Is Serving Clients’ Best Interest Really In Their Best Interest?
Those of us in the SEO industry operate by some pretty simple principles. We’re in business to help clients succeed. Success can mean many things, but, to most businesses, every lost ranking position looks like lost business! As SEOs, SEMs, link builders and inbound marketers, it’s important to be successful – not just for our own sake, but also for the companies we work for.
I often tell our clients that it is in our own best interest that they succeed because our success is tied directly to theirs. If they fail, we lose.
But the reverse is also true. If the SEO company fails, the client loses. This is the dual struggle that many companies, including mine, fight against. We want to do everything necessary to make sure our clients succeed. The problem is that not all clients are doing the same for their own success. As the service provider, however, the burden often falls onto us to deliver what is in clients’ best interest, even if they are not willing to.
In SEO, clients may purchase services that provide xyz, based on their budget and hopeful outcome. But when xyz isn’t enough to get them where they want, the client then expects the SEO to deliver abc on top of it.
The last thing any SEO wants to hear is, “Why am I not ranking for this keyword?” On the flip side, the last thing the client wants to hear is, “Because you’re not paying for that!”
Imagine taking your vehicle to a car wash and paying for the basic wash service. When your car comes out, it’s all sparkly clean, except the engine needs to be cleaned, the inside detailed and it could use a coat of wax. Now, the car wash company wants you to have a nice, clean, shiny vehicle. If you’re not happy with the wash, you won’t be a repeat customer. But it’s silly to pay for a wash and then be shocked that the wash alone wasn’t enough to make your car look just the way you wanted!
This is what SEOs face all the time. Clients taking a lower service but being upset because they get the lower results!
Businesses come to SEOs because they want (nay, need) to make money. The SEO also wants (nay, needs) to make money. Both need profits to survive. It’s in the best interest of both companies when both companies are profitable.
If one is not profitable, it affects the ability of the other to hold up their end of the contract. What would otherwise be a nice long-term and mutually profitable agreement becomes an agreement where, ultimately, neither benefit in the long-run. Your business agreement is out of balance.
If you only look after yourself, then you’ll find that no one is willing to work with you, which shortchanges your own efforts. On the other hand, you can’t only do what is best for others; otherwise, you won’t be able to deliver as promised, which also shortchanges your own efforts.
If you think always doing only what’s in your customers’ best interest is really the right thing to do, then I challenge you to give away all your services or products free of charge for one year. Wouldn’t your clients/customers be better served by such a move? Wouldn’t that allow them to get a higher profit margin or keep more money in their pocket?
Of course it would, but it certainly wouldn’t be in your best interest. Nor could you do that indefinitely. Sooner or later, your ability to give your clients what they expect will suffer. They’ll be unhappy and so will you!
SEO clients need to ensure they are not demanding more than they are willing to pay for, just as SEOs must be willing to do everything they can within the framework provided to get the best results possible. It’s in both the SEO’s and the client’s best interest to ensure they have a mutually beneficial agreement that sets proper expectation for results and that neither takes advantage of the other or allows themselves to be taken advantage of.
Follow me+ at @StoneyD and @PolePositionMkg.
Stoney deGeyter is the President of Pole Position Marketing, a leading search engine optimization and marketing firm helping businesses grow since 1998. Stoney is a frequent speaker at website marketing conferences and has published hundreds of helpful SEO, SEM and small business articles.
If you’d like Stoney deGeyter to speak at your conference, seminar, workshop or provide in-house training to your team, contact him via his site or by phone at 866-685-3374.
Stoney pioneered the concept of Destination Search Engine Marketing which is the driving philosophy of how Pole Position Marketing helps clients expand their online presence and grow their businesses. Stoney is Associate Editor at Search Engine Guide and has written several SEO and SEM e-books including E-Marketing Performance; The Best Damn Web Marketing Checklist, Period!; Keyword Research and Selection, Destination Search Engine Marketing, and more.
Stoney has five wonderful children and spends his free time reviewing restaurants and other things to do in Canton, Ohio.
I have no problem going a little above and beyond the contract for my clients, especially when I like working with them. When you have a good relationship with your clients they know when they are asking for a little extra and they appreciate it when you’re willing to do it. It’s when clients expect the moon and the stars but are only willing to pay for a flower pot that I get annoyed. I want to help you succeed, but that doesn’t mean you can take advantage of my and my company.
Read by small business people, our newsletter delivers a digest of articles from the top search engine marketing experts. You will learn about:
Our newsletter is the perfect way to stay up to date with all of the latest trends, events and techniques in using search engines to grow your business and make more sales. Subscribe here. Your email address will NOT be given to third parties.
FreeFind Site Search Engine – FreeFind adds a “search this site” feature to your website, making your site easier to use. FreeFind also gives you reports showing what your visitors are searching for, enabling you to improve your site. FreeFind’s advanced site search engine and automatic site map technology can be added to your website for free.
Buy UPC Codes
Get your products listed online!
Search marketing information for small business owners.
Fetching the best small business news.
A friendly place to share small business ideas and knowledge.
Small business support through education, resources and community
The directory of the best small business sites and tools.
Copyright © 1998 – 2019 Search Engine Guide All Rights Reserved. Privacy
Research & References of Is Serving Clients’ Best Interest Really In Their Best Interest?|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source
0 Comments