How much should I charge for SEO client commission… any advice?

Seeking Advice
1

Hey everyone,

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%.

2

I usually offer a 10% commission on projects.

Honestly, it depends on how much work you’re actually doing. On a $1,000 project, there’s not a huge amount to go around.

3

LyamGenesis said:
I usually offer a 10% commission on projects.

Honestly, it depends on how much work you’re actually doing. On a $1,000 project, there’s not a huge amount to go around.

Thanks for the feedback .

4

10% is typical in the industry, but it also depends on what you can negotiate.

5

Zacky said:
10% is typical in the industry, but it also depends on what you can negotiate.

Got it, thanks for letting me know .

6

Are you being paid while you bring in clients, or is this a side arrangement where you only get paid after they start paying?

7

Brianna said:
Are you being paid while you bring in clients, or is this a side arrangement where you only get paid after they start paying?

I have another job that’s paying my bills. This SEO thing is part-time for now since I want to learn it, but no income from it yet.

8

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.

9

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.

10

@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.

11

@Maggymodel
Oh, now that you mentioned it’s a side job, this makes a lot more sense.

I thought it was full-time, and they just offered you a bonus for clients.

12

Maggymodel said:
@Maggymodel
Oh, now that you mentioned it’s a side job, this makes a lot more sense.

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.

13

@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.

14

I personally give 10% commission for a year as long as the client stays. It’s worked well for me, and my referral rate is pretty high.

15

Jayson said:
I personally give 10% commission for a year as long as the client stays. It’s worked well for me, and my referral rate is pretty high.

Thanks for sharing that .

16

I’d do 15% upfront and 10% as long as the contract lasts.

I appreciate my salespeople and want to keep things going long-term.

Feel free to ask if you need more info.

17

I go with 20% for SEO, but it really depends on the client’s budget.

18

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.

19

@Kyle
Thank you for that .