Templates / SEO Consultant

SEO Consultant scope of work template

SEO scope creep looks like "while you are in there". You do the audit, then you are fixing their theme, writing blog posts and explaining Google updates on a Sunday call. Separate the audit, the fixes and the content.

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Scope of work

[Project name]: SEO audit and fixes

SEO Consultant: [Your name]Client: [Client name]Date: [Date]

Deliverables

Technical SEO audit of up to [50] pages
Keyword research for [10] priority pages
Prioritized fix list in a spreadsheet
On-page fixes for the 10 priority pages (titles, metas, headings, internal links)
One 60 minute walkthrough call

Revisions

Fix list is updated once after the walkthrough call.

Not included (out of scope)

Writing new content or blog posts
Developer work: site speed, theme changes, migrations
Link building
Monthly reporting or ongoing monitoring
Paid tool subscriptions

Anything not listed under Deliverables is out of scope. If you want it, I will send a short change order with the price and the timeline impact. Work on it starts once you approve.

Timeline

Week 1: audit
Week 2: keyword research and fix list
Week 3: on-page fixes and call

Dates assume feedback within 2 working days. Late feedback moves the dates by the same amount.

Payment

50% upfront, 50% after the fix list is delivered.

Approval

Client approval

Date

Template from Scopease, scope locking for freelancers

A Google Doc doesn't stop anyone. In Scopease the client approves this scope through one private link, every extra ask becomes a priced change order, and the invoice builds itself from approved work. Free for your first project. First 10 new signups get 6 months of Pro free, automatically.

Start free Have us set it up for you ($79)

The scope creep every SEO consultant hears

"Can you write the blog posts you recommended?"

Why it is not free: Content production is its own service.

How to price it: Per post fee.

"Can you fix the site speed issues too?"

Why it is not free: That is dev work, usually on code you do not own.

How to price it: Hourly, after a quick estimate.

"Can you keep an eye on rankings for us?"

Why it is not free: Monitoring is a retainer.

How to price it: Monthly fee.

Turn the next ask into a change order

Here is one already filled in for a typical SEO consultant job: write 2 blog posts (1,500 words each) targeting keywords from the research, 8 hours at $60/hour. Change the numbers to yours and send it.

Open this change order (free)

Not sure what the freebies already cost you? Run your numbers in the scope creep calculator.

Questions

What should a SEO consultant scope of work include?

The exact deliverables, how many revision rounds and what counts as a round, a clear out of scope list, the timeline, and payment terms. The out of scope list does most of the work when the client asks for extras.

How do SEO consultants handle scope creep without losing the client?

Point back to the approved scope, then send a short change order with the price and the new date. Start the extra work only after the client approves it. Most clients are fine with it when it is written down from day one.

Is this template free to use?

Yes. Copy it, edit it, send it. No signup. It is not legal advice, so for big contracts have a lawyer look at your terms.

Templates for other freelancers

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