Sphinn - Are You Quizzing Your Potential SEO Clients?

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Are You Quizzing Your Potential SEO Clients?

Went Hot: September 5, 2007 - 2:12 pm
Posted By: toprank 669 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.toprankblog.com)
Category: SEO

Typically, prospective SEO clients send consultants a RFP with questions about staff, expertise and process to make sure the SEO firm is qualified. But what about qualifying the SEO client? The most successful search engine optimization engagements are those where both the SEO agency and the SEO client possess a proper understanding of strategy, process and outcomes.

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from planetc1 669 days ago #

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This is an important post. Unlike nearly everyone here, I am more on the client side. My phone rings daily with calls from marketers. In 10 years I have yet to have one call that has taken the time to research us or ask me questions.

The same goes for those I have contacted. Feels as if everyone has answers before I ask any questions.

Here is to hoping everyone reads Lee's list.

from scottclark 668 days ago #

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So, would you use the list as a part of your pitch, or bring it out further into the consideration cycle?

Do you think it would spook a lot of people who are knee-jerk reactionaries who feel you're going to lift up too many rugs in the company, or earn the respect of the more analytic and/or passionate people?

from Eavesy 668 days ago # - show/hide this comment

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4 words - What is your budget?

from toprank 668 days ago #

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Eavesy, that's a good point but from the other direction. People that call asking straight away, "What's your pricing?" get put into the "refer to SEMPO.org or topseos.com bucket" within seconds.

from toprank 668 days ago #

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Scott, there are questions appropriate for the pitch and other for discovery. The post does not distinguish them that way nor does it include all the questions we typically use.

It is absolutely a filter and that's one of the points of the post. If a client side marketer cannot answer these questions, then it may not be a good fit or at least, it's not time for the kind of SEO campaign they really need.

There may be other issues to solve first.