SEO Contract Services – Do They Deliver?

Most established SEO firms deal with a combination of several pricing models for their services, but the backbone of their operations are their contract services. Quite simply, this pricing model gives SEO companies a relatively stable revenue stream and a clearly defined set of services for specified time frames that can range from 6 months to several years with options for immediate cancellation, renewal benefits and periodic reviews.  

Perhaps more importantly, this allows them to charge their clients not just for their services but for the exclusivity and non-competitor clauses that their contracts entail. It is as much an ethical as it is a financial concern for companies and their clients. As a result, they tend to demand higher rates and, correspondingly, attract mid-sized to large corporations that place a premium on accountability and professionalism over direct costs.

Apart from these benefits, tying up SEO services to a contract also ensures that mutual expectations between provider and client are clear, enforceable and traceable. Well-written contracts specify any and all work that is expected from the provider, their corresponding fees, deadlines and progress reporting duties. An important feature of a good contract is its ability to make room for adjustments whenever needed, whether in the form of financial commitment on the client side or time and effort on the part of the providers.

The fee structure often comes in the form of monthly payments for the duration of the contract with separate billing for ad hoc work requests. Of course, the services covered in contracts differ from one company to the next; some specialize in one particular area such as social media while others focus on SEO foundations such as keyword research, link building and content optimizing. Additionally, most firms do not charge the same fee for all their clients. Comprehensive SEO coverage means more money, of course, but SEO firms are also known to charge differently among different industries – with competition within that industry often a crucial factor in determining fees.

 What is clear here is that contract services demand a serious and sustained investment of financial resources from the client. As it stands, this type of SEO service is more suited to companies that already have SEO initiatives in place and wish to sustain or increase their gains by incorporating SEO into their marketing mix. As many professionals in the field would argue, this is the only way to really maximize the benefits of SEO, especially considering the fact that the environment changes rapidly and drastically.

For those undeterred by the high level of financial commitment that this service entails, it is important to evaluate the bids of providers before hiring one. Among the factors to look for are the firm’s reputation and experience, scope of services, flexibility of contracts, stability and lock-in periods of fees, reporting responsibilities and the firm’s willingness to educate and explain their work. Internally, firms on the hunt for long-term SEO services should do well to evaluate the complexity and size of their requirements and how they match to their budgets, their level of comfort and openness in receiving outside advice and sharing company information. and of course, ROI measurements for the project.