What instructions should I give my SEO VAs?

by Fleki
14 replies
  • SEO
  • |
I am getting a few guys who (say they) are good at SEO, however I want to make sure they're not wasting time on things they shouldn't be wasting their time on. I have several local keywords (300-600 unique searches per month) and a few non/local keywords with about 1000-3000 searches per month.

What would you instruct them to do and in what order?

Thanks
#give #instructions #seo #vas
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
    Originally Posted by Fleki View Post

    I have several local keywords (300-600 unique searches per month) and a few non/local keywords with about 1000-3000 searches per month.

    What would you instruct them to do and in what order?

    Thanks
    Just one order - find a new job. Seriously I know you won't like me saying it but if a VA really is good at SEO they need a brain transplant to work as a VA. The benefit of me saying that to you is that you have a high chance you are being duped.
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    • Profile picture of the author James Basher
      build links via guest posts in related blogs.search for "industry" blog guest post and go from there
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    • Profile picture of the author Fleki
      Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

      Just one order - find a new job. Seriously I know you won't like me saying it but if a VA really is good at SEO they need a brain transplant to work as a VA.
      Can you get more into details with this, please?

      Why would you hire VA's without knowing what you want them to do?
      They have a good record on odesk for SEO and I just wanted to add a few things that you guys listed here... which didn't really happen...

      I have ranked pages for 6k - 9k search keywords in the past myself, I have a general idea of what needs to be done, then I had these guys take over when it was time to outsource, so they did a good job. Then I didn't need any SEO work after that (for over a year).

      Now I have a new project and I'm hiring different guys, but they seem to have a very good strategy and a proven record. It's been a long time so I'm not up to date on what changes happened in the SEO world. I'm sure the results will still be there, but I want to "stay on top of it" because I like to micromanage.

      I will definitely get a content provide in the future, someone who can write with SEO in mind, but for the time being, i'd rather try something less expensive...
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      • Profile picture of the author dburk
        Originally Posted by Fleki View Post

        They have a good record on odesk for SEO and I just wanted to add a few things that you guys listed here... which didn't really happen...

        I have ranked pages for 6k - 9k search keywords in the past myself, I have a general idea of what needs to be done, then I had these guys take over when it was time to outsource, so they did a good job. Then I didn't need any SEO work after that (for over a year).

        Now I have a new project and I'm hiring different guys, but they seem to have a very good strategy and a proven record. It's been a long time so I'm not up to date on what changes happened in the SEO world. I'm sure the results will still be there, but I want to "stay on top of it" because I like to micromanage.

        I will definitely get a content provide in the future, someone who can write with SEO in mind, but for the time being, i'd rather try something less expensive...
        Hi Fleki,

        Here's what's changed in the world of SEO while you have been out. Google has gotten much better, and faster, at detecting and devaluing web spam. Most SEO workers that have learned to do "SEO work" have only learned how to use web spam which is no longer effective. However, many workers have adapted by using methods of creative deception, routinely duping unsuspecting webmasters. Webmasters are fooled into thinking that the SEO workers' efforts were effective when in all actuality they were not.

        The latest scam is where SEO workers generate lots of positive feedback in the freelance websites by creating false reports that seem to indicate positive results from their minimal and sometimes destructive activities.

        The key to this deception is in generating false ranking reports. Those perpetrating this scam will ask you about the keyword rankings that you are aware of, carefully taking note of any keyword rankings that you are currently aware of. Then they generate a ranking report that shows the correct ranking for all of the keywords that you were aware of, but deliberately report significantly lower than actual rankings for all the other keywords. They rely on the fact that most folks will not double check their rankings reports.

        At the next reporting period they can show the actual rankings, giving the appearance that they have increased your rankings when it was all just a ruse. At this point they get clients to report positive feedback, increasing their rating scores, which helps them perpetuate the scam on even more unsuspecting webmasters.

        At first I thought this to be just a few unscrupulous operators, but turns out that it is very common across all freelance service websites that have SEO workers. The majority of people reporting positive feedback on SEO workers have been scammed and were not aware of it at the time they rated the worker. You should not rely on the positive ratings from those sources. Many of the top rated workers rated highly because they are good at pulling off this scam.
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  • Profile picture of the author dburk
    Hi Fleki,

    I agree with Mike's comments. It seems you are talking to SEO workers, who on average tend to know very little about SEO. And next to nothing about marketing.

