Letting Clients Know How You Do Keyword Research? Options

[iloveseo2]

Hello,

I'm new here and think this is the most appropriate place for my post. If not, mods, feel welcome to move it. =)

For those of you who work with clients, do you reveal how you go about your keyword research? My client wants all the details. I'm comfortable sharing to a certain extent, but I hesitate to reveal it all.

What do you think?

[Jill]

do you reveal how you go about your keyword research?

Yes, of course. Why wouldn't you, if they want to know?

[iloveseo2]

Every single detail? I'm comfortable sharing the overall approach but not every item I use to do the work.

Part of the reason is that this work is being subbed out to me, so I'm kind of working for a competitor of sorts. This competitor gets SEO business but currently has no SEO staff.

My client doesn't realize how much he does not know. He thinks SEO is using Wordtracker and that's about it.

Thanks for your reply!

[Randy]

SEO isn't about the tools you use or even the methods you use.

It's about the experience, knowledge and skill of the person who is doing the work. Therefore you don't have to worry too much about giving out too much detail. If someone tried to take what you told them chances are they'd only hear 30% of what you told them and only apply 10% of what's needed. In other words, the client would likely fail horribly if they didn't devote some serious time and brain power to learning all of the ins and out, what data to look at and how to interpret it.

[Jill]

Every single detail?

Again, sure. But feel free to invite them to a keyword research training class that you can provide them with since it may take you some time to explain it in detail. That way you'd have a win-win situation all around.

[KingPin]

I personally let all my clients know everything what I am doing to enhance there site SEO wise. I think it's a good thing to let them know exactly because there are to many snake oil SEO companies out there these days, especially here in the UK.

As mentioned above you don't need to go in great detail because it will be to time consuming but a brief description that is jargon free will do the trick.

[blackirish.ken]

I wrestled with the same dilemma when I started doing SEO consulting--which was only about two months ago. I wondered, How much info should I reveal about my practices/research? How much should I keep close to the vest? Is it better to keep clients ignorant and happy?

I decided that it was far more beneficial (for me and my clients) to provide a comprehensive report that details every aspect of what I'm doing and the logic behind it (in layman's terms), so there are no unanswered questions. I feel it gives clients more insight into SEO (what heck it is, what heck it does) as well as a greater appreciation for my services and how in depth my research efforts are. What's more, I think it gives them a level of comfort with what I'm doing. The depth and breadth of my report leaves no stone unturned and demonstrates that I'm not trying to hide anything, leave them in the dark or be enigmatic.

Finally, and most importantly, I think my reports exhibit a higher level of customer service than my competitors. And quite frankly, I'm all about making my clients feel and understand that I truly give a sh*t.

Good luck,
Ken