Forum Moderators: open
Is this true? If not why not?
On the other hand, if you have a strong client list, decent branding, word-of-mouth working, and do not rely on the search engines and Internet for your leads, then your ranking is not the most important thing. Instead of relying on your site to show potential clients, you can now show them your client's sites that rank well.
There have been actual instances of search engines farming client lists from SEO firms, and then penalizing or banning those client sites altogether.
If an SEO firm ranks high under those general keywords you mentioned, and posts their client lists to their site, keep these two things in mind before using their services:
1. Make sure they use LEGITIMATE practices (no spam techniques) when optimizing clients' sites.
2. Ask that they not post your site's URL to their client list. (just in case...)
Better safe than sorry.
You may give your new client an example what you have done earlier but i think you and the client should keep your secret in that level not put links to your own page and tell the world what you have done.
Just my thought
/Ove
In last 2 months, I have received total of 6 new clients (2 were actually using services from a well known company paying good money at GoTo/Partners) just on the based of ranking. Also the interesting fact is, these new clients had also talked with some big names companies, but in the conversation they specifically mentioned they would prefer services by company that is actually ranked at search engines - I do recall them mentioning that site of any SEO company getting ranked above other SEO companies proves that they can rank themselves better then the other company, and so the client can expect the same results.
I guess, it is like, how can I teach somebody swimming when I myself don’t know how to swim :)
I know many people won’t agree with me, but I still believe that a combination of Good ranking at major search engines, word of mouth and satisfied clients is the best way of getting new clients.
The problem with word-of-mouth and presenting your client's ranking to me is... I have to establish a contact with you first, or someone else who had experience with you.
I work 34 hours a day, I do not have time to hear your sales pitch. I would have to get one of my staff to research you, set up a meeting, you presenting your client's position, talking to that client to see how they liked working with you, and then rank you with the other vendors... This takes time and lots of money.
Looking at SEs with top listing shows ability, to me as a buyer, to position yourself against your competitors. If the SEO industry doesn't care then it becomes irrelevant, but it is the only quick tool I have as a buyer.
Some months ago one of the major engines left access to their "off-white" database wide open to the public -made for some very interesting reading.
What did it reveal?
Rankings under targeted keyword sets is good - rankings under _all_ your keyword sets is better.
It's a whole different environment today than it was when "rankings" were the be-all end-all of SEO.
Let me use a site real close to home (this one). So far today we've done 1100se based referrals. Of those, the highest referring page has 4 se referrals. The rest are all single referrals to specific keyword combinations - eg: targeting. There is over 400 unique referring strings out of a pool of 2400 unique keywords found in referring strings.
That's a radical shift from just two years ago. Back then, similar total referrers would have broken down into probably 50 unique referring strings out of a couple hundred unique keywords total.
That has happened because of two major changes in the landscape. One is the rise of Google and it's ultra targeted searches. The second cause is the gradual education of users and their search habits. They are using more and better keyword combinations to find what they want.
Going back to today again, you could say we are doing excellent because of so many top rankings. Is that something to wow a client with? I think it is a case of comparing apples and oranges. A few years ago, showing a client a top 5 ranking under a keyword like kelly blue book would have found clients throwing money at you left and right. Today, that keyword isn't as valuable as it used to be. They want something a bit more targeted.
I have to agree with some of the others that suggested staying under the radar was valuable. I find it extremely valuable. Especially after what rc said above. Reveal? It was a line by line list of top SEO's and their clients world wide. Some se's target anything that even remotely looks optimized. Good rankings without noise is valuable.
So a SEO Pro is more valuable in selecting the right key phrases then getting a top ranking in a key phrase that might be not as "good"?
For me, I am one of the ones that tries hard to keep a low profile and has no need for SE promotion for services, operating by word of mouth.
You say you have no time to research and that a SEO that positions there own company well is a great indicator that they could do well for a company such as yours.
Well there is something that could save you time and money that is available at a very small investment.
I am sure that our host here will not mind me saying that it would be a great idea for you to investigate and purchase the "Buyer's Guide to Search Engine Optimization & Positioning Services" by marketingsherpa.com
Moderater.. do please correct me if I am wrong there, but it is a timely Guide and might help you pin point "who should you hire, and how much should you pay?
And no I am not affiliate with it have nothing to gain etc.
Just a SEO, trying hard to not get noticed.. LOL
I hope I'm not listed :) or should that be I hope I am listed ;)
Bottomline to all this is you do whatever works best for your business.
We work hard to maintain our customers positions and stay up on industry trends without worrying where we are positioned. The benefit is a customer-focused environment rather than a me-focused environment.
Just my take...
yes, in most cases our 2 sites to promote our business and services fall below desirable levels for rankings and search referrals. Why? Because we're the shoemaker's children - we just don't have the time to do it as effectively as we'd like to. And, we are able to show prospects other successful campaigns which are highly varied in strategy, so it makes more impact than tooting our own horn anyway.
and another interesting point - how many of the top-ranking "SEO" sites are acheiving those positions by less than desirable tactics? If for nothing else, just because they are "testing" tactics to use on client sites.
