Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
My situation keeps changing and with that comes new scenarious that I have not previously encounterd.
A web desing company has referered me to one of their old (still in contact) clients with respect to improving their current situation regarding SEO.
The company has a passion for frames which is bit of a downner but a few thing could definitely help. My main concern is the general design of the site and is well below standard and very unlikey to convert a sale let along be found by the websurfing world.
Would you have any recommendations as how to approach this situation. I dont want to tell the client that they have been fleeced and they need to spend money on a total redesign plus optimisation and I dont wish to upset the people who refered me. I am stuck between a rock and hard place. Oh yeah, they also host the clients site if it could not get any worse.
The referers also want me to contact a few other clients of theirs, some with the same god forsaken problems.
Help :)
So ask them why they made the site that way.
In the first instance try diplomacy. Pointing out how quickly the web evolves can work for both the client and previous company. Everyone saves face. Its quite possible the previous company are aware of the shortfalls, but who wants to do work for nothing? especially when to do so would admit you did a bad job first time.
Second strategy, Tell them how it is! This is business after all. Add lots of "This is a new succesful strategy that other companies I've worked for have had success with" or "Search engines have evolved this year, you need to focus on this now."
As you say, it is bad business to alienate anybody!
First, if you berate them (intentionally or unintentionally), they'll not send more biz your way.
Second, they have the relationship with the client, you don't. Since the firm brought you to the client, they probably trust the firm & don't trust you yet.
Find a way to offer several levels:
1. minimal seo work to make improvements in rankings
2. changes to design to be more seo friendly
3. complete redesign, pitch the concept of a "fresh" site
One approach that sometimes fits is to educate the client on how SEO is a specilty that very few good designers (like this firm) have the time & resources to focus on because it's so rapidly changing. Just like the client can't be an expert in every facet of their industry, it's almost impossible for a design firm to excel in everything interent related. That's why the firm was smart enough to bring you in :)
Good luck,
rmjvol
A web desing company has referered me to one of their old (still in contact) clients with respect to improving their current situation regarding SEO.
How old? If its over three years then they really didn't do anything wrong. The web has changed a lot. What looks good today was almost impossible for designers a couple of years ago. They may also had browser restrictions and the client all in the design. They also may have juat upgraded a legacy site created by the owners son.
I would talk to the design firm to get more history on this site. If their other work looks good then there is probably something here that you may need to know before you go forward. This could be the client from hell.
I have a client that I gave very slick search engine friendly designs. They steered me with much wailing and gnashing of teeth to make it very unproffessional. The thing looks like a 3rd grader did it. Thats what they wanted. I won't link to it and you will never get me to admit I did it.
I would not talk to the client about it. Only talk to the web design firm. You are being paid to make their existing site more search engine friendly. If it is bad as you say then that task should be no problem. It may take a lot of work but you need to charge for it.
Cheers
Best of Luck,
Shane
