In any agency, a client agreement is a must to build a trusted and long-term relationship. Think of an SEO agreement simply as a legal document between two parties to finalize the deal.
To create a good agreement, the parties shall clearly describe their expectations and all the details related to the work. But, what exactly is this agreement? What is the purpose of creating it? Let’s find out more in the following sections.
What Is an SEO Agreement?
A paper document, which is created under the provisions of the federal law, between the client and the company or individual to the purchase of all or any search engine optimization or reporting services is known as an SEO agreement.
This agreement is a promise from the agency to the client to serve the expected service and yield the expected outcome. So that the deal between the two parties doesn’t end up in dispute, misunderstanding, or misconduct.
The agreement also includes the clauses related to the timely payment, cancellation and refund policy, tools to be used, the relationship of the parties, and more. This agreement shall be followed until the time provided in the agreement expires.
Optimize your website with our SEO Agreement template!
Our SEO agreement template is completely editable, allowing you to change the names, alter the pricing, and add or remove services. Save your time and sign our agreement template with the other party.
Here is your copy of the SEO agreement template.
Who Needs an SEO Agreement?
It is entered into between the company providing the SEO services and the client (receiver of the services). Here, the service provider agrees to offer all the SEO and reporting services that are described in the agreement.
An SEO agreement is also used to include warranties and representations, the outline of agreed SEO methods, and period the two parties are willing to work together.
Moreover, it will come into force when the parties mutually agree upon the terms and sign the document and conclude when all SEO deliverables, mentioned in the agreement, are completed and approved.
What Are the Components of an SEO Agreement?
There are several components included in the SEO services agreement. However, the terms highly depend on the services the company is offering. The below given are a few common terms:
Parties Details
Here, the personal information of the client and the company shall be provided. This includes the names of the parties involved, their addresses, contact number, and the date and time they entered into this agreement.
SEO Services
The agreement describes the provided SEO services. The details of the specific keywords or phrases, modification of title tags, HTML code, and other on-page activity, which will be used for developing, improving the rank of the customer URL(s) shall be given.
Fees, Limitation, Cancellation
The customer shall provide SEO payments as the bill amount in the agreement. The agreement states the exact amount to be received before the start of the services, each installment, and the closing amount.
The customer further agrees to receive no refund in case of termination of the agreement before the due date. Moreover, in case of cancellation, the customers shall pay the cancellation amount to the company as provided in the agreement.
Force Majeure
In case of any delay or failure to perform as per the agreement for any conditions which are beyond the party's control, the parties shall not be liable for it. So, if any force majeure happens, the party shall provide written notice to the other party to come up with an alternative solution.
Disputes
If the parties are unable to resolve the issues mutually, the matter shall be taken to the state law. The parties need to agree to accept the decision made by the jurisdiction of such courts.
Agreement Binding
The terms of the agreement shall bind upon and inure to the parties’ benefits hereto their administrators, or successors.
Assignability
The customer shall not assign or disclose this agreement to any third party without any written approval from the company. On the other hand, the company can assign the subparts of the projects to complete it on-time.
Acknowledgment
Both parties shall provide their signature to acknowledge that they have read and understood the agreement and agree to be bound by its terms and conditions.
Optimize your website with our SEO Agreement template!
Our SEO agreement template is completely editable, allowing you to change the names, alter the pricing, and add or remove services. Save your time and sign our agreement template with the other party.
Here is your copy of the SEO agreement template.
Conclusion
An SEO agreement is tricky as it is difficult to provide clear expectations from the task when things are constantly changing in the SEO sector. But, it is always better to have a signed copy of this document with the parties.
This document works as a proof of what was asked for and at what cost, which is useful at the time of unresolved dispute in the court. Furthermore, you could also create your template by getting a free template on CocoSign.
DOCUMENT PREVIEW
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Agreement
This Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Agreement is dated [MONTH DAY, YEAR] and is between [COMPANY NAME], a [STATE COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL] (the “Client”), and [COMPANY NAME2], a [STATE COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL2] (the “SEO Consultant”).
The Client operates a website at [URL].
The SEO Consultant provides search engine optimization services to website owners.
This SEO Agreement provides for the SEO Consultant’s development and execution of a search engine optimization and marketing strategy for the Client.
