No REAL
Seo will work for nothing and carry all the risk. Here is the thing, Why should they?
Call in a builder and tell him. Build me a house and if I like it I will pay.
Call a dress designer and say , if I am happy with it I will pay.
It simply isn't going to happen, and why? Because good
SEO's are busy, they don't NEED to take on a client that doesn't fit their system. I pick and choose who I work for, and I certainly wouldn't work for someone who wanted me to work for 6-12 months for free, and then maybe pay me.
Do you know why? because people like that will always find a reason NOT to pay!
Imagine this, you tell me you want to be page 1 of Google for phrase " xx xxx xxx " it takes me 12 months, I have quoted you £10,000. I get you there, I ask for my money, but you are not getting the returns you expected for that phrase, so you refuse to pay me the £10,000. I take you to court, you close your limited company down, sell the domain name and site to another company (that you also own), and there's is not a thing I can do about it!
One thing though. The difference between a quality Eo and a link builder is immense. A good
SEO will advise on other things that could greatly increase your conversion rate.