Hiring Outside Help -- Is It "cheating" Options

[Julia]

I'm a copywriter for both web and print who is trying to expand my services to include SEO. My problem is I don't feel comfortable advertising SEO services when my own web site is not optimized. I'm fairly confident that I could optimize my site but...because of client commitments I never seem to have the time to do it.

Would it be considered "cheating" if I hired someone to do it for me? I'd appreciate your opinions.

Thanks, Julia

[SearchRank]

Not at all. It's funny because we are a SEO but will outsource copywriting services as well as extensive link building services. Our clients never know the difference.

It is very difficult to specialize in the several areas of marketing that there are. Therefore it is better IMO to focus on what you are good at and then outsource the rest.

[OldWelshGuy]

Hi Julia,

Presumably if you are too busy to optimise it yourself, you are likely to use the same person to optimise client sites as well?

What you have to be careful of is the background chat, example:-

I was approached by a person who designs websites, he asked me how good I was at optimisation. One thing led to another and I offered to optimise his 5 page site. I knew that this guy was cagey, and lazy, so i took his pages, optimised them completely and gave them back to him, we agreed that I could advertise optimised by my company on the pages.

Two months later his site was flying high, he added an optimisation page to his site, and set about filling it with crap about 'this site being testament to our abilities' including a 'site optimised by his company' notice on the pages I optimised.

Now me being me (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/naughty.gif) added comments to the code on his pages saying, 'optimised for 'company name' by Umbrella Consultancy Ltd 'date'.

This guy runs around networking like crazy, selling his services, every time I come across him in competition for the same client, I meet the client, tell them this story, and show them his code. We have a good laugh, and I get the work (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I am waiting for the day when he goes into orbit over this accusing me of all sorts, I will then show him the signed agreement allowing me to advertise on the pages I optimised (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif) .

So what I am saying to you is that so long as you are not misrepresenting your services, and you TRULY CAN do as good a job or better than the person you get to optimise your site, then no problem. If on the other hand you THINK you can do as good a job, when in your heart of hearts you can't, then there is a problem. And be careful not to suggest YOU optimised your site, or the guy who did the work might tell the world, and it could bite your butt.

[mcanerin]

I work with several designers and they offer SEO services to their clients - the designers bill the client, post the changes I ask them too, and pass on my fees to me - keeping a referral and editing fee for themselves.

From the clients perspective I'm either invisible or an employee/associate of the designer. I'm certainly not the only SEO who does this.

As others have mentioned, even SEO's subcontract out specialists for certain clients - sometimes due to workload, sometimes due to extremely competitive sites that need every edge they can get. In this case, the SEO's skill is in knowing who to choose and trust for the subcontracting work.

What would be dishonest would be to not do the best job you can for the client, regardless of whether you subcontracted out or did it yourself.

Ian

[mcanerin]

Addendum - I've been thinking of redesigning some parts of my own site - if I ran out of time or got a mental block I would certainly not hesitate in hiring (or trading services with) someone I would feel comfortable subcontracting out to. If it's good enough for a client, it's good enough for me (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ian

[Julia]

That's what I figured...darn it.

Eventually I'd like to move away from traditional print work and make the SEO my main focus. But, at the moment I need to pay the bills which is why I can't spend too much time on my own site.

If I start to advertize SEO services the first thing a potential client is going to ask is why my site is lanquishing at the bottom of search engine results. If I hire someone to do it for me I'd need to come clean with the client. Then, if they had any sense, they'd go to the company I used. I would.

[OldWelshGuy]

Hang on Julia, you don't tell the company who did the SEo on your site, that would be daft ;-)

If you design something, and send it out to be contract printed, you don't tell the client who printed it do you! Same with this, all you need say is that you don't personally do the SEO, you have someone else who does that, you supervise the work to make sure it is up to standard.

That is the truth.

[mcanerin]

I agree - as long as you stand by the work offered to your client and take care to choose good contractors, then no problem.

It's not really much different than if you had a couple of employees and each was good at certain jobs - you wouldn't feel a need to explain to the client exactly what part each one would do - it's the company as a whole that's doing it.

Same kind of thing. This issue is can you offer the client the same level of service. If so, no issue.

Ian

[Julia]

OK. So anyone got any recommendations? Bearing in mind I'm a lowly copywriter who has a limited budget.

Mind you, I'm almost too embarrassed to show anyone my site. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[SanDiegoMedia]

Optimizing your site and doing seo copywriting are two different things. If you're not an SEO then you should need to hire an SEO to optimize your site. If a client wants to know why you dont rank well then tell them you're only a peace to the puzzle, and have yet to hire the SEO to optimize your code. SEO's need SEO Copywriters, and vise versa. There are very few people that can do both.

[mcanerin]

True - I can do marketing copy and can get creative with keyword densities - but I'm certainly not a copywriter - that's damn hard work - and you have to be able to spell, 'n stuff.... (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

If I needed substantial copy, I would certainly either recommend a copywriter to become part of the SEO team or hire him/her myself, depending on the type of client and contract.

As a matter of fact, I'm on a SEO team right now for a client with exactly that setup - a database expert, an SEO, and a copywriter. Specialists are good. I can barely keep up with the latest changes to the Search Engine algos, much less all the stuff going on in other fields.

Ian

[Julia]

I've always marketed myself as purely a copywriter. Most of my work comes through agencies and designers. I'd like to get more direct clients but who searches the web for a copywriter?...most people think I copyright books.

So in order to get these clients (web site owners) I figured the best way was to start to market myself as an SEO as well. But, as you say, I don't want to do it all. I like copywriting but I want my site to reflect a complete SEO service.

Oh my gosh, I'm getting a headache!! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[Jill]

Julia,

My suggestion to you would be to only offer SEO copywriting services. Look for SEO companies to work with who need professional copywriters on their team. There are tons. All SEOs need to partner with a copywriter whether they know it or not. Eventually, they will come to this realization.

That's your target market. So you trade them. You write the copy for their site, they optimize yours (you write the copy) and then you become a team.

Copywriters aren't SEOs, and SEOs aren't copywriters. There's an overlap in skills for sure, but it's unwise for either to try to become both. I can't stress this enough to people.

Jill

[Julia]

Thank you all for your sound advice.

[OldWelshGuy]

Cmon Julia, 'stump up' post your domain in your signature (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)