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Help Webdesigner being asked to offer SEO services!

by CPC
9 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Ok so Ive been designing websites for a long time now. I build them with basic SEO principles (as every designer should) but Im no expert. A friend has introduced me to a potential client about helping him with his websites and he wants SEO help. Since I need to improve my skills anyway, Im thinking of brushing up on my skills and offering him a very low rate for my services. What Im asking is:

Do you think a webdesigner who doesnt know a lot about SEO can learn a decent amount in a short time?

And can you point me to any good free SEO resources?

Thanks
CPC
#asked #offer #seo #services #webdesigner
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    Originally Posted by CPC View Post

    Do you think a webdesigner who doesnt know a lot about SEO can learn a decent amount in a short time?
    No.

    Don't do this. You should not be learning SEO on the client's dime, no matter what you are charging.

    Would you hire someone to put a new roof on your house who has never put a roof on any house before, but is eager to learn? Of course not.

    On top of that, if you don't know what you are doing, you could actually harm his website.
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    • Profile picture of the author CPC
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      No.

      Don't do this. You should not be learning SEO on the client's dime, no matter what you are charging.

      Would you hire someone to put a new roof on your house who has never put a roof on any house before, but is eager to learn? Of course not.

      On top of that, if you don't know what you are doing, you could actually harm his website.
      I see what youre saying but I dont see it that way. I build websites all the time that get ranked well in search engines based off the SEO principles. Ive built roofs before. I might be rebuilding their website anyway so I guess that will be my service and my fee.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by CPC View Post

        I see what youre saying but I dont see it that way. I build websites all the time that get ranked well in search engines based off the SEO principles. Ive built roofs before. I might be rebuilding their website anyway so I guess that will be my service and my fee.
        Okay. Nevermind then. Have at it. Just remember, like I said, you can do more harm than good if you do not know what you are doing.

        You should not be taking a client's money to learn SEO.

        If you are interested in learning SEO, great. Go for it.

        Until you do though, a much better solution would be to refer clients like this to an actual SEO and ask for a cut of the fee in return for the referral. That or hire an SEO yourself that you outsource the SEO work to and charge the client whatever you want taking a cut off the top.
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  • Profile picture of the author Yvon Boulianne
    yes do it, make it work and clients are happy whatever way you do it
    no other way that doing it anyway..
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Yvon Boulianne View Post

      yes do it, make it work and clients are happy whatever way you do it
      no other way that doing it anyway..


      Seriously, what are you talking about?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Do you think a webdesigner who doesnt know a lot about SEO can learn a decent amount in a short time?

    And can you point me to any good free SEO resources?
    You asked the question - then you argue with the answers? Not unusual - but why ask? If you want to learn in depth - "free" may not be the best option. What is a "short time" to you? A few hours - a couple days - a month?

    To me - it depends on what you tell the client who is paying you.

    If you are upfront about your skill level - and quote a low price - the client may be happy with that.

    If you are representing yourself as "knowing" what you are doing - low price or not - you are taking advantage of the client and risking your reputation.
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  • Profile picture of the author CPC
    Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

    You asked the question - then you argue with the answers? Not unusual - but why ask?
    Don’t construe responding to answers as arguing. I’m merely explaining my situation further and where I think they have misinterpreted either my skills or my intentions (which I’m not saying is there fault at all, my original post was small and rushed). I certainly won’t be harming their website, I am a webdesigner after all.

    As an update I’ve been upfront about what I can offer them (outside of SEO services).
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by CPC View Post

      I certainly wont be harming their website, I am a webdesigner after all.
      This forum is full of threads about webdesigners who rat-$#%%#ed a website.

      Webdesigners do it all the time. There's a difference between a webdesigner, and a person who builds and maintains websites. Nobody should ever actually hire a webdesigner. You want someone who knows how servers, websites, and the internet work.

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author michaelkoehler92
    Best is to learn things on your own project rather than testing things on a client website as if things go wrong you could create a bad repo for yourself.
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