What Would You Do?

by 7 replies
9
This is a rant and a lesson learned I think.

Recently I met with a client who had to have their website ranked by a certain time span two months down the road. Now granted the site has been deindexed for certain reasons but I suspect I have an idea why and can likely be resolved and re included with a request to google. I have had a similar situation before and it took about 2 weeks to resolve.

I also told the client that I could not guarantee a time line they needed.

I then met with the client and discussed what needed to be done and decided to give them my one page marketing plan(rough plan...not detailed) as a sign of good faith and they said they would supply the necessary information they I needed to move forward. Well several days later and the potential client is making the changes suggested but they are really actually digging a deeper hole in the SEO aspect of trying to get the site ranked.

They have even changed their local listing and again digging a deeper hole there.

I thought about contacting this person and suggesting that they are making a mistake but have come to the conclusion that even if they came around I would not want to work with them because they never had the decency to let me know they have chosen to go a different route.

Personally when I choose to not work with someone I let them know in person or by phone that I have decided to do something different.

What would you do ... just let it go?
#offline marketing
  • reapr,
    Yeah, lesson learned on this one.

    This seems to be one of the universal truths with service based businesses.

    It doesn't matter if it is an SEO client, a patient of a physician or a home seller client of a real estate agent. Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you tell them they will do whatever they want.

    Sometimes it is arrogance, sometimes it is they are just too stupid (I don't mean that mean at all, just some people will never get it) or they just don't pay attention.

    Each one of these can be overcome, but in the end when you don't get them the results they want, despite the fact they are acting like mentally challenged monkeys, they will blame you.

    If you have, from your interactions with them, gotten the impression that they are unteachable then it is time to cut bait.

    I would do it gently. Explain to them that it looks like they are taking the lead on the SEO and that you don't want to interfere. That way you are not burning a bridge, as they may just send a referral to you someday.

    good luck,
    Scott
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • You made a presentation - and they didn't buy. Can't blame you for not wanting to work with them but letting it go is all you can do.

    Was it rude? Yes, by your standards (and mine). But this lack of communication seems to be more prevalent now in business. There was a time when any business who hired a person sent "thank you for your application, but" to all applicants. Today most only notify the person they want to hire.

    These folks may be hedging their bets in trying to do the SEO themselves assuming they can hire you if needed. If they contact you, then you can say no. Unless they do, just let it go.

    kay
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Great advice and thanks for the responses.

      I think if this person gets back at later date I will likely just let them know I never heard back so I took on some other clients and am too busy to take on anymore without putting my current clients at risk and should they have a project down the road to give me a call in a few months(that would be after the time line they needed) and we will see how we can improve their current marketing plan (of course the marketing plan will be a bit more detailed and it will only be for sale 500-700 if they want to DIY again at least I got my moneys worth from the plan).
  • Learning a lesson in business is always hard the first time, but you're going to really appreciate it when a few months/years down the line, you have another client who starts acting in the same manner. You can spot what's going on from a mile away and you will already be prepared to exit the meeting/discussions with them in a friendly but firm manner.

    I'd strongly suggest that in the future you give the client a quote which summarises what you will do, without telling them too much about the 'how' part. They can then receive a slightly more detailed 'scope of work' document once they've signed and paid a deposit.

    Of course there are always business owners who think "oh this is easy, I can do that", but they're not good clients for you anyway. If they didn't believe in the way you pitched the product/service originally, then either you need to tweak the pitch or you're just catching them at the wrong time in their business.

    I strongly agree with you that if the business owner comes back within the next two months and asks you to do the work, you should think very carefully before accepting. They've already shown themselves to be unreliable and no-one needs a difficult client who might be hard to help, since they're always changing their minds.

    Whatever happens, best of luck for the future
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • More great advice. I really think they believed it was easy(I think I may have lead them to believe that but really never said it ... so yes I will need to change my approach that is less details and a price first meeting) and that is now showing in how they are moving forward with thier site.
  • reapr, I feel your pain brother (or sister)

    When I first started meeting with clients, I learned very quickly that I was giving people WAY too much information in general. Because, as stated above, they just hedge their bets. They will talk to an employee/family member/acquantance and go over the details of your proposals, and then try and get it done as cheaply as possible (free in-house). They will probably use your own proposal/ideas and run it past OTHER companies in the area. What do you think the "web design" guys down the street will tell them?

    "Oh wow. That SEO guy actually EXPECTED $1000 a month for this stuff?!!! We can do this for $800 no problem." ....even though we all know that the "web design" companies probably have no idea what you're really proposing or how to go about doing it correctly.

    So yeah...you'll be getting a phonecall from them soon...I would politely decline.

    - Jim
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks ... Points taken. Will not be disclosing too much info next time. Will only be talking and presenting in general terms.

      I guess I am kinda ol' school where out of respect people will at least email or call and say 'sorry but we have decided to go with someone else'.
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    What Would You Do?

    This is a rant and a lesson learned I think. Recently I met with a client who had to have their website ranked by a certain time span two months down the road. Now granted the site has been deindexed for certain reasons but I suspect I have an idea why and can likely be resolved and re included with a request to google. I have had a similar situation before and it took about 2 weeks to resolve.