tell you that.

I've done this in the past. What you are asking for is a 'partner' not a for hire company. As a partner I don't want to make you successful only to get a few hundred/thousand dollars, I want a percentage of your company. Are you willing to trade a percentage of your company for "free" marketing? Add to that, if we are to become partners, I want full control over the website, marketing, conversions, layout, design, all of it. Oh yeah, and full access to the books so I can make sure that I'm getting my fair share for the work I do.

To respond to your argument -- I don't know of any other "free marketing," but I do know of success fee consulting engagements in areas other than marketing. I would also make the distinction that I can physically see a billboard and I know I am getting what I have paid for. With SEO, it's possible that the "consultant" is simply feeding me a lot of hot air.

If an SEO consultant were truly confident in his ability to get results, I guess I don't understand why there's not a flat fee that he'd be willing to name in exchange for those results. Do you only want to "make me successful" if you're going to get a share of the company? Your response in fact hints that, unless this is the case, you're not fully motivated to "make me successful" -- and this is exactly what I'm afraid of with flat-fee consultants whose fees aren't tied to incentives.

[the_internets]

As food for thought... shouldn't whoever shows up first in the Google rankings... be pretty good at SEO, by definition? Ie, otherwise how could they show up on the front page?

Hi the_internets.

DON'T Google SEO companies.
You going to be ripped off by some wanna be SEO that knows nothing.

I suggest you go threw a couple of the SEO forum profiles and view there comments. You'll quickly pick up whether they're competent or not, then simply contact them.

[the_internets]

That's kind of weird. If a business owner searched for SEO in my city, I might get ripped off but not the other way around.

And to the OP, just know, if you're willing to pay a fee per first page ranked keyword, be ready to still pay the amount you'd pay within a contract.

If I'm going to be working SEO on your website, I'll be asking for your FTP, probably need to edit files, maybe request admin access to your blog, Facebook, Twitter and other social accounts. I may have to determine if your page layout is not in line with Google's page layout recommendation, if your website is too slow, I may have to do some programming and trouble shooting (now you're paying for programmer fees). I may have to take care of a slew of things related to the success of your "keyword".

Really, if you want me to take care of all the technical and social aspects of "getting you on page 1 for your keyword" I see that you'll start seeing your site on page 1 for several keywords. Will we be making an agreement that if my work spawns success with other high search volume keywords that you'l pay me for those too?

Yeah, I'd be open to that sort of "halo keyword" arrangement. But if, as you suggest, your SEO work would have positive impacts beyond the specific keyword I'm interested, I guess I don't fully understand why we couldn't simply agree on a relatively high flat fee for the keyword result, to credit the consultant for all the positive externalities as well.

[SteveGerencser]

To respond to your argument -- I don't know of any other "free marketing," but I do know of success fee consulting engagements in areas other than marketing. I would also make the distinction that I can physically see a billboard and I know I am getting what I have paid for. With SEO, it's possible that the "consultant" is simply feeding me a lot of hot air.

Then they aren't really professionals that charge a professional rate. I've been having this discussion for more than 10 years. And in every instance but one I ended up the one being screwed on these deals. Once I do the work and you make the money, I have NO hold on you to make you actually pay. As I said, flat fee for a specific ranking? Not going to happen since the rules change all the time and we don't rank sites, search engines do. We also don't control the conversion process of your website, or even have the proper research in place to prove that your product is even worth buying.

If an SEO consultant were truly confident in his ability to get results, I guess I don't understand why there's not a flat fee that he'd be willing to name in exchange for those results. Do you only want to "make me successful" if you're going to get a share of the company? Your response in fact hints that, unless this is the case, you're not fully motivated to "make me successful" -- and this is exactly what I'm afraid of with flat-fee consultants whose fees aren't tied to incentives.

Because all keywords are not created equal and we have no idea at the outset exactly how long the process will take until we do a lot of real research and testing. We can make a great estimate, but one of us will get screwed on the deal, I will either way over bid it to make sure that I make my fair share, or way underbid it and end up working for free. There are FAR too many variables. If you want me to 'work for free' then yes, I want a percentage of the company. If you want to pay my normal rates then you get "exactly" the same level of service either way.. And I have nearly 15 years of success behind me to show it.. But to get me for free up front, you have to pay more on the back end. It's my bonus for financing your entire marketing effort.

In the end, an old saying comes in to play, you get what you pay for. And you are willing to pay "nothing". Like I said, I've been at this a very long time and seen every argument for this sort of deal from hundreds of small business owners. The staggering majority of them are underfunded, dealing with their first real effort at running a business, or have no real understanding of what it takes to be successful both online and in real space when it comes to business. There are exceptions, but not very many of them. I wish there were more.