4 replies to this topic

[SearchRank]

I just turned down a face to face meeting for SEO services with a prospective client because they are still in the process of interviewing several SEO firms for a project of theirs. The reason I turned down the meeting which was to be held at their office is because in our firm's 6 plus year history, I have only conducted one such meeting at a client's office regarding SEO and that was to discuss the specifics of their campaign. We were not doing a "sales pitch" or a "presentation" to try to secure business, just discussing the details of the campaign and because they were in the same city, we met face to face. I don't have a problem if they want to come to my office and check us out but the other way around I do if they are just shopping.

Therefore I wanted to see what other SEOs who participate in this forum feel about face to face meetings to try to secure new business when the client is shopping around for an SEO.

My argument to the prospective client was that we secure 99.9% of SEO clients by either individual phone conversations, email correspondence or multi person phone conferences but not with face to face meetings. We have secured big clients with large campaigns, without having to conduct a face to face meeting. I told them that if they felt we would be their firm of choice that I'd be happy to meet face to face to discuss the details of the project seeing we are in the same city. But I will not spend precious time meeting face to face when they are merely shopping.

How do the rest of you feel? What is your practice? Any good or bad experiences?

(Note: When I refer to face to face meeting, I am talking about you going to their place of business, not them coming to yours.)

[Haystack]

Face to face sales meetings take up a lot of time but can be useful. I've landed some local accounts through face to face meetings, but I wouldn't do them if it didn't involve food.

However, those situations were different from the one you describe. They were largely based around referrals from friends and associates, so they were more of a formality of explaining what we can do and figuring out terms.

[SearchRank]

... but I wouldn't do them if it didn't involve food.

Good point. I never turn down a free meal. Buy me lunch or dinner and I'm there!

[anthonyparsons.com]

Yep,

I have to completely agree with you search rank, what a waste of time and effort. That to me is an "Interview" and nothing more. The other way around would of been different. I would also turn down the offer. I find exactly the same thing, I find all my business by other means, not face to face meetings burning up valuable work hours that can be concentrated on my customers websites.

I have done the face the face scenario though, exactly for what it was intended, after the sale to sort out facts.

[Jill]

I politely tell those prospective clients that I'll be happy to talk to them on the phone or via email, but that as a solo practictioner I don't have the time to spend going to someone's office. I do give them my consulting prices, if they'd like to pay me to come. Always happy to do that!

That said, I did meet one potential client recently. He was coming in town from another state, said we could meet anywhere I wanted for coffee or whatever, very nearby to where I am. He sounded like a nice guy, and I figured I needed to get out more anyway. We had an interesting conversation, I got free coffee, and I did end up doing a full site analysis paid report for him. I only had to drive a few minutes down the road and didn't dress up or anything.

That was the exception, rather than the rule, however. I wouldn't go into Boston, say, under a similar situation. If they were within 10 or 15 mins. from where I am, I might suggest we have coffee or lunch or something. But only if they seemed really nice and normal.

I've also had some ones suggest a meeting, but they sound/seem kinda creepy. I avoid those ones.

Jill