The Ones That Don't Come Back, Good article Options

[Jill]

The Ones that Don't Come Back

Good article by Dave Wilkie! It's nice to see an original article for a change that isn't the same old same old regurgitated stuff that everyone else writes:

Another client, who did not renew, offered a service that was so ethereal and cloaked in business-speak that it seemed to me as the writer that anyone who hired this business was going to get taken for a very expensive ride. The little warning light was going off and I was finding myself wondering, “Why would anyone hire these people when they can’t even articulate in plain English what they are offering?” They promise to help your business become the well-oiled, moneymaking machine you’ve always dreamed it to be, but they are very sketchy on how they will make that happen. By the time I realized this it was too late. We had a contract with them and we were going to do our best to help them achieve great rankings in their sector, hard though that sector was to define.

[Dragon]

good article.

I have been through the same process with some clients, and its not a nice situation to be in, especially if you are in dire need to cover that bottom line (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

These clients are also usually the ones that have the most to complain about, lol.

Luckily I am now in the position and have the priviledge of choosing who I would like to work with (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Jill]

Luckily I am now in the position and have the priviledge of choosing who I would like to work with smile.gif

And it's a great position to be in!

For all my full service SEO clients, I do make sure that they have a good busienss model and that we can really help them, but ocassionally for a phone consulting client, I forget to look carefully enough at the site before I take their money. Then unfortunately, I start to do my research and analysis and it sinks in that the site in question completely sucks and probably should just be scrapped.

I don't like those phone calls. Each time it happens, I tell myself that I have to look more carefully at the sites before I take on the consulting client, but every now and then another one slips through. Usually, I can tell them enough things that they can do with their existing site that will still help them accomplish their rankings goals, but I still don't like having to first tell them..."hey, basically your site sucks, and no matter what your rankings are, it's still gonna suck unless you start over!"

[Scottie]

I just can't take on a client that doesn't know what they are doing or has a terrible model. I want them to succeed and if I can't see a way to help them succeed, I just can't throw my time and their money away.

That's gotten me some hostile responses from potential clients who think their affiliate site is unique and original and useful because they've organized the information differently than the other sites in that arena or their site is "prettier" or "it's done well up until now so obviously it IS a useful site."

I'd really rather work with sites for real businesses, with realistic goals.

[Randy]

Been there, done that. Unfortunately.

I think everybody in the SEO or Web Design field has at one point or another.

I'd really rather work with sites for real businesses, with realistic goals.

Now you know why I only work for myself on my own sites these days Scottie. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif)

[Alarr]

I'd really rather work with sites for real businesses, with realistic goals.

I just remembered a phone call I got about 4 years ago.

Me: Hello thanks for calling how can I help you
Lead: Yes Hello. I have had this Web site for about a year and it's not doing well.

Me: I'm sure I can help, what is the Web site address?
Lead: It's www.faketeeshirtcompany.com (not real but he sold tee shirts)

Me: Ok great, I see here you sell tee shirts with surfer designs. Can you tell me what your site is not doing that you would like it to do?
Lead: Yes. I want sales! I've sold nothing in the last year and I spent almost $250 on the darn site.

Me: Ok you invested $250 to build the site you have now?
Lead: Yeah a friend of mine made the site for me. And he has been working on it for a year and it's still not finished! And now he wants more money!

Me: Ok, can you tell me what you expected the site to do in terms of sales?
Lead: Well, I was hoping to sell a million.

Me: A million dollars in one year?
Lead: No, a million tee shirts [at $16 a pop]

Me: Ok, you want to build a 16 million a year company from an investmen of $250 in one year?
Lead: Well, if I have to invest more I will.

Me: (my blow-off line) Well I thik we can help. We have e-commerce packages that start at just $50,000.
Lead: <<silence>>

Me: Hello?
Lead: Do you have anything cheaper?

Me: Well, we are having a special on Blue Web sites this month. Do you mind of your Web site is blue?
Lead: How much is that?

Me: I'll be honest, I don't think we can help you. If I could take $250 and turn it into a $16 million business in just one year, I would be selling tee shirts on the Web.
Lead: and steal my idea?

Me: Can you even produce a million tee shirts in one year?
Lead: What do you mean?

Me: <hangs up phone>

[Jill]

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif)

[SearchRank]

Me: Well, we are having a special on Blue Web sites this month.  Do you mind of your Web site is blue?
Lead: How much is that?

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) I love it.

[Ron Carnell]

I think everyone has to work on sites in which they believe they can make a difference. On the other hand, I also think it's important to keep an open mind and remember that the market, not the SEO, ultimately determines whether a particular business model succeeds. Years ago, I predicted the business model for goto.com would never succeed. By the time they changed their name to Overture, I admitted I was wrong. Can an affiliate site ever be unique and original and useful? The line between affiliate and retail is a blurry one, and the guys at amazon.com, who make nothing of their own and only sell products produced by others, make it more blurry every day. The last time I bought a camera lens at amazon, it was shipped to me by Adorama Camera. Retail or affiliate? In either case, the model seems to be working moderately well for them.

Again, I agree we each have to do what feels right for us. If you find you're never wrong about a business model working, however, you might not be giving your potential clients enough benefit of the doubt. The O in SEO, after all, doesn't stand for Omniscient.

And for what it's worth? I still think paying for search engine listings is a lousy business model. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Randy]

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/roflmao.gif)

That sounds vaguely familiar for some reason Alarr. The shame is that some people just don't have a sense of humor.

[Scottie]

Well, I don't think I know everything about what will and won't work and I've certainly been surprised on both sides of the fence before, but I can't in good faith take someone's money to work on a site that I can't see a future for...

[AlexB]

This is really a great topic. Thanks for the link Jill.

I have a client right now that I didn't fully explore the human aspect of the business model. Haha! I know that sounds weird. It's actually a business model with a TON of potential but it's the complexities of personalities and certain IT staff that are keeping this site from being more of a success at this stage. We have come a long way, increased conversions, etc. but their potential is completely held back by timid managers (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/flowers.gif) too scared to confront their IT staff about crucial technical issues that overlap with what I do.

So I'd argue that in certain cases the quality of management & existing personalities of the business' staff should be explored to some degree if it's possible. It may not always be so easy to spot until you are actually in it, but it's a factor I will always try to look at from now on. Of course this does not apply to all websites but ones where you will have to rely on others (besides the client) to get the job done.