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What criteria do you look for when searching for potential SEO clients

by abozeb
8 replies
I have been reading a lot of threads about what niches to target, but I'm more interested to know what criteria you look for when you select potential clients that you want sell SEO to.

Some of those criteria that I have read on this forum are businesses that buys big ads space on different websites, yellow pages, newspapers. Those that use Adwords but do not rank well for the same search terms.

Any more criteria that you found good and relevant for potential SEO clients?
#clients #criteria #potential #searching #seo
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    I offer more than SEO, but I think this may help.

    My criteria is;
    Self employed owner of a small business.
    The business is brick and mortar or the customers come to the business.
    I can call the CEO or owner on the phone directly.
    The average sale is over $400.
    They are not ready to go out of business. I'm not in the "Saving your business" business.
    They are local businesses, not national.
    They are not selling online, but in a local location.
    They must be able to pay me before I begin work.
    No invoices-no committees-no submitting proposals.

    That's about it.
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    • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      I offer more than SEO, but I think this may help.

      My criteria is;
      Self employed owner of a small business.
      The business is brick and mortar or the customers come to the business.
      I can call the CEO or owner on the phone directly.
      The average sale is over $400.
      They are not ready to go out of business. I'm not in the "Saving your business" business.
      They are local businesses, not national.
      They are not selling online, but in a local location.
      They must be able to pay me before I begin work.
      No invoices-no committees-no submitting proposals.

      That's about it.
      All that plus the ability to actually work with someone.
      I don't mean do they have the ability to pay, I mean
      do they have the ability to listen, share and test.

      Unless you the sales person is an expert in there field you are
      selling too. You need feed back, you need there help.

      and if they aren't willing or have the time to give it.
      Its going to fail.
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

        All that plus the ability to actually work with someone.
        I don't mean do they have the ability to pay, I mean
        do they have the ability to listen, share and test.

        Unless you the sales person is an expert in there field you are
        selling too. You need feed back, you need there help.
        Yup; My service doesn't rely on their help, and that's why I have few problems. I have no expectations from my clients, so I can't be disappointed. Every client I worked with owned the business, so they have some expertise in their industry and product. That's all I really need from them.

        But.....I did turn down a guy that owned a retail store, because he was such a dismal salesperson, that I knew he wasn't going to sell anyone but the most determined buyers.

        I told him "No". He had a credit card out and was ready to buy. But he would have destroyed any effort on my part. This only happened once though.

        I do have a couple of clients that, every single month, want me to justify why they are being charged. Meaning, they want a list of my activities to promote them. One, I told him I was not charging him anymore. I think he still thinks I'm just a great guy. I don't think he knows that I fired him.

        And eventually the other one will get another off liner to call him, and he'll drop me. I pray for that day.
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  • Profile picture of the author MelanieandMiles
    We require every client to have an on-staff content creator who can publish quality content about their niche/products/services/target market to their WP blog in the voice of their brand.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikec513
    From the school of hard knocks, the most important thing I learned is that the clients have to have high dollar customers, their average customer sale or patient needs to mean a lot of money to them. Also needs to be a business with a crappy website. Bottom line - if they spent a lot on their website and it looks good, most of them think they are set, so it is better to focus on those with a crappy site since that is where you have to start anyways (converting the traffic they actually are already getting).
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    • Profile picture of the author fandbworld
      Originally Posted by mikec513 View Post

      From the school of hard knocks, the most important thing I learned is that the clients have to have high dollar customers, their average customer sale or patient needs to mean a lot of money to them. Also needs to be a business with a crappy website. Bottom line - if they spent a lot on their website and it looks good, most of them think they are set, so it is better to focus on those with a crappy site since that is where you have to start anyways (converting the traffic they actually are already getting).
      Well you could always say "Your website looks fantastic but no one is seeing it!" This way you are complimenting them on their business (which people love) but providing a way to help them expand some more.

      In regards to the OP, I too target businesses that get a decent amount of money per sale/lead
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  • Profile picture of the author pwtmike
    Hi OP - try brick and mortars in the repair niches, auto, dental, roofing, landscape, bankruptcy, credit, etc. Organic is a great lead source for these businesses...
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  • Profile picture of the author henryj
    My criteria is usually an active website owner, who constantly updates there site and delivers quality content. If the site sucks, I will not even try.
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