If you’re wondering about the importance of a well-crafted SEO proposal, read our article, because it lays out how an SEO proposal is critical to acting as the backbone for your relationship with a client, as well as setting the stage for their business growth.
Companies’ SEO proposals need to be flexible yet detailed, with a clear roadmap on how to achieve goals. They’re not only about Google rankings, they need to demonstrate an understanding of brand goals and challenges.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What an SEO proposal template is
- Times when you’ll need an SEO proposal template
- Our 14 recommendations for what to prioritize and include in your SEO proposal template
- Identifying seven different types of SEO proposals
- Best practices for implementing an SEO proposal sample
- Our three top tips for crafting your SEO proposal template
- Frequently asked questions.
Let’s begin!
What Is an SEO Proposal Template?
An SEO proposal template is a document set up to propose an SEO strategy that is tailored to the needs of a specific client or business. The proposal should come after you have analyzed their business and details on-page and off-page optimizations and highlights keyword research findings.
A well-designed template incorporates technical SEO recommendations and is tailored for the client’s needs, strategized to make sure each proposal both focuses on enhancing website visibility and is aligned with client goals.
When agencies use a template, it ensures consistency in proposal presentations and also facilitates clear communication with potential clients to allow you to collaborate successfully.
The ideal template includes a timeline for execution (which may include clauses for review), breaks down the pricing structure, and emphasizes past success stories to demonstrate competence and build the client’s trust.
A comprehensive template also specifies the tools and techniques to be used, integrates a content marketing plan, and aligns with the latest SEO best practices.
The best SEO proposal template doesn’t just list the SEO services available, but also demonstrates an understanding of the client’s business goals, evaluates, refines, and offers solutions to potential SEO challenges (and adjustments), and provides clear metrics for monitoring and tracking success.
Using a template like this not only encompasses local, mobile, and voice search optimizations — it simplifies the client onboarding process and categorizes and differentiates services from competitors.
This demonstrates that the SEO services being offered are integral to the client’s marketing strategy and key to their online success.
When Should You Use an SEO Proposal Template?
When submitting an SEO proposal to a client, timing is key! There are various scenarios when using a template is beneficial and will improve your chances of landing a client.
Streamlining Client Onboarding
An SEO proposal template is essential for times when you want to simplify the client onboarding process.
A well-designed template ensures consistency across all your professional documents and also ensures you have included all necessary information. Using a template enhances your professional communication and improves client trust.
When Tailoring Specific Strategies
A template is a great time saver when it comes to tailoring SEO strategies to your client’s requirements.
The template document acts as a scaffold, meaning that the proposal can be easily tailored and personalized according to the unique challenges the company faces.
Reducing Time and Resource Expenditure
Time is money, and a comprehensive template can certainly save you time!
Using a template significantly reduces the time it takes to create a proposal from scratch, leaving you more time to spend on other parts of your business, such as strategy or data analysis.
Competing in a Saturated Market
There’s no way around it — SEO is a highly competitive industry! Using a template that differentiates services from competitors can be enough to give your business that competitive edge.
A great template lets you present your services in a way that emphasizes past success stories and showcases your professionalism.
Clarifying Expectations and Deliverables
A proposal template can also be a great basis for ensuring all people, including clients and prospects know exactly what to expect, especially around client communication frequency.
A tailored template outlines recommended strategies and details the deliverables. It’s an excellent tool to clarify expectations and make the scope of your services, features, and results clear.
Interested in elevating your SEO proposals? Try this template from Bonsai!
It’s totally free when you sign up, and is a great way to craft a professional proposal easily. Bonsai has a huge range of free templates available, ranging from web design contract templates to marketing agreement templates!
What to Include in the SEO Proposal Template
So, you know when to use an SEO proposal template, but what should it include?
Although every proposal will differ depending on the needs of the client, there are certain aspects that every good template should have.
Executive Summary
The executive summary section should capture the essence of your proposal. This section outlines recommended strategies and demonstrates an understanding of the client’s business goals.
This section is a great opportunity to call attention to your business, show you’ve performed competitor analysis, and emphasize how your strategy differentiates your services from top competitors.
