Can you rank a site that you didn't create?
For local business websites: Can you just walk up to someone's computer, access their site, see what needs to be done, then start effectively optimizing it with ONLY off-page strategies?
Or do really have to get their webmasters access passwords, go in, and make whatever on-page adjustments may be necessary?
Or do you simply SUGGEST on-page changes that your client should have their web designer implement, while you continue to perform off-line seo?
Or do you start from scratch, new website and all?
Robin