The parties agree as follows.
1. Definitions. Terms defined above have their assigned meanings and each of the following terms has the meaning assigned to it.
“Agreement” means this SEO Agreement.
“Black Hat” means using spam-like methods focused on computers instead of human users to increase a website performance. Black Hat SEO tactics include keyword stuffing, invisible text, and more.
“Business Day” means the usual work week of Monday through Friday, with the exception of all major U.S. holidays.
“Down Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.
“Effective Date” means the date listed in the preamble of this Agreement.
"Keyword" means words typed into a search engine by potential consumers of the client's website and its related products and services.
“Website Content” means the words, graphics, video, or other immediately visible content when visiting a web page.
“White Hat” means using SEO methods focused on human users and based in accepted search engine guidelines to improve a website’s performance.
“Writing” means an e-mail or other written communication, such as attached documents, sent for the purpose of providing legal notice to either party.
2. Hiring of the SEO Consultant/Company. By signing the Agreement, the Client hires the SEO Consultant to provide search engine optimization (SEO) services.
3. Fees.
3.1. Billing Rate. The SEO Consultant bills [HOURLY WAGE]/per hour (the “Billing Rate”).
3.2. ProjectEstimate. The SEO Consultant estimates that the total fee for providing SEO services to the Client will be between [AMOUNT1] and [AMOUNT2].The SEO Consultant estimates that the hours billed for the project will be between [HOURS1] and [HOURS2]. Hours within the project estimate are billed at a rate of [AMOUNT3]. Hours worked that exceed the project estimate will be billed at the SEO Consultant’s standard Billing Rate.
3.3. Down Payment. The down payment is [DOWNPAYMENT] (the “Down Payment”). The SEO Consultant shall have no obligation to begin work prior to receiving the Down Payment. The Client shall pay the Down Payment to the SEO Consultant within one week of the Effective Date of this agreement.
[Optional: The Down Payment is nonrefundable.]
3.4. Invoices. The SEO Consultant will bill in [QUARTER HOUR/HALF HOUR] increments. Invoices shall include information relating to:
a) the total number of hours worked,
b) the billing rate per hour,
b) the time spent on an itemized task list, and
c) the amount by which the invoice has been offset by the Down Payment.
3.5. Payment. The Client shall pay the SEO Consultant by [CHECK/CREDIT CARD/WIRE TRANSFER]. Payment must be received no later than [DAYS] Business Days after the Client’s receipt of that month’s invoice.
4. SEO Consultant Services.
4.1. SEO Strategy; Selected Search Engines. The SEO Consultant shall work with the Client to formulate an overall Search Engine Optimization strategy to improve the performance of the Client’s website, [URL], for the Keywords selected in Section 4.2 in the following major search engines:
Google
Yahoo!
Bing
Ask
[list other search engines as appropriate]
4.2. Keyword Selection. The SEO Consultant and the Client have selected the following list of Keywords. The SEO Consultant may recommend additional Keywords to be added to the list.
[list keywords]
[KEYWORDS]
4.3. Back Links. The SEO Consultant shall build a profile of back links to the Client’s website at [URL].The SEO Consultant shall maintain a report of all Back Links and provide the report to the Client at the Client’s request or at the end of the project.
4.4. Code Analysis and Modification. The SEO Consultant shall analyze the underlying code of the Client’s website and provide recommendations or modifications to the code to improve the website’s performance in the selected search engines.
4.5. Search Analysis and Reports. The SEO Consultant shall monitor website traffic, generate reports based on website traffic, and provide recommendations and strategies to improve targeted traffic to the Client’s website. The SEO Consultant may use various free or paid third party tools or applications as part of this process.
4.6. Website Content Creation. Website Content creation is a large part of any search engine optimization endeavor. The SEO Consultant will likely recommend the Client add additional Website Content to the Client’s website. The Client shall pay the SEO Consultant the Hourly Rate stated above for Website Content creation. The SEO Consultant may also use a third party Website Content creation service to meet the Client’s Website Content needs. In the event a third party is used, the Client shall pay the third party Website Content creator all associated fees.
5.Client Obligations.
