How do you price your SEO copywriting services to account for keyword research?

1 Why keyword research matters

Keyword research is the process of finding and analyzing the words and phrases that your target audience uses to search for information, products, or services related to your niche. It helps you understand their intent, needs, and preferences, and tailor your content accordingly. Keyword research also helps you optimize your content for search engines, by using relevant and competitive keywords that match the search queries and rank well. Without keyword research, your SEO copywriting services might not deliver the results your clients expect, and you might miss out on valuable traffic and conversions.

2 How to estimate keyword research time

One of the challenges of pricing your SEO copywriting services is estimating how much time you'll need to spend on keyword research for each project. This depends on several factors, such as the scope, complexity, and goals of the project, the size and competitiveness of the niche, the availability and quality of data sources, and your own experience and skills. A general rule of thumb is to allocate at least 10% of your total project time to keyword research, but you might need more or less depending on the situation. For example, if you're writing a long-form blog post for a new and obscure niche, you might need more time to find and analyze relevant keywords than if you're writing a short product description for a well-known and popular niche.

3 How to charge for keyword research

When providing SEO copywriting services, there are various ways to charge for keyword research. An hourly rate is a straightforward method, yet it may not reflect the worth of your work or incentivize efficiency. A project-based fee is more value-oriented, but it can be challenging to estimate the time and effort needed. On the other hand, a value-based fee is outcome-oriented, but it may be hard to quantify the value and results of your work and necessitate more trust and communication with clients.

4 How to communicate your pricing

Whatever method you choose to charge for your keyword research and SEO copywriting services, it's important to communicate your pricing clearly and confidently to your clients. You need to explain the benefits and value of your keyword research, how it will help them achieve their goals, and what they can expect from your work. You also need to set clear expectations and boundaries, such as the scope, timeline, and deliverables of the project, and how you'll handle changes or revisions. You can use proposals, contracts, invoices, and reports to communicate your pricing and showcase your work.

5 How to improve your keyword research skills

As an SEO copywriter, it is important to constantly strive to improve your keyword research skills and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices. To do this, you should use reliable and relevant tools and sources, such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz, to find and analyze keywords. Additionally, you can learn from your competitors by seeing what keywords they are targeting and how they are ranking for them. Furthermore, you should experiment with different types of keywords, such as long-tail, short-tail, question-based, or intent-based keywords to measure their effectiveness and optimize your content accordingly. Finally, you should keep learning and expanding your knowledge and skills by reading blogs, books, podcasts, or courses on keyword research and SEO copywriting.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?