    By the way, SEO is something you do to content. Some people confuse the term "SEO" with promotional and marketing activities, while it is a tool that is often used within promotional and marketing activities, it isn't promotion or marketing. SEO, in it's basic form, is simply the inclusion of targeted keywords within key elements of web based content.

    I am guessing that you are hiring these VAs as part of a promotional/marketing campaign? Odds are good that the people you are hiring will know little to nothing about solid marketing techniques. You should not hire SEO "workers" and let them do whatever they think is good SEO and expect a positive result. If you do not know what work they should be doing then you need to learn, or hire a marketing expert that knows how to use SEO as part of a marketing objective. Otherwise you are likely to waste a lot of money.

    You need to define your marketing goals and develop a marketing strategy designed to achieve those goals. Create a marketing plan based on that strategy, with clear, time-based, and measurable objectives. Then define the tasks needed to achieve those objectives and you will have a starting point for tasking your VAs.

    Depending on your objectives, you may realize that you need VAs for content creation, more than for SEO. Particularly if your strategy includes content marketing. Understanding and implementing basic SEO techniques on your content can often be handled by well trained copy writers. If you already have copy writers then you may just need VA workers that can assist in the publishing tasks. Make sure you are using relevant, useful, and unique content that meets a high standard for quality, else you may do more harm than good.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    Why would you hire VA's without knowing what you want them to do? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author FrankRumbauskas
    If you're trying to do SEO on the cheap for local, low-volume keywords like that (read: easy), then use services like TheHoth and SEOLutions. The "simple" package at SEOLutions is around $80 I think and works surprisingly well for lower-volume local SEO.
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    • Profile picture of the author BobbyHicks
      Okay! Here is what you do!

      The problem you are having is a problem most encounter when working with VAs. First thing you need to do is have them send a daily productivity report detailing exactly what they did each day.

      My VA's do this at the end of the day and it only takes 10 minutes.

      Then, once a week, have them submit reports that show you that they are actually getting results. Hell, a simple screenshot would be enough.

      Most people on here, and I'm not an SEO expert by any means, just create unique content and submit to article directories to help gain traffic.

      I think the best thing for you to do is hire an excellent writer full-time and have her submit to directories. Each day she sends you the 4-5 articles she/he has written and what article directories she has submitted too.

      Then you can train her a little in other SEO aspects like title tagging and meta tagging.

      Also, require them to read, "The Beginner's Guide to SEO" from SEOmoz. It is an excellent and well put together eBook about SEO and gives a great overview.

      Also, if you want to to send instructions or you want to train them. Download a screen casting software like Screenflow (99$) and then you can give them step by step instructions and upload to their dropbox for their reference. I find this to be the best possible solution when working with virtual assistants.
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  • Profile picture of the author redchillies
    There is no point in hiring VA's when you don't know what to get done from them.
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  • Profile picture of the author junwejw
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    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by junwejw View Post

      For SEO, If you want to get a Google first page ranking of your keyword(s), it is so simple, hire one person or company who can provide Google first page guaranteed services, and promise only charge you after your keyword(s) ranked to top 10.
      Yes, you only pay for result but not for whatever they do.

      Hi junwejw,

      The problem with that approach is that no one offers a service like that unless they can pick the keywords that are easy to rank, and generally worthless to the client. So the client ends up paying for keywords that have little to no monetary value. Or, they charge so much higher than customary, to cover the costs of all the losers.

      It's one of those ideas that sound good on the surface, but the devil is in the details.
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  • Profile picture of the author dalegolden
    Tell them to build 10 PR3+ backlinks through blog commenting. Also, tell them to find the blog by themselves. If they can complete this job successfully, you may take them as your VA. Because through blog commenting only, you will be able to check their experience in searching for high PR blogs, leaving good quality comments, avoiding spam etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author daddykool
    If you have some VA's that are able to do SEO, please PM us, we will hire them ALL!

    VA's are just that, virtual assistants, working on FAR less than anyone that is doing REAL seo, non crap-o-la, non spam, non BS work to get your sites listed!

    VA = $2 an hour
    SEO = $10 min an hour

    HOWEVER... if you really have some time, you can train the VA's to do real seo, but then what is your time worth per hour, when you are doing that!

    Best way is to ALWAYS have an end of day report like another warrior has advised above, better still, install a screen watch software and pop in now and WATCH that they are doing what you are paying them to do!
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  • Why don't you just take a look in the "Warriors for Hire" section on this forum? There you'll find more qualified people who can help you with your sites' seo.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Sounds like you want to hire people for no particular reason.
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