Seo Leftovers, Picking up where someone else left off Options

[Say Yebo]

I recently provided an estimate of what it would cost to optimize a web site for a potential client inquiring about my prices.

As it was a large site, and they had not yet even considered a budget for the job, I gave an estimate only and said that once I had scoped the job properly I would be able to give an accurate quote. (I wanted to see if my prices were going to be acceptable to them before spending hours and hours checking out the site)

They came back with: We already have had the key word research done and will provide a list of our words. We also have a lot of the work done on the pages. Here’s an example: http://www.theirsite.com/information/page.asp. Based on this what would be the next step?

I started writing back about web site goals and planning an SEO strategy, but ran out of steam the more I realized that they are probably never going to 'get it'.

Is it just me, or would you also want to run and never look back at this job?

Caro

[donp]

It's like trying to tell an Obama supporter to switch to McCain (or vice-versa) - ain't going to happen. For most of us, once the perception is implanted in the brain, heaven and earth can't change it. It may be that they have some of the research done, check it out and see if it's in the scope of what you think you need to do.

I try to see if I can get a fair hearing with a potential client, at least a shot at presenting my entire case. When I see that's not going to happen, I get out and not waste another minute. I have in the past entered in contracts with clients I knew would not follow the program, had no trouble taking the money - the last one didn't believe me about duplicate sites (he believes me now).

The client that does see the light gets 110% - and I love to do extra for that client rather than waste that effort on a losing cause. I'm 62 and love this work, I'll do it 'till I die, but I generally won't work for clients like you pointed out above. Maybe you can show them the light - but don't count on it.

[thetraveler]

Although I can only go off the information provided in your post, it sounds like you are making some assumptions about the client. This is very easy for anyone to do in almost any aspect of life and I speak from a lot of experience here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/embarrassed.gif)

They may not get it right now, but that does not mean that with the right finesse, they won't get it in the future. Work on building up some report with them first. Forget about the technical seo stuff. Then, if the keyword research they already have is bad, show them why (don't tell them). Show them how you run keyword reports and run it in front of them. Show them how other keywords will be better. So many people respond much more positively if you just show them why you are saying something. Show them you are working with them and you will build their trust. But if you go head to head against their current beliefs, they won't like you even if you are right.

Of course, what if the work the site already has is good quality? I'm sure you can create some sort of a deal that makes them feel they are getting a break but properly compensates you for the tons of work they will never realize you are doing.

In my experience, building report is how you get clients you love and refer you. And trust you with anything.

Good luck!

[Jill]

How does the page they provided you with look in terms of it being optimized?

What about their keyword research? Does it appear to be thorough?

I would review those things (quickly) first as they may indeed make your job easier. But then again, they may not.

If nothing else, you can tell them that having those things are a great start and you will build further upon them as well as provide the zillions of other things that they haven't thought about doing yet.

[Say Yebo]

How does the page they provided you with look in terms of it being optimized?

The example page they gave me was heavily and obviously optimized for one broad keyword - they repeated it often and always made it bold. Yet no other pages linked to that page using it as anchor text.

I have asked them for more detail about their SEO plan, goals, etc, but as yet they have not provided me with anything. I have decided to leave the ball in their court for the moment.

Thanks for the input everyone. I always appreciate the help I get from HR!

[K.S. Katz]

I have asked them for more detail about their SEO plan, goals, etc, but as yet they have not provided me with anything.

It's very possible, based on the previous example of optimization that the client in question showed you, that they have no idea what an SEO plan is or how they should formulate their SEO goals. Obviously, based on their previous hiring decision their SEO knowledge is lacking and they definitely need a little extra hand holding. Now, this might not be the type of client you're looking for, because they're going to need a lot of TLC.

If you want them as a client, I wouldn't wait for them to respond.

[helga]

I've had a few situations where I've taken over where a previous agency has left off. In some cases it's actually been a good thing, as if the client was unhappy with their previous agency, and you do a good job for them, they will love you even more than they would have done otherwise. However, I do find that working on a site where someone has already done some work is usually more work at the outset than working on one where you're starting from a clean sheet. It takes ages to analyse what's been done, what's working and what's not, plus you've got the problem that the client may have been told some stuff that's inaccurate in the past. And at the same time the client thinks they ought to get a discount because they've had some work done before.

So personally, what I would do is give it a wide berth if I've got lots of work on at the time and don't want to risk getting involved in something that's potentially more trouble than it's worth. But if I needed some extra business at the time I'd follow it up and see if it turned out to be one of the good cases.

I'm not somebody who normally posts on forums, I read them all the time but rarely post because I can usually find the answer to my question in an existing thread, BUT I had a dream last night about meeting Jill at a conference and having a few drinks with her and so when I found the newsletter in my inbox this morning, I thought, I must post something on the High Rankings forum!!

[Jill]

Offtopic

I'm not somebody who normally posts on forums, I read them all the time but rarely post because I can usually find the answer to my question in an existing thread, BUT I had a dream last night about meeting Jill at a conference and having a few drinks with her and so when I found the newsletter in my inbox this morning, I thought, I must post something on the High Rankings forum!!

Heh...well that's pretty cool, thanks for stopping by and posting your thoughts!

Are you planning on going to any conferences this year? Maybe the dream will come true! (Or come to one of our workshops/classes.)

[helga]

Offtopic

Heh...well that's pretty cool, thanks for stopping by and posting your thoughts!

Are you planning on going to any conferences this year? Maybe the dream will come true! (Or come to one of our workshops/classes.)

Offtopic

SES London hopefully - just discovered it's in school holidays, which is the only time I can travel freely. Not been to a conference before, due to childcare commitments...

New year's resolution: to get more involved in the whole SEM community!