How do you justify your SEO copywriting rates?

I will Highlight my experience, skills, and knowledge in SEO. Emphasize how my expertise contributes to crafting high-quality content that not only engages readers but also ranks well in search engines.

My SEO copywriting process involves: 1. **Keyword Research:** Identifying relevant keywords using specialized tools. 2. **Competitor Analysis:** Studying competitors to find content opportunities. 3. **Content Strategy:** Planning themes, topics, and angles for valuable content. 4. **Writing:** Crafting well-researched content with seamless keyword integration. 5. **Editing:** Ensuring error-free, concise, and brand-aligned content. 6. **Formatting:** Improving readability with headings, bullet points, etc. 7. **Optimization:** Strategically placing keywords and optimizing meta tags. I use industry tools (SEO software, plagiarism checkers), and my rates reflect the expertise, effort, and impactful content I create for your business.

Don't do SEO copywriting. Content is for customers. Any content created for Google may rank but will not result in sales. Creating SEO content is a waste of time and money.

Before explaining the process, you must also understand the client's needs, target audience, and goals. It helps you to explain the process well and in a personalized manner. Also, it helps the client to understand exactly what level of efforts you are going to put in his project. For this, you can discuss the objective of the project before discussing the rates, and also conduct research on the client's industry, competitors, etc.

To me, SEO copywriting is first identifying people's needs through their search queries. And then writing a copy that relates to all their problems and hooks them to read a solution - silently telling them to buy our products or services.

Sharing a portfolio is worthwhile. But more worthwhile is demonstrating exactly what those portfolio samples have achieved. Has your SEO copywriting resulted in increased traffic to a site? Use GA4 to prove this. Have you won featured snippets? Explain how you achieve this and why it's so valuable. Showcase what you do, but also the benefit of this to your potential client.

Case Studies are an excellent way to help convince new customers that you have the proven track record to deliver the results they need. They are also longer format than the average testimonial, so you have more opportunity to explain your process that led to the benefits and results for your client. For example, sharing that your client's website attracted a $24K international contract this year from their booking form, all from organic SEO. You can also include the client's testimonial in your case study, giving it even more impact.

This is the best part! Nothing like another satisfied client to convince a new one that your fee is worthwhile. I used to be shy to ask for testimonials and recommendations, but not anymore. Many clients are actually flattered that you asked.

Portfolio must show real life statistics from client's results. It should not be boastful or about your 'potential' but instead show what you've already achieved.

Having a clear knowledge of SEO is not enough. You have to be able to explain SEO clearly to clients and define SEO principles at its core in a way that is not overly technical. Customers know that SEO is important, but they don't always know why or how. If you're able to explain it in layman's terms and excite them about the prospective success that good SEO can bring to the bottom line, you've got their attention. Stats and graphs are only helpful when the person talking through it can connect the dots to the goals of individual client personas.

SEO is still consider to drive results as soon as any marketing activity. Its necessary for clients to understand competition and importance of well written SEO content (not an AI generated content). Once you have such content on website it can actually help in improving ranks and driving traffic.

Educating clients should be part of your rates justification. As a freelancer, show the value you can add to a company beyond what you write.

Every dollar spent is an investment that your clients will reap returns on. A great way to demonstrate the power of SEO Copywriting is by having your potential client search for a product or service similar to theirs and have them click on the top result. Then point out exactly where different copywriting techniques are used on the page.

Before explaining what SEO copywriting is, try to explain in simple terms exactly what SEO is and how it benefits a business. Avoid this step if you get to know that the client already knows about SEO and SEO Copywriting. If they don't, then also try to show the data of their competitors in terms of organic traffic, keyword rankings, etc. It can be a great way to impress and convince the client.

I like using (hopefully) relatable scenarios to help explain the benefits of SEO copywriting. So I may say, "If you're traveling in another city and you suddenly need a haircut, what would YOU type into a search engine to find a hair salon nearby?" Then I listen to the client's answer. I may reply something like, "OK, let's go try it and see what we find." As we review sites that pop up, I can show the ads versus organic listings and explain map listings & details, etc. Then explain that SEO is the process by which the search engine delivers these results. So by investing in SEO copywriting, you can get listed and be found by customers. The best part is that they are searching EXACTLY for what you offer, so it's a win-win.

Offering packages as a copywriter streamlines processes, enhances client experiences, and opens up opportunities for upselling and customization. It's a win-win approach that benefits both you and your clients.

Standard packages are good. But, you should also consider creating a customized package for them. It will resonate well with the client and showcases your dedication to a project.

I find this a bit difficult. I cannot write a semi-good copy for a client looking to pay less. I can only deliver my best work, and if the client won't pay for that, they can take their business elsewhere. Having the courage to tell your client that it costs what it costs, may encourage respect for you and your profession.

I don't have a standard rate. Whenever a client reaches out for my rates I always suggest scheduling a call so that I may better understand their requirements, the time the brief will take to complete, what extras are needed (such as images, linking etc) if any... Only then can I calculate the applicable rate in a fair manner.

Providing various options and packages for your SEO copywriting services is an excellent strategy to justify your rates and cater to diverse client needs. Start by outlining distinct service levels, such as basic, standard, and premium, tailored to project scope and complexity. This allows clients to select the service that best fits their goals and budget. Additionally, consider offering flexible pricing models—charge per word, per hour, per project, or even a monthly retainer based on content frequency. By doing this, you empower clients to choose a payment structure that suits them.

