The best time to sell more is after you've delivered great work. Your existing clients already trust you — upselling should feel like a natural conversation, not a pitch.
Don't think of upselling as selling — think of it as noticing problems and offering solutions. If a client has a website but no Google listing, they're leaving money on the table. Telling them about it is genuinely helpful, not pushy.
Rules:
| Upsell | Best Moment | Seed It | Close It |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP Setup/Optimization | During the initial audit — you see the GBP issue | In the health report or first email | Bundle it with the website proposal |
| Social Media Management | After website delivery — trust is established | Final delivery email or call | 30-day or 90-day follow-up |
| Monthly Maintenance | At final delivery — WordPress is freshly cleaned | Final call or email | Same conversation — easy yes |
| Full Website Redesign | During the audit — if the site is too far gone | In the health report | Present both cleanup and rebuild options side by side |
| Logo Design | During intake questionnaire | "Do you have a logo file?" | Bundle into the website proposal |
| Hosting | During setup — if they have bad hosting | "Your current hosting is slow" | Include in the project proposal |
| Service Area Pages (SEO) | 30-60 days after launch — first SEO report | "You're ranking for [City] — we could expand to [City 2]" | 90-day follow-up email |
YOU: One other thing I noticed while reviewing [Business Name] — your Google Business Profile [doesn't exist / is missing a lot of information]. That's actually where most people find local contractors — the map results at the top of Google.
THEM: Yeah, I've been meaning to deal with that.
YOU: I can take care of it for you. It's a one-time thing — $150 to create a new listing, or $300 if you already have one and it just needs to be cleaned up and optimized. Your business would start showing up on Google Maps, with your hours, services, photos, and a link to your website.
YOU: The reason I like bundling it with the website work is they work together — when someone finds you on Maps and clicks through, they land on a site that actually looks professional. Makes a big difference.
IF INTERESTED: I can add it to the same agreement and invoice. Want me to include it?
IF NOT NOW: No problem. Keep it in mind — it's the highest-impact thing you can do for showing up locally on Google. Still happy to set it up whenever you're ready.
YOU: One last thing. Now that your site is in great shape, it's worth keeping it that way. WordPress sites need regular updates — this is actually how a lot of sites end up back in the shape yours was in.
I offer a simple maintenance plan for $75 a month — plugin and theme updates, weekly backups, security monitoring, and minor content changes. Basically insurance for your website.
Bundle it with hosting and it's $100 a month total — you never have to think about either.
IF INTERESTED: I'll add it to your account and invoice the first of each month.
IF NOT NOW: No problem. The site is in good shape right now — just know WordPress does need occasional attention. Call me if anything looks off.
YOU: I want to be straight with you, [First Name]. I looked at your site and there are things I can fix for $250-$500. But honestly, the foundation is pretty dated — it's going to keep having problems.
If you want something that works long-term, a full rebuild makes more sense. A new site starts at $800 — mobile-first, fast, SEO-ready, I write all the content. Done in about 10 days.
I'll put both options in the health report so you can compare side by side. No wrong answer — but I want you to have the full picture.
Surface this during intake. One question: "Do you have a logo file you can send me?" The answer tells you everything. See the Logo Design page for the full process.
The intake questionnaire reveals most upsell needs before work starts. Use it to identify everything the client needs, then present one comprehensive proposal instead of selling one thing at a time.
After intake, build a tiered proposal with 2-3 options:
| Option | What's included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Option A — Start Here | Website Cleanup only — fix the critical issues | $350 |
| Option B — Get Found Too (recommended) | Website Cleanup + GBP Optimization — website AND Maps presence | $500 (bundle saves $150) |
| Option C — Full Package | Starter Website (new) + GBP Optimization + Social Starter — everything | $975 setup + $297/mo |
YOU: Now that your website looks great and your Google listing is set up, the next thing most of my clients think about is staying visible on social media. Do you currently post on Facebook for your business?
IF NO / RARELY: That's the most common situation I see. The problem is, when a homeowner checks your Facebook page and the last post was 4 months ago, they wonder if you're still in business. Consistent posting keeps you top-of-mind.
YOU: I offer a done-for-you service — I create all the content, design the graphics with your logo, post on a schedule, and send you a monthly report showing reach and engagement. Starts at $297 a month, no contract, cancel anytime.
IF INTERESTED: I can get your first month going next week. Want to see a sample of what the posts would look like for a [trade] company?
IF NOT NOW: Totally fine — I'll send you the details so you have it whenever the timing is right. Your website and Google listing are going to do a lot of work on their own.