Question

How much would you charge a law firm, in terms of a monthly retainer, for ranking them #1 for a search term that has 1000+ volume?  

Answer 1

Charge what your expertise is worth, rather than based on rankings. Rankings aren't guaranteed.  

Comments

I would like to charge on fair value, win - win for both parties. However, it's my first rodeo when it comes to law firms, and I'm not too sure what their budgets are

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@pix0 I think it's unethical to charge based on who they are. Just decide your rates. Decide if that varies for a corporate as opposed to a small business. And then you improve things monthly for them while they continue to pay. No need to make it more complex than that

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I disagree. Fair value must be determined or there's going to be long term dissatisfaction by either party. I'm in it for the long haul and the better their budget the more I can do the more results they get.  

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@pix0 OK cool. Just hope your other clients don't get to see you charging different prices depending on what a company can afford as you'll have loads of explaning to do  

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I have no issues charging different rates to different companies as each niche is a different animal with each company having different requirements. SEO 101.  

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@pix0 I wouldn’t charge different rates based on the niche. I charge based on the competition.  

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@boatload That's exactly what "each niche is a different animal" means. some are like wild bison and some are like butterflies, others are like puppies and panthers. Catching the butterflies and puppies is going to be easier and hence cheaper. but the bison and panther, that's going to cost you.  

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@pix0 for me a more difficult client /niche/industry just takes longer, or they can add more budget up front. I don't charge them a different rate. But each to their own.  

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@pix0 I don't know wtf butterflies and panthers have to do with it. I don't do hourly charges. I charge based on the market the client is trying to reach and their competition. Simple as that. No need to hunt puppies or whatever you are talking about.  

Answer 2

What is the current position of that keyword ?  

Comments

All good my man, I'm already doing 100% organic, I appreciate your feedback

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Awesome Idris  

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How long did it take you to get to 1

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Hi Michael whats the current position now?  

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@interne7 Quite a while actually. Several months. The deal is, a one off payment if I can get it to rank, then we'll decide on the retainer after.  

Answer 3

10 p/m

Answer 4

Not enough info. Nothing you provided gives any indication of how competitive the search term is.  

Answer 5

Law is a competitive niche. Its totally depends on client target market, experience and budget. If client to ready to work with local SEO, paid, social and more than the results they reach quickly with work plan. Thanks

Comments

The next steps would be to include several other platforms quickly, yes.  

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@pix0 yes.  

Answer 6

Law firms - in general are the top of the seo food chain - water damage is a close 2nd imo. so u need to make sure your time and resources are in line. It's not going to be a $795 a month slam dunk client for sure. - what area of law whats the average cpc for the money term

Comments

Good one @leftover  I'm going to check out the CPC and work my way backwards from there.  

Answer 7

Depends on how much ROI they will get out of the rankings :) Having a client for a few months isn't something that's interesting to me. That's when all the work is done anyway. Showing them value and keeping them on for years is the best for both parties.  

Comments

@dimorph28475 Exactly why i would like to know the best fee range to do that with. Longevity for me and his practice - hes got three partners a couple directors and overseas desks

Answer 8

Doesn't matter how much volume the term has without considering other factors. What is the relevance of the term? Ranking for "attorneys California" (850) would be worth more than "free attorneys" (2400) -- if the client is in California and serves a statewide clientele. But "San Bernardino attorney" might be worth more with only 140 monthly searches. Here's why. If the the 800 monthly searches to a population of 40 million (rounded) only 2. 5 percent of those searches (on average) would be from San Bernardino County (population 2 million). So the term has 800 monthly searches, but only 20 of those would likely be interested in San Berdu County, which is limits of the market scope for a hypothetical San Berdu attorney. Ranking #1 for San Bernardino attorney would get seven times the relevant exposure as "Attorneys California" (140 vs 20) even though it has less overall volume (140 vs 800) However, I doubt anyone can build a law practice on one keyword. It its a niche practice, a niche intent keyword with geo will be worth more than a general intent keyword with geo. 20 niche intent keywords with geo on page one might be worth more than one niche intent keyword with geo at number one on page one.  

Answer 9

So basically you want to say that you have rank them without any upfront. That's great.  

Answer 10

Hmmm that's risky business saying you'll get them #1 in a competitive niche.  

Comments

@muscid I've already got them to #1

Answer 11

Ask for a percentage while you keep providing leads consistently. Make it long term

Comments

This is against strict ethic rules attorneys must abide by.  

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Then maybe get employed by this lawyer at a good salary. #1 would bring lots of leads.  

Answer 12

For ranking on 1 keyword with 1000 monthly search average. The best you can charge is 1k. I haven't found one stupid lawyer in my whole life. The good thing might come after you rank them. You can go like: "Hey but look at this other 10 keywords, they are great for bla bla bla. let's do another 1k plus, to dominate them too". That way you prove your SEO skills to them and retain a client longer. not just thinking greedy but working smart.