When I reach a fair rate I don't budge from it. I've done my research, I know what time the job will require, and I've informed the client about all this. If they don't have the budget it's fine, I'll suggest they move on to someone else.

Negotiating is an art that requires a balance between advocating for your worth and understanding the client's perspective. The more you practice, the more adept you'll become at finding win-win solutions that benefit both parties.

While negotiating, it is crucial for a copywriter to know exactly what he/she is looking for in a deal and up to what extent the negotiations are possible for them. Another thing to consider is to keep client's goals in mind, so that you can negotiate effectively, without making a wrong decision.

I think the term 'negotiating' is all right here, but 'standing your ground' is ill-fitting. If you're doing your marketing correctly and attracting your ideal clients, no haggling or lowballing will occur. You'll feel confident in your offer and your clients will sign your contract and send payments without any fuss. If you're fairly new as an SEO copywriter without as much social proof (testimonials and reviews), then perhaps you'll find yourself negotiating more or considering adjusting prices. However your experience and the results you provide should match what you're charging. Don't over-charge or under-charge. Charge a fair price for what you deliver.

While I'm open to discussion, I firmly explain the rationale behind my rates. I stress the experience, skills, and track record I bring to the table. I mention that my rates reflect the industry standard for the level of expertise and quality I provide. If a client insists on lower rates, I propose a compromise that preserves the integrity of the project. However, I'm also willing to walk away if a client undervalues my work. This approach maintains respect for my profession and ensures that clients who understand the worth of quality SEO copywriting are the ones I collaborate with.

Regular reporting to clients is critical to show their ROI for SEO services and prove that it's worth the investment. You should look for a reporting platform or tool that can be customized to show clients those key metrics needed to track SEO performance. For example, our team focuses on organic traffic, conversions, and average position over time for target keywords, and performance metrics on optimized pages.

Adding value to every project is a great idea. You always want to impress a client and earn their repeat business and referrals. In the above statement, it says "go the extra mile by delivering your work on time" and I do want to mention that on-time delivery is NOT the extra mile! That is the bare minimum/basic expectation. So the second phrase helps here, but the AI is still kinda wonky to me in terms of accuracy and relevance at times. ;)

Delivering on time is both great service and basic expectations. Delivering ahead of time is not always a benefit for the customer. Stick to the agreement and be predictable. And also, you cannot deliver above expectations every time. Deliver according to the agreement and have faith that this is enough.

I consistently aim to provide more than what's expected. Timely delivery and high-quality work are my baseline. I offer additional value by suggesting improvements beyond the scope, sharing relevant industry insights, and ensuring content aligns with their overall marketing strategy. Regular updates and transparent communication also keep clients engaged. When clients experience the added benefits of my service, they better understand the value they're receiving. This not only justifies my rates but also establishes a reputation for reliability and professionalism.

To truly justify your SEO copywriting rates, focus on adding value and exceeding client expectations consistently. Deliver your work not just on time but ahead of schedule whenever possible, which demonstrates reliability. Consider providing thoughtful revisions or valuable feedback to enhance their content, showing that you’re invested in their success. You might also offer additional services, like keyword optimization or content strategy consultations, which can set you apart from others in your field. Sharing insights or actionable recommendations based on your expertise can further impress your clients. By continuously going the extra mile, you’ll foster strong,

You must also educate clients about the intricacies of SEO and how it involves more than just inserting keywords. Describe the importance of diverse factors, such as user experience, mobile-friendliness, site speed, and technical optimization. If you're using any premium SEO tool, you can also highlight it to enhance your work.

The best way to educate clients and make them find your rates agreeable is to build your personal brand on social media platforms: - Talk about your services: Who you help, what you help them with, what results have you achieved. - Show your process: Use case studies to show how you bring results for your clients. - Create educational content that builds your authority. - Target your ICP with a targeted messaging that attracts only qualified leads.

At this point in time I think we have to address the issue of generative AI. Already numerous companies are using generative AI to create SEO copy and the problem is that for many purposes this is perfectly sufficient. However, as generative AI allows you to create all but infinite amounts of text, this risks quickly devolving into a race to the bottom, where ever more texts are published online that are written by AI, based on machine generated briefs, and only ever read by Google's algorithm. You don't want to be stuck in this loop, especially that search engines will need to break out of it sooner or later. This is where an experienced copywriter comes in, creating texts that are not just SEO-ready, but also human-friendly.

Demonstrate the different skills sets, knowledge areas (industries, businesses, niche topics) and tools (free and paid) they're getting when hiring you and saving by not having to hire in-house resources, subscribe to tools, and onboard people on their niche subject-matter expertise. If you can present them as line items with estimated cost / time to onboard, it will be very difficult to counter-argument.

I've found that in my experience working with clients on freelance writing projects, they tend to misunderstand the process of SEO and how long it can take for website content to generate traffic. Educating the client on the timeframe in which they'll see results should be discussed to help put them at ease. Other notes for this article. I hope the writer gives more actionable links or advice on how to create good portfolios and showcase actual data of progress with the content they've written.