Client's Objectives and Goals
In this section, clearly state what the client is aiming to achieve. This demonstrates an understanding of the client’s business goals.
Perhaps they’re hoping to increase traffic, rankings, or ROI. Whatever their goals, make the client feel seen and like you understand their challenges.
SEO Audit Findings
An SEO audit is essential for demonstrating that your strategy is data-based.
You can use audit findings to highlight areas of opportunity and demonstrate how your optimization will help with these challenges.
Recommended SEO Strategies
This is where you lay out your tailored SEO strategy.
Ensure your proposal details on-page and off-page optimizations, and incorporates technical SEO recommendations. Present your client with clear action items and a way forward to meet their goals.
Keyword Research and Analysis
This section will target keywords and phrases research findings and offer insight into search trends and audience behavior.
This is the backbone of content and optimization strategies, so ensure your analysis is comprehensive in order to gain insights into your client’s needs.
On-Page Optimization Tactics
Comprehensively list the on-page changes you will make. This could include content enhancements or meta tags — just make sure all your strategies are tailored to the client’s needs.
Off-Page Optimization Plans
Detail how your plan focuses on enhancing website visibility and building trust through link-building, social media strategy, and other off-page methods.
Technical SEO Recommendations
Ensure this section incorporates technical SEO recommendations — this could include recommendations for on-site infrastructure, mobile-friendliness, and any other factors that affect SEO.
Content Strategy and Calendar
Ensure your proposal integrates a content marketing plan that includes an explicit schedule for the creation, publication, and promotion of their content.
This will help the client to attract and retain their target audience, boosting their ROI.
Reporting and Metrics Framework
You must have a way to measure the success of your methods. Make sure your proposal provides clear metrics for tracking success so you can show that you’re meeting your client’s goals.
Timeline and Milestones
Ensure your proposal includes a timeline for execution. Make sure that it sets realistic expectations for results on milestones, timelines, and deliverables.
Investment and Pricing Breakdown
Make sure your document breaks down the pricing structure transparently, so the client can see exactly how much they’re paying and what they’re paying for.
Case Studies and Testimonials
The use of case studies and testimonials emphasizes past success stories. Use relevant case studies to build trust and prove that you can create value for your client.
Terms and Conditions
Finish up with a section on the terms and conditions of your services. This provides a clear framework for the partnership and ensures there are no misunderstandings.
Types of SEO Proposals
SEO proposals differ depending on the client’s needs and their specific challenges and objectives. Each different type of proposal targets different areas of SEO for optimized visibility.
Initial SEO Audit Proposal
An initial SEO audit proposal suggests a detailed analysis of a client’s website, evaluating current SEO in place. It can assess both on-page and off-page elements and is crucial for developing an ongoing SEO strategy to improve search rankings.
Local SEO Strategy Proposal
A local SEO strategy proposal is ideal for customers who want to boost their local commerce. It should include plans to improve local search engine optimization, including Google optimization and visibility in local search directories.
E-commerce SEO Proposal
An e-commerce SEO proposal is ideal for online retailers. It focuses on SEO strategies that boost the sales process and increase leads and conversion rates.
The proposal should also offer solutions to address competition in the e-commerce sector and strategies for standing out in search results.
Enterprise SEO Proposal
Perfect for larger organizations, an Enterprise SEO proposal addresses the complex SEO needs of large-scale web pages.
This type of proposal will likely include a comprehensive SEO strategy that involves technical SEO, content optimization, and a robust link-building approach.
Content Marketing SEO Proposal
This type of proposal merges content creation with SEO to improve expected traffic growth rate and customer engagement.
This type of proposal should include a content marketing plan that aligns with SEO best practices and client goals, to boost sales, rankings, and traffic.
Technical SEO Enhancement Proposal
This type of proposal should focus on improving backend elements that affect SEO.
The ideal proposal incorporates technical SEO recommendations that improve the site structure and usability, ensuring the site is optimized for all search engines.