5.1. Representations and Warranties. The Client represents and warrants as follows:
a) The Client has not engaged in Black Hat SEO tactics at the website, [URL], in an effort to gain traffic in the past.
b) The Client has power and authority to sign, deliver, and perform this Agreement.
c) The Client has taken all necessary action to authorize the signing, delivering, and performance of this Agreement.
d) This Agreement has been duly signed by the Client, or its authorized representative or agent, and constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation. It is enforceable against the Client in accordance with its terms.
5.2. Covenants. The Client covenants to:
a) Provide administration or backend access to the SEO Consultant.
b) Provide an email at the Client’s website, [URL], for purposes of back link building or otherwise representing the Client for the purposes of SEO.
c) Allow the SEO Consultant to make changes to the website’s underlying code for the purpose of optimization.
d) Provide the SEO Consultant with a list of all third party developers of the website for the purpose of contacting them to improve the website’s performance in the search engines
e) Provide the SEO Consultant with electronic files of all promotional or branding materials, i.e., logos, graphics, etc., for the purpose of creating new promotional materials.
6. SEO Consultant Obligations.
6.1. Representations and Warranties. The SEO Consultant represents and warrants as follows:
a) The SEO Consultant will not engage in Black Hat SEO tactics at the website, [URL], in an effort to gain traffic in the future.
b) The SEO Consultant has power and authority to sign, deliver, and perform this Agreement.
c) The SEO Consultant has taken all necessary action to authorize the signing, deliver, and performance of this Agreement.
d) This Agreement has been duly signed by the SEO Consultant, or its authorized representative or agent, and constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation. It is enforceable against the SEO Consultant in accordance with its terms.
6.2. Covenants. The SEO Consultant covenants to:
a) Use White Hat SEO tactics and accepted practices to improve search engine rankings.
b) Develop a strategy to improve the flow of targeted traffic to your website.
c) Provide regular reports and analysis of traffic to your website.
6.3. Disclaimer of Warranty. The SEO Consultant is providing services “AS IS”, and disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. The SEO Consultant provides recommendations regarding current White Hat search engine optimization tactics that, in theory, should improve your website’s performance in search engine rankings. However, the SEO Consultant is not responsible for search engine rankings, the algorithms used by major search engines to ran
k web pages, or other processes of third party search engines. The SEO Consultant cannot predict future search engine algorithm changes; therefore, the SEO Consultant cannot guarantee results such as placing your website as the number one search result for specific keywords, or to maintain a position within the top 10 search results.
7. Intellectual Property. The SEO Consultant may write code or create other intellectual property as part of this Agreement.
7.1. Website Content. The Client shall own the copyright to all Website Content created to optimize the Client’s website.
7.2. Code; Non Website Content. The SEO Consultant shall have all rights in all SEO related intellectual property that may be created by the SEO Consultant in the process of optimizing the Client’s website for search engines, including, but not limited to, website code, non website content, strategies, methods of operations, or any process, idea, or other SEO related intellectual property.
8. Term.
8.1. Termination. This Agreement terminates when the SEO Consultant has performed all services and the Client has paid all fees as mentioned in section 3.
8.2 Termination for Cause; Material Breach. Despite section 8.1, a party may terminate this Agreement by giving 10 Business Days notice to the other party, if that latter party materially misrepresented a fact or materially breaches a warranty or covenant. In that event, the terminating party has all rights and remedies that law and equity provide.
9. General Provisions.
9.1. Governing Law; Forum Selection. The laws of the state of [STATE] govern all matters relating to this Agreement. Any dispute will be resolved in the courts of [STATE] and [COUNTY].
9.2. Assignment and Delegation. Neither party may assign its rights or delegate its performance under this Agreement without the other party’s consent.
9.3. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement binds and benefits the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
9.4. Notices. The parties must send all notices in writing and give all consent in writing. A notice or consent occurs is effective when the intended recipient receives it. For the purposes of this agreement, notice shall be provided to the client at [CLIENT EMAIL]. Notice shall be provided to the SEO Consultant at [SEO EMAIL].
9.5. Merger. This Agreement is the final, complete, and exclusive statement of the parties’ agreement on the maters contained in this Agreement. It supersedes all previous negotiations and agreements. The parties shall not amend this Agreement, except by an agreement in writing, signed by both parties.
