Comments on: How Not to Deal With Clients http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/ SEO and Marketing Blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:53:02 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Wil Reynolds http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16772 Wil Reynolds Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:40:34 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16772 <p>This is part of the issue with the proliferation of mis-information in a vaccuum. Very often clients don't know what is reasonalbe and unreasonable. </p> <p>They just hear that links from PR6 sites and higher is a good thing, and make the request. THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT. It is the job of the SEO to take the time to explain how that might not be a good idea and why.</p> <p>Additionally, I tell clients all the time that I don't care as much where they rank, but how their revenues are impacted by SEO efforts. In the same way that they shouldn't care about how many links we get, but more about the revenue it drives (assuming that we don't use spam for links which of course we don't).</p> <p>If SEO's don't stop to explain and educate even a little bit, it just makes the job that much harder for all of us. But hasn't this always been the plight of SEO, and will likely always be? </p> This is part of the issue with the proliferation of mis-information in a vaccuum. Very often clients don’t know what is reasonalbe and unreasonable.

They just hear that links from PR6 sites and higher is a good thing, and make the request. THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT. It is the job of the SEO to take the time to explain how that might not be a good idea and why.

Additionally, I tell clients all the time that I don’t care as much where they rank, but how their revenues are impacted by SEO efforts. In the same way that they shouldn’t care about how many links we get, but more about the revenue it drives (assuming that we don’t use spam for links which of course we don’t).

If SEO’s don’t stop to explain and educate even a little bit, it just makes the job that much harder for all of us. But hasn’t this always been the plight of SEO, and will likely always be?

]]> By: paisley http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16771 paisley Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:30:12 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16771 I agree with CasieG. potential (not after the meeting, before the meeting.. lol), client the other day wanted detailed document that listed everything we were going to do and when we were going to do it so he could give it to his webmaster to approve before he signed our estimate.. plus... tomorrow the whole link thingy could be gone in one fell swoop by google. I agree with CasieG.
potential (not after the meeting, before the meeting.. lol), client the other day wanted detailed document that listed everything we were going to do and when we were going to do it so he could give it to his webmaster to approve before he signed our estimate..
plus… tomorrow the whole link thingy could be gone in one fell swoop by google.

]]> By: Astone Agency http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16770 Astone Agency Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:16:40 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16770 <p>I would never promise anything to the client. It' is impossible to predict the rankings especially if you are trying to target very competitive keywords. </p> I would never promise anything to the client. It’ is impossible to predict the rankings especially if you are trying to target very competitive keywords.

]]> By: Paul Bradish http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16769 Paul Bradish Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:05:02 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16769 20 PR6 one way links for less than $500 - is this even possible? Not if they are quality, relative links that's for sure (or else they'd be very temporary). I'm a little disappointed that the SEO would even attempt this and hope that he's at least being paid rather well, because not only is he ultimately going to fail but he's also setting yet another unrealistic client expectation. Sorry to be so negative. It's 7AM and I'm cranky trying to register for PubCon! 20 PR6 one way links for less than $500 – is this even possible? Not if they are quality, relative links that’s for sure (or else they’d be very temporary).
I’m a little disappointed that the SEO would even attempt this and hope that he’s at least being paid rather well, because not only is he ultimately going to fail but he’s also setting yet another unrealistic client expectation.
Sorry to be so negative. It’s 7AM and I’m cranky trying to register for PubCon!

]]> By: Allan Schmidt http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16768 Allan Schmidt Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:49:20 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16768 <p>Excellent post.</p> <p>Bear in mind though, that the advice does not only apply to your industry. It applies to almost every consulting company with customers.</p> <p>It's the person who makes the sales that needs to be educated to take a stand instead of making ridiculous deals.</p> <p> </p> Excellent post.

Bear in mind though, that the advice does not only apply to your industry. It applies to almost every consulting company with customers.

It’s the person who makes the sales that needs to be educated to take a stand instead of making ridiculous deals.

]]> By: Doug Heil http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16767 Doug Heil Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:30:08 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16767 Lisa; you are faaaar too kind. I know you are nice most all the time, but where is the line drawn? Our industry is just too politically correct. When does it cease to be politically correct and fall into a case where our industry destroys itself because of the political correctness? If anyone read all the replies to the original poster in that thread, they can quickly see that there was almost no teaching whatsoever. No one said one word about why this is very bad stuff. Would you Lisa or would Bruce Clay actually take any amount of money at all from "any" one for the same task under the same circumstances? NO; neither one of you would. Not 500. Not $5000. No amount of money would you take for this. Our industry really needs to stop this stuff. We need to start taking firm stands about what is right, and what is simply false and very wrong. I know that Bruce is doing his very best with things, but what he is doing and what other's are doing just isn't working... including me. Something needs to be done or the industry can continue on and on with things as they are. That thread is pathetic. There; I'll say it. More of this industry needs to start saying the same thing. Politics needs to stay in Washington where it belongs. Lisa; you are faaaar too kind. I know you are nice most all the time, but where is the line drawn? Our industry is just too politically correct. When does it cease to be politically correct and fall into a case where our industry destroys itself because of the political correctness?
If anyone read all the replies to the original poster in that thread, they can quickly see that there was almost no teaching whatsoever. No one said one word about why this is very bad stuff.
Would you Lisa or would Bruce Clay actually take any amount of money at all from “any” one for the same task under the same circumstances? NO; neither one of you would. Not 500. Not $5000. No amount of money would you take for this.
Our industry really needs to stop this stuff. We need to start taking firm stands about what is right, and what is simply false and very wrong.
I know that Bruce is doing his very best with things, but what he is doing and what other’s are doing just isn’t working… including me. Something needs to be done or the industry can continue on and on with things as they are.
That thread is pathetic. There; I’ll say it. More of this industry needs to start saying the same thing. Politics needs to stay in Washington where it belongs.

]]> By: CasieG http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-16766 CasieG Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:33:00 +0000 http://www.bruceclay.com/blog-test/2007/09/how-not-to-deal-with-clients/#comment-16766 <p>"All it takes it establishing reasonable expectations before the contract is signed and the project is started." </p> <p>I think this is one of the most important aspects of an SEO campaign. Gosh, there is nothing better than a client who knows what's going on and what they should expect. Nice post! </p> “All it takes it establishing reasonable expectations before the contract is signed and the project is started.”

I think this is one of the most important aspects of an SEO campaign. Gosh, there is nothing better than a client who knows what’s going on and what they should expect. Nice post!

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