Link Building Strategy Proposal
A link-building strategy proposal outlines how to acquire reputable backlinks to build site authority. Include methods to generate links through content, strategic partnerships, and other practices.
How Should You Use an SEO Proposal Sample?
An SEO proposal example is the blueprint for your proposal. It lays the groundwork for your proposal, helping to ensure you include all the necessary elements.
Understanding the Client's Needs
Before choosing your proposal template, ensure you thoroughly understand the needs of your client. This way you can ensure you choose a template tailored for the client’s needs.
Selecting the Relevant Components for Inclusion
A template or sample lets you choose which parts are relevant to your client’s objectives and which aren’t. Not every client will need every SEO service, so ensure the template you choose is relevant to your client’s goals.
Customizing the Executive Summary
You mustn’t use a generic executive summary in your proposals. Make sure you always customize to reflect the specific client needs and make sure it outlines recommended strategies and captures the client’s attention.
Filling in Specific Strategy Recommendations
The strategy section should be edited by filling in specific strategy recommendations that align with the client’s business goals.
Incorporating Key Data and Research
Many SEO proposal templates have placeholders for data and analytics. Ensure these placeholders are filled with key data and research that relates to the client’s online presence and situation.
Aligning Proposal with Client Budget
Make sure the proposal aligns with your client’s budget. Ensure your proposal breaks down the pricing structure into clear, easy-to-understand parts.
Highlighting Previous Success Stories
Make the most of your past success stories by including case studies and testimonials. This emphasizes past success stories and builds confidence.
Specifying the Tools and Techniques
Ensure the proposal specifies the platforms or tools used (eg, Google Analytics, SEMrush), resources, and techniques to be used. This gives a clear outline of how your team will achieve the client’s SEO goals.
Still not sure if an SEO proposal template is right for you? Download our SEO Proposal Template now to simplify your SEO projects and guarantee clarity in your client collaborations.
Tips for Crafting Your SEO Proposal Template
The perfect SEO proposal template requires a balance of detail and customization. This way it can set the scene for a successful collaboration between you and your client.
Defining the Scope of Work in Your SEO Proposal Template
Clearly outline the scope of work, including SEO services, keywords research, and on-page and off-page optimizations. Make sure you include:
- An executive summary that details the objectives
- A detailed scope is broken down into sections
- Actionable and measurable goals related to each aspect of the scope.
Writing About Your Services in the SEO Proposal Template
When writing about your services, use clear language and demonstrate how what you offer will benefit your client.
- List the features and benefits of your services and how they align with client goals
- Include case studies and testimonials to demonstrate proof of your success
- Explain the tools and techniques that will be used, explaining how your plan differentiates your services from competitors.
Outlining Payment Terms in the SEO Proposal Template
Clear payment terms help to avoid misunderstandings and set unambiguous expectations, so you stay in control. Make sure you:
- Include a detailed pricing structure, focusing on services and deliverables
- A clear timeline for payments
- Any terms and conditions.
Key Takeaways
An SEO proposal template is a document that is pre-structured. It is used to propose SEO strategies tailored to individual client needs. SEO proposal templates should be used when pitching strategies. They’re useful for onboarding new businesses and for outlining specific strategies for SEO.
An SEO proposal template should include:
- An executive summary and client goals
- SEO audit findings
- Recommended strategies
- Keyword research
- On-page and off-page optimization tactics
- A clear pricing structure.
There are different types of SEO proposals, and each type caters to different client needs.
SEO proposal templates require understanding the unique needs of the client, selecting key elements of the proposal to suit the client, customizing the executive summary, and focusing on specific strategy recommendations.
Your SEO proposal can be improved by:
- Clearly defining your scope of work
- Detailing opportunities for the client to increase their ranking
- Listing your services clearly
- Being transparent regarding payment terms.
Ready to spend less time pushing paperwork, and more time doing the things you do best? Sign up to Bonsai for free today to get access to our huge range of proposal templates!
All our proposals are flexible, customizable, and tailored for a wide variety of professions. Better still, they’re all vetted by our in-house legal team, giving you peace of mind without having to spend extra on a lawyer.
