Looking for some advice here. I just started working with a digital marketing agency that offers SEO services, and I’m loving it so far. They mentioned I can earn commission for any clients I bring in (standard SEO packages are around $1,000/month), but I’m not sure how much commission to ask for.
I’m still learning SEO and will actually be involved in doing the work for these clients—keyword research, optimization, backlinks, etc.—so it’s not just about bringing them in and passing them off to someone else.
What percentage would you recommend for a $1k/month client? Should I be asking for a recurring percentage each month, or is that a bad assumption? I was thinking about 15-20%.
Not sure if you’ll get much room to negotiate here. Usually, the rate is what they offer to everyone. If they don’t have others doing this, you might not bring in many clients.
Maggymodel said:
Not sure if you’ll get much room to negotiate here. Usually, the rate is what they offer to everyone. If they don’t have others doing this, you might not bring in many clients.
I get where you’re coming from, but if I had no room to negotiate, I wouldn’t be asking here, right?
Also, not to sound defensive, but how can you assume I won’t bring in clients without knowing my background? I think there are plenty of ways to find clients if you know what you’re doing.
@SHEE
So, they just told you, ‘pick your commission amount’?
That’s a bit unusual. Usually, agencies have a set plan for this. Considering they charge $1,000/month, I’m guessing they might be a smaller operation. If you can get 15-20%, that’s good. Many places offer 10% for referrals, sometimes just for the first year.
I thought it was full-time, and they just offered you a bonus for clients.
Sorry, should’ve clarified that. Yeah, it’s commission-only for now, and I’m doing it alongside my main job because I’m really interested in learning more. Just sent you a chat with some follow-up questions if that’s alright.
@Maggymodel
Not exactly. I’ve been interested in SEO for a while, and a friend introduced me to a guy who’s great at driving traffic. I met with him and asked to work with him to learn SEO. He was hesitant at first but agreed. Since he mostly works alone, he didn’t have a set commission plan, but he said he’d consider a rate if I had something in mind. That’s why I’m asking here.
I recommend setting a commission based on the keyword count or pages you’re working on. If it’s a competitive niche, there’s a lot more effort involved. I usually take 40% if I’m doing white-label work.