January 5th, 2012 @ 2:46 PM by Shawn Matthew
Posted In: Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
If you think being a Search Engine Optimizer is solely a backend work, then you are mistaken. The biggest task for an SEO is to communicate with clients. I have worked with many SEO clients and trust me it’s not an easy job to make them understand.
SEO Clients are different from other clients. Firstly they don’t have much know how about the procedure itself and all they look for is result. So the relation between an SEO and client can end up getting frustrated, misunderstanding, disappointments and pin pointing.
With a few years of experience in this field, I have learnt a few things to bridge the gap.
The terminology Search Engine Optimizers use is not the day to day used words. So your non-client friendly acronyms can go over the head of clients. Understand the concepts of acronyms and define it to them in a way they can comprehend.
We all know that Static URL is more SEO friendly than Dynamic URLS. But if you will ask your clients to get their URLs changed from dynamic to static just because its good won’t justify your answer. Give them proper reasoning. Asking them to do something because everyone is doing it, will never provoke them to do so, moreover you will look like an amateur.
Most SEOs think that educating their clients about search engine optimization will make them lose the client. I would disagree. Most of the clients would always look to be partners with a firm they can rely on, so they can concentrate on other departments.
Educating your client will not just make you look a skilled professional, but it will also build trust. It might take time to build trust but at the end of the day it will favor you. So the next time you are asking them to do something which will be favorable to their website, they will do it without much of nagging.
SEO is a vast field. There can be possibilities when you don’t know what your client is talking about. So instead of faking it that you know, be clear and tell them you will have to figure it out. Being fake will just make you sound dumb.
Every client wants to get the required results in a less time frame, but if you think his demand is impossible, be blunt and explain to him. Rather than agreeing to meet a ridiculous deadline which you can’t do so will eventually make him mad later.
One of the main issues that clients face is the report. SEO reports should be in a way that narrates the entire story to the client. Starting from where they stand, to where they were before and where they will be in the upcoming month.
Many reports doesn’t show the big picture which turns off the client. The report shouldn’t be all about the figures, most clients don’t understand, so it is all Greek to them.
Every client does know the importance of SEO in his business, and unless he doesn’t trust you he would eventually look for other options. What is most important in winning a client is communication. To work out thing with your clients, it usually takes time. By putting into practice some of these points you will see a definite improved relationship with your clients.
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