Comments on: What You Deserve as an SEO Client

By: Tiny Malone

Tiny Malone — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:31:11 +0000

Great article as usual Nick. And as the first poster mentioned, getting paid for your work can be problematic at times. One thing I think critical is to build value in your services that your prospective clients can digest and understand. Amazingly, even today I hear clients quip “I still don’t believe in the Internet.” However, when I establish how our service is going to resolve areas of opportunity and pain points in their business, I essentially attach value to what I’m providing. At that point, the issue is no longer “how much”, but “how soon”? So, there’s a fundamental shift in how I might approach clients based on what I know to be happening in their operation.

Second, it’s critical that I provide timely reports that explain gains in the areas I’m responsible for. If I’m driving more traffic to the website, great! If that traffic is generating more phone calls, even better! But if sales are not up, where is the disconnect. My reporting should make clear the success I’m providing, and OTHER areas of opportunity if the needle is not moving on the bottom line. Would phone training help? Would sales training help? If all of the KPI’s are up, but revenue isn’t, then it’s time to have a conversation about WHY it isn’t. A prepared SEO partner would be well served to have answers and avenues to solve these needs.

By: Nick Stamoulis

Nick Stamoulis — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:57:37 +0000

Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! I really do appreciate it

Happy Holidays!
Nick

By: moonlight

moonlight — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:23:20 +0000

Here’s another tip for SEO clients. Stop expecting the work to be done for little or nothing. \

As an SEO company, nothing is more exasperating when after spending an hour explaining your services, answering questions and developing a rapport, the client states “I don’t have much money. Can you give me a discount?” Or this – “I know my site will make money, so instead of paying now can I pay you a percentage of the proceeds?”

Well, wait. I just spent a good deal of time with you answering your questions, showing you point by point where improvements in your online presence can be made and how I can help you. Then you say you can’t afford it or can I wait until your site starts making money to be paid?

The answer is no.

I do liberally give discounts, but I can’t do it for each and every client. I have bills to pay just like everyone and there is no free lunch. I work hard for my money and client satisfaction is the result or I would be out of business.

I once built a website and performed SEO on it for an elder member of a church I went to. He needed the help because financially he was going down the tubes. I heard of his plight and offered to help. He had his own business and needed a website and Google maps listing. Gladly did it all and got him on the first page for his keywords. His site received a lot of search engine traffic and phone calls. You know, I never even got so much as a freaking thank you? Not only did I build his site, but hosted it too. ALL FOR FREE! A church elder receives over $2000 worth of work for free and can’t even say thanks.

Anyone who builds websites, does SEO, etc knows the amount of work involved. You can’t just throw it together, launch it on the internet and let the cow chips fall where they may.

I’m always available to my existing clients and have formed great relationships with them. They send me referrals, flowers and write beautiful letters of recommendation. We have even become friends and I value their business.

Nick, though I didn’t understand at first, I absolutely see and understand now why you charge what you charge for consulting fees. It really cuts the BS off at the knees and lessens the chances of tire kickers wasting your valuable time.