• SEO Proposal

How to Make an Effective SEO Proposal for Clients in 10 Steps

  • Felix Rose-Collins
  • 5 min read

Intro

The delivery of SEO services, through a freelancer, consultant, or an agency, takes more than having the necessary knowledge. It is also a matter of convincing propositions that draw potential clients to join the organization.

If you're seeking to find how to develop an SEO plan that produces results and payoff, then you've landed in the right location.

Follow these tips to develop an efficient SEO strategy that distinguishes you from the rest of your competition.

Step 1: Start by Asking the Right Questions

Start by Asking the Right Questions

source: venngage

Before beginning to write your proposal, you need to get your prospective Client's attention by asking them about essential concerns. Determining their requirements and customizing your proposal to meet their needs is crucial.

  1. What do you think are your SEO objectives?

    Common responses might include growing leads, increasing sales, driving traffic, and boosting ROI. It is crucial to determine whether prospects are focused only on vanity measures or business results.

  2. Who would be your ideal target customer?

    Meet Ranktracker

    The All-in-One Platform for Effective SEO

    Behind every successful business is a strong SEO campaign. But with countless optimization tools and techniques out there to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Well, fear no more, cause I've got just the thing to help. Presenting the Ranktracker all-in-one platform for effective SEO

    We have finally opened registration to Ranktracker absolutely free!

    Create a free account

    Or Sign in using your credentials

    This will help you understand the psychographics, demographics, and pain points of your target audience, allowing you to tailor your approach to their preferences.

  3. What are your most formidable rivals?

    Determine the websites that your prospective customer thinks are competitors. This will help you make your company stand out and develop your SEO plan.

  4. What are the most important words that describe your company?

    Understanding the terms your prospective customer wants to focus on is essential to establishing an efficient SEO strategy.

  5. Have you worked on SEO in the past?

    No matter if they're beginning to learn about SEO or an experienced, well-qualified SEO, understanding this will help you tailor your strategy and control expectations.

Step 2: Build a Reusable Proposal Template

Making a customized proposal from scratch for every prospective Client is laborious. Instead, create a flexible SEO proposal creation software that you can alter quickly. 

The template must include:

  • A short introduction
  • An executive summary
  • An inventory of the items to be delivered
  • Testimonials or case studies
  • Options for pricing

So, you'll be able to be focused on personalizing the key elements rather than starting from scratch every time.

Step 3: Write a Powerful Executive Summary

The executive summary of your document is the first document that decision-makers read, and it must be effective.

Here's how to format your executive summary:

  • Determine the issue: Begin by highlighting the prospects' pain points. Make sure you are aware of their industry and the goals they'd like to achieve. An effective opening such as "Your website deserves more high-quality traffic" is sure to draw attention.
  • The Solution: Briefly explain how your SEO service will benefit them and meet your customers' needs. Emphasize results like, "Our tailored SEO strategy will improve your leads by 30%."
  • Summary of Your Strategy: Provide a quick outline of the strategies you'll work on together, like material optimization, keyword targeting, and link building.
  • "Call to Action”: Finish with a specific next step, such as calling or electronically signing the request.

Step 4: Detail Your Deliverables

In this section, you demonstrate your expertise to resolve your prospect's issues. 

Meet Ranktracker

The All-in-One Platform for Effective SEO

Behind every successful business is a strong SEO campaign. But with countless optimization tools and techniques out there to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Well, fear no more, cause I've got just the thing to help. Presenting the Ranktracker all-in-one platform for effective SEO

We have finally opened registration to Ranktracker absolutely free!

Create a free account

Or Sign in using your credentials

Incorporate specifics, such as:

  • SEO Audits: Provide the opportunity to perform content keyword, material, and link audits to determine areas for improvement.
  • Keyword Search: Explain your process to identify and target the most effective keywords.
  • Analyzing Competitors: Outline how to examine competitors' strategies to acquire an advantage.
  • Material Strategist: Describe how you'll improve the prospects' material to be indexed by the search engines.
  • Link Construction: Specifics your approach to creating high-quality backlinks.
  • SEO reporting: Offer regular reports to monitor progress and modify strategies according to the need.

