12 Smart Tactics to Create a Killer SEO Proposal

When you are submitting a new SEO proposal to a potential client, you have to nail it. It’s how you are going to show them that you are capable of completing the job that they asked to their exact specifications. If you can’t prove to them that you can, you’re not going to get the work. There are several tactics that you should implement when making your proposal.

The main idea is to make sure that you have everything included that they want to see. As long as you have the answers there, you are going to have a much better chance than your competition. Here are some general details about what you should include, but you should make them personal to the specific job you’re going after. That could mean breaking things down into subsections or rearranging them based on the need.

1. An Executive Summary

In some instances, your client isn’t going to have a ton of time to go over your proposal, because they are looking at a bunch of other candidates as well. In your executive summary, you can include all of the points in a condensed version that they will be able to see further down the page. You want to really make this your strongest seller; because it may be the only time you have to get their attention.

2. Details about the Company

Another good tactic is to introduce yourself in a little more detail in your SEO proposal. You have obviously had some sort of contact with them, but now is when you can really let them know who you and your agency are. Tell them about your experience, any areas that are specialties, and any awards or recognition that you have received. Make sure you give them enough, but not too much that they lose interest.

3. Review of Goals and Problems

Telling your client why they want to hire you is good SEO tactic as well. Give them an outline of all the reasons why they need your services. You should have enough detail about the job to kick it back to them. Let them know that you understand why they are looking for help.

4. A Site Audit

Do an audit of their site, and report it back to them. Don’t assume that they already know what SEO is and that’s why they are hiring you or someone else to take care of it. Do a thorough job and don’t leave out even what you may think are obvious issues. Make sure your site audit report contains charts, graphs, and images so that they don’t get bored reading it. Also, include reasons why the problems you’ve pointed out are something that they need fixed.

5. Keyword Rankings

The most pertinent part of SEO is keywords. Run a keyword rank tracking software on their site and find out where they need improvements, and tell them about it. Include a basic idea of how they could increase in the ranks and stand out from the competitors. Put in there where their competition is, so they have something to compare it to.

6. Solutions to Problems

You’ve shown them that you understand what the problem is, now tell them what you’re going to do to fix it. Make sure that you do it in a way that they’re going to easily understand. Leave out all the extra technical stuff. It’s going to get too confusing for someone that isn’t familiar with SEO.

7. The Process

Explain to them how your process works, and what they can expect from your relationship together. Let them know if there are other people that are going to be working on the project with you and their qualifications.

8. A Timeline

Put in there a breakdown of how long it’s going to take you to get the job done. Don’t just tell them an expected finish date. Show them when you’re going to be doing what.

9. The Cost

It’s what everyone wants to know. What’s it going to cost? Tell them what your standard pricing is and then offer them any extras if you see a need for them in their specific case.

10. The Rules

Let your potential client know exactly what you are expecting from them as well. It is a partnership, and you have to make sure that they are going to fulfill their end of the deal. Talk about when you expect to be paid, when the work will be delivered and how, and anything that you want them to do so you can complete the job.

11. Examples

If you have been given permission to use other work you have done as examples, put those at the end of your SEO proposal. That’s going to show them what they can expect in a finished product.

12. Call to Action

Wrap it up with ways to get a hold of you and restate the idea that you are the best SEO agency for the job.