If you run a small business or render specialized services like SEO to businesses, you will understand how important it is to get paid on time. In fact, receiving prompt payment is one of the most crucial aspects of your business that can impact its financial health. After all, there’s no hope of settling your expenses if you struggle with the cash flow problem.
As a search engine optimization specialist, you can’t do without an SEO invoice if you want a better response time in payment. USA Today once shared findings from the National Federation of Independent Business, which showed that it now takes up to 90 days to receive compensation. So if you freelance as an SEO expert, you must think of better-invoicing strategies to get fast payments from your clients. It starts by signing a contract that protects your interest and that of your client. Payment policies on your SEO invoice are only formalized when they are part of your agreement when signing a contract with a client. Also, it would help if you adopt effective solutions for fast and error-free invoicing. It also helps to learn the basics first - what is an invoice?
Despite the importance of using invoices to request payment, many freelance individuals and businesses still find it challenging to use it. Crafting and sending invoices can be tedious and time-consuming, mainly when you don't employ intuitive methods. Based on the Intuit Small Business Survey, about 25% stated that they spend too much time invoicing and chasing down overdue payments.
So what can you do to ensure clients pay when you send them your SEO invoice and also on time? There are plenty of billing resources and invoicing tips to consider, and in the next section of this article we included those that would prove most useful.
Tips for creating and using SEO invoice templates
Struggling with payment is almost a norm in business regardless of the niche where you operate. However, you can always adopt some best practices to ensure faster responses when you optimize sites for clients and send them your SEO invoice. See some of the tips to help you get faster payment.
1. Use an intuitive invoicing solution for the SEO invoice sample
Your invoicing system's choice has an impact on how fast you create and receive payment from clients. For instance, scribbling your SEO invoice on a paper is not only time-consuming but also a process prone to error. It not only makes you look unprofessional but also opens your business to a potential risk of delayed payment. Online invoicing solutions, cloud-based invoicing, and affordable applications like MS Word and Excel are better alternatives.
2. Establish payment policies with the SEO invoice template
You should develop some guidelines that will enhance faster payment from your client. Determine which payment mode you accept, when the bill is due, and how much you charge for your services are typical policies you must capture on your SEO invoice.
3. Send correct and consistent invoices with the SEO invoice template
Your invoice is likely to wait on your client’s desk or email list if they find it inconsistent or need some explanation from you. Ensure you enter the details of what you have done in helping your client gain viability on the SEO invoice. Include your fees for each activity and put the total somewhere at the bottom of the page.
4. Include contact information and invoicing number with the SEO invoice template
Your SEO invoice is unidentifiable without your contact information, and your client may not claim responsibility without their details on the bill. At the very least, include your full name, mailing and contact address, and phone contact. Ensure these details are included for your client as well. Don’t forget to include an invoicing number of the bill to track the status of the document.
5. Keep track of payment with the SEO invoice template
Keep a database for your clients to track the payment history for all your projects. Also, you may send a gentle reminder and follow up messages to clients notifying them of their due invoices.