Step 5: Showcase Your Success Stories

Showcase Your Success Stories

Meet Ranktracker

The All-in-One Platform for Effective SEO

Behind every successful business is a strong SEO campaign. But with countless optimization tools and techniques out there to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Well, fear no more, cause I've got just the thing to help. Presenting the Ranktracker all-in-one platform for effective SEO

We have finally opened registration to Ranktracker absolutely free!

Create a free account

Or Sign in using your credentials

source: venngage

The desirable method to convince someone of your value is to propose examples of your previous successes. Include:

  • Introduction to the Client: Introduce the Client and their field of work.
  • The challenges: Describe the Client's problems before you begin working with the Client.
  • Solutions Define the SEO methods you employed.
  • Results: Provide tangible results, such as more traffic or increased sales.
  • Reviews: Use quotes from happy clients to establish credibility.

Step 6: Establish a Realistic Timeline

Realistic Timeline

source: venngage

SEO is a long-term plan, so setting appropriate expectations is essential. Then, break down your timeline into

  • One-time tasks include setting up the Google Search Console and conducting the initial checks.
  • Continuous activities: Continuous efforts like material creation, link building, and optimization of keywords.

Step 7: Offer Flexible Pricing Options

Instead of offering a flat rate, think about presenting tied pricing and "engagement fees." The prospect can select a plan that suits their financial budget and requirements perfectly. Make use of a table to compare various packages. This makes it simple for clients to evaluate the worth of every opportunity. Additionally, you can create a form that will benefit customers by choosing the accurate option for their requirements.

Be aware of the legal aspects of your offer. Incorporating a "Terms and Conditions" section ensures the safety of both you and your customer. This section should define details about payment terms, the nature of the work, and additional important information to warrant the clarity of your document and avoid confusion.

Step 9: Outline the Next Steps

Let the prospect understand what they should do next. When signing the offer and making a first payment or arranging the follow-up phone call, you must be sure what's next. Think about together free** bulk email tools** that can automate subsequent communications to ensure the process runs effortlessly.

Step 10: Send Your Proposal with Confidence

Once your proposal is completed, polished, and ready to go, you can send it to your client. A well-constructed proposal will show off your SEO abilities and position. You are a competent individual who is aware of the customer's requirements and delivers an outcome.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Understanding Client Needs: Begin by asking the right questions to help you understand the client's goals, their customer's goals, and their keywords.
  2. Create a template that can be reused. Reduce time by creating a flexible template for proposals that can be customized for every Client.
  3. Write a powerful Abstract: Capture the Client's interest by speaking to their concerns and issues, providing tailored solutions, and summarizing your plan.
  4. Intricacies and specific deliverables: It is essential to clearly define the offerings that you'll provide, such as SEO audits, keyword studies, competitor analysis, and material strategy.
  5. Present Success Stories from the Showcase: Use case studies and testimonials to demonstrate your knowledge and previous successes.
  6. Create realistic timelines: Break down your SEO strategy into ongoing and one-time activities to establish clear expectations.
  7. Offer flexible pricing: Provide tiered pricing choices or fees for engagement for clients with different budgets.
  8. Incorporate legal terms: Secure both parties by incorporating the "Terms and Conditions" section that defines payment terms, the scope of work, and other essential specifics.
  9. Outline Next Steps It should be simple for clients to go forward with clear descriptions of the following steps, such as signing the contract or making a follow-up appointment.
  10. Send your message with confidence. Ensure your proposal is professional and demonstrates you as a well-qualified person .Who understands your customers' requirements and delivers a payoff.

These tips can help you create an engaging and efficient SEO plan that connects with your customers and sets your business apart.

Felix Rose-Collins

Felix Rose-Collins

Ranktracker's CEO/CMO & Co-founder

Felix Rose-Collins is the Co-founder and CEO/CMO of Ranktracker. With over 15 years of SEO experience, he has single-handedly scaled the Ranktracker site to over 500,000 monthly visits, with 390,000 of these stemming from organic searches each month.

Start using Ranktracker… For free!

Find out what’s holding your website back from ranking.

Create a free account

Or Sign in using your credentials

Different views of Ranktracker app