Play now - pay later.  Agree on a price up front - and only be obligated to pay that amount after a certain period of time IF the SEO does what it states it will do.

Trackable-ROI!!!

Localism: everything and anything that puts a spotlight on me as the neighborhood expert: photos, links, articles, keywords, event postings, etc.

Skin in the game: month to month, no long term contracts. You need to prove yourself along the way. I'm sick of desk-jockeys making their $ on my hard work and I'm left with mediocre, results if any.

There's no SEO contract around here.

We just have a few good questions now & again. How about which is better - the short URL or the long when sharing posts?

Not sure what you mean by an SEO project. I don't have SEO contracts... overly expensive.

Derek Rogers , Wow! Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS just nailed it!

I am with Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 on this. 

I am very skeptical of any pre-packaged SEO products.

You would have to provide actual success stories with client agents who can step forward to prove the claims of success. Too many here have been burned by SEO Specialists, hence the reason for AR success and organic SEO.

Derek Rogers I agree with Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers 

Your comparison of buying a home with paying for a product that claims to increase my business are two different things.

I have been burned in the past, as have many other agents here on AR, by purchasing products that promised to increase my business.  

I am also a beta tester of another company's product that does what you say your product will do.   That company's product is a waste of money.

If your product is as good as say it is, then here is what I want to see:

- Being able to try it for free and see if it works.  

- Upfront fees and easy cancellation.

- Referrals from real agents in my area who can document what transactions they closed as a result of using your product. 

What is an SEO project?

FREE!

A results guarantee would be nice, and not just a clicks guarantee, but a viable contacts guarantee.

Needing list of customer references.

We can get it SEO help from the US or elsewhere. They show us the backlinks created and # of increasing clicks if we are happy we sign a monthly contract.  We have people developed our sites and know the going rate.  Like employment it is always month to month after we see it makes a difference.  You need to work from existing website not trying to create a new website for us. It needs to be mobile able.

FYI: We realtors get at least several solicitation calls a week promising putting us on first page of search or our money back... That is whom you are competing with. 

Derek,

I wish you all the best with your project.  A

Derek,

The question is a little vague for me, but here are my thoughts:

1. You really need two distinct packages/programs.  One for the new agent (get them listed on the directories, etc. and a basic strategy session) and one for established agents.
2. Programs should have basic and optional components.  For example, not everyone needs or wants international attention.
3. Checklists are good for those, like me, that want to do it themselves.  That might be a third option, a consulting program.  Go in, see what they have, do a gap analysis against industry standards and produce a report with actionable items and then put in a quote for fixing the items (listed by group (directory listings, etc.) and with a price breakdown for if they want 1, 2, 3 or the whole report fixed).
4. Content suggestions and templates/examples.  Maybe people to write the content for them as an addon service.

As to contracts, the way I see it you have a few options.  Month-to-month, short term (2-4 months) or task specific (repair items from the gap analysis) or long term (6-12 months).

You definitely need some way to justify your costs.  Some form of "this is where you started, here you are now, here is the change in traffic/leads/etc."

So many SEO promises out there, most agents are pretty skeptical.  I'd say set the price upfront to be paid after SEO results have been achieved.   

Proven results and price upfront. Too many times there are promises made and not delivered. I would need to hear recommendations from other agents and "see" the results.

Set the price upfront and deliver results

Verifiable ROI would be at the top of my list. Ultimately better placement in the SERPs would be appreciated. I am not involved in any SEO contracts at this time.

others have given good tips.

Not a techie, here for the information! Keep it coming!

Blog about your recommendations.

Guess I would like to hear from other Realtors who have invested in a project such as you are describing and can clearly outline the benefits they have received vs. the money they have spent AND can say it was worth it. Everyone offering SEO seems to say they can get you on page one, or they can improve your traffic. So what?! I want to see some facts and figures!

reputation trumps all....this site is loaded with SEO experts....most follow someone....many follow Nestor & Katerina Gasset (Katerina).... she's my expert of choice!!! 

Most longtime users on this site believe in evergreen/organic SEO

Derek, I don't know what I don't know about SEO, so whatever you do just write lots of posts about it.