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How You Know When Your Client Isn’t Really Interested In SEO

By Nickfb76 | March 15, 2010

Everybody loves the idea of search engine optimization.  Who wouldn’t want to rank number one for niche related keywords in Bing, Yahoo, and the grand daddy of them all Google!?  It’s an easy concept to understand, rank at the top and rake in all the money.  Yes it’s a very simplified analogy but this is what 90% of people interested in SEO think.  What they don’t think about, let alone care about is the effort that needs to be put in place to execute proper SEO.  Below are actual comments or situations that many search professionals deal with on a daily basis.

What Do You Mean I Have Unrealistic Keyword Goals?

You want to rank for “shoes”, “I-phone”, and “credit card”?  We really do need to sit down and have a long discussion about your strategy.  Not only will these keywords cost you more than your company is worth, but they aren’t even the most qualified keywords for your site!  100,000 visitors a month from the keyword “shoes” isn’t going to be cost efficient for selling your custom one off Native American moccasins.

What? I Need To Actually Add Keywords To My Site Content?

Yes! People actually think that by signing up for “SEO” they can magically have their site rank for keywords regardless the fact that it’s not even mentioned in their copy.  You want to rank for a certain keyword, you better be prepared to include it in your page content.

HTML Text Is Ugly – Do Your SEO Thing With My Existing Flash Content!

You want to rank for your keywords but you want to use technology that the search engines have a very hard time reading?  You absolutely have to be open to fixing your on page elements. If you’re not open to this you need to pack your bags and go home!  I’m not saying that we can’t work around your flash, but you need to understand that at a minimum a text block will be needed.  (For the simplicity of this article let’s not get into SWF Flash embedding.)

My second gripe about content is the fact that people never seem to actually want to write it.   Not every SEO is a fantastic content writer; however a competent one can guide you in writing a very SEO friendly content piece.  Remember, you sell your products or services because you know your industry best.   If I had your knowledge I would create my own site and make myself all the money!   …and no jackass, you cannot add two sentences without mentioning your keyword and still expect your page to rank number one.

Frequently Update My Content? No Thanks I Don’t Want To Do That!

Is it absolutely necessary to have frequently updated content to rank for keyword? No! However link building is a hell of a lot easier if you’re at least open to the idea.  Why can’t you add a blog to your site?  Add monthly articles? Or create a small news section?  Think about it this way, why the hell would anyone want to link to your site?  If you don’t have the utmost amazing free standing content pages, frequently updated content should be something you’re looking into.

Ok I Will “Buy” SEO But I Need To Rank In Two Weeks!

#Fail!  Unless you are targeting keywords that have very little competition the odds of you placing number one in two weeks are very slim.  This is given the assumption that you can even get the search engines to fully re-index your on site changes within this time.  SEO requires patience and regardless what you think I am not holding your rankings prisoner until next months SEO payment.  God knows if I had that type of search engine power I would be making a ton more than I currently am.

SEO Is NOT A Free Ride To The Top.

Contrary to that guy who called you last week, SEO isn’t a get rich quick scheme.  You will actually have to do some work. Yes it will cost you money, and yes it will take time.  The worst part about SEO is that nothing is actually guaranteed!  However, if you’re willing to put your time, effort and money towards a functional SEO campaign the odds are definitely in your favor.  If you think that you’re going to write one check and sit your ass on the coach and get rich, you need to think twice.  Search Engine Optimization isn’t for everyone, are you really interested in SEO?

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Topics: Business Bullshit, Other Stuff | 11 Comments »

Posted on 15 March 2010 by Nick LeRoy

Nick is a Minneapolis SEO Consultant at FindLaw a Thomson Reuters business.

has written 4 articles for SEO Bullshit

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  • http://www.seoxcellence.com/ Mitch

    Wonderful post, and right on the money across the board. The major stopping point for me is trying to convince people they need to consistently have new content to continue with anything I've done for them and their websites SEO wise. That's the major fail that most of us will never be able to overcome with these people, but I'll take their money to at least give their website an initial fighting chance.

  • http://www.making8seo.com/ Adam J. Humphreys

    Ranking #1 for something doesn't immediately mean that you'll get a lot of traffic or conversions either. There has to be a healthy mix of content, relavancy, and targeted keyword ad copy content to actually have some conversions. Your site could rank #1 but if your meta-description sucks you might not get all the traffic you'd hoped for.

  • http://www.sourcesqr.com/ Kelvin Lee

    I wanna cry after reading this post!

  • http://seo.tolafamakinwa.net/ Tola F.

    This is sooo true! especially ranking for such simple keywords when its a new website. I mean, c'mon!! Honestly this article says it all!! really good stuff!!

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  • Craig Daniels

    Great Post.. I think it's the Yellow Pages disease for those over 40 … that is, put up an ad and forget about it and for those under 40 I don't get it.. people seem to have little clue about how search engines see their websites. If they had a Candy store on the corner they would have no problem cleaning the windows everyday to attract customers.. but update content… lol

  • http://timmsmedia.com/ Jerry Timms

    I couldn't agree more! I've seen many very promising projects fail due to the client's inability to keep writing new content. Now I'm very careful to set the expectation that results could take 3-6 months, and that unless the content is contoiually updated you will not be happy with the results.

  • Zohan

    Yea very true , I often face this from client when I pitch for SEO Project… even if we make them understand, in coming months time few of them again start cribbing for “Where are the rankings blah.. blah.. blah..” and you know then they ask to double the efforts so they can rank on highly competitive keywords.

    Client got in their mind that one way high PR links is the only thing which can make them grow like anything..

    Ahhh …… forget it.. it will keep on going.. unless SEO guy have a big name.

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    There has to be a healthy mix of content, relavancy, and targeted keyword ad copy content to actually have some conversions.

  • http://www.MarketplaceMaven.com Rachel

    Ok. I love this article. I have been browsing this website for over an hour now and I keep coming back to re-read this! I, by no means, am an SEO expert, I have actually grown quite a distaste for SEO consultants, as the ones in my circle (of networking/chamber events) seem to only sell keyword/metatag analysis for several hundred dollars a month. I however, think that is snake oil and complete BS. 
    But your post make perfect sense! I try to convince my clients they are better off paying a copywriter than a “SEO expert”. I guess I should have met more SEO experts like yourself and then I wouldn’t hate them all! :)