Doing SEO for multiple competing clients

[whiz]

I'm currently prospecting.

There are certain zip codes where I'm sending out letters to 10-15 businesses who are direct competitors. What happens if two or more of them want to sign on with me?

I guess if I manage expectations correctly (not promising Position 1, but maybe something like First Page), this leaves me enough room to satisfy 2-4 clients.

As long as I'm getting them results (ROI), then I would assume they would all continue doing business with me.

What happens if two of them communicate with each other and discover that I service both of them?



Has anyone ever been in this situation?

 

[foleymon]

I've been in a similar situation. Some clients may request a no-compete clause stating you can't represent a similar client. I've seen lawyers do this. Keep in mind that is something they need to pay for.

 

[whiz]

I've been in a similar situation. Some clients may request a no-compete clause stating you can't represent a similar client. I've seen lawyers do this. Keep in mind that is something they need to pay for.

Absolutely.

My concern is that I would be shorting my income by doing a no-compete. Unless I can charge ~3 clients worth. Or whatever I feel like the feasible max client load for that area code is.

 

[whiz]

I would assume it's probably easier to deal with 1 client @ $3000/mo than 3 clients @ $1000.

But I don't like the "eggs in one basket approach"...

Hmm...

I guess I'll find out when it happens.

 

[foleymon]

Exactly. You need to charge them for the ones you will not be doing. Run with as many as you can until someone asks you for one. It will also give you a little time to find out which client may be the one worth doing it for. Lots of factors there, for instance, are they easy to work with!

 

[whiz]

Exactly. You need to charge them for the ones you will not be doing. Run with as many as you can until someone asks you for one. It will also give you a little time to find out which client may be the one worth doing it for. Lots of factors there, for instance, are they easy to work with!

That's what I was thinking. But what if one never asks? What if I'm doing 3 dentists in the same town? I guess it's cool if they never find out.

But what if one at Position #9 finds out I'm working with the dentist at Position #7? Surely he would be pissed right?

I guess I'll just see as I go along. Having 3 clients in the same town seems like a pretty good problem to have ($$$) lol.

 

[foleymon]

I manage a couple of dentists in the same town. One wants 'best dentist' the other is a 'female dentist' so play with terms like that and just settle that 'dentist in your town' will bounce around a little. Play with what works and test some things out. Perfect A/B or A/B/C type testing!
Also find out what they specialize in and if they are vain you can find and sell them stuff like cosmeticdentistinyourtown.com and such. It can easily be done.

 

[whiz]

I manage a couple of dentists in the same town. One wants 'best dentist' the other is a 'female dentist' so play with terms like that and just settle that 'dentist in your town' will bounce around a little. Play with what works and test some things out. Perfect A/B or A/B/C type testing!
Also find out what they specialize in and if they are vain you can find and sell them stuff like cosmeticdentistinyourtown.com and such. It can easily be done.

Cool. Do you usually take pre-existing sites and try to transfer them to Exact Match Domains?

Or do you just work with their domain and do On-Page + Local Citations + Links?

 

[foleymon]

I use this tool https://www.expireddomains.net to find things like dentisttownname and see if anything worthwhile has expired. You can sort by different things there. Take a look at what is on Archive.org for the domain and if its any good just bring it back, and set the site up again if it's generic enough. Then build up the sites with some content. Track w/ Analytics and all that and flip it.

 

[Ftr]

When I watched a few courses on this exact problem they mentioned to only go for one business in that niche per area, and then move on to look in other local areas, and if you get 2 people wanting you in the same niche in the same area you decline one and pass them on to someone else for lead gen.

But like fuck it if 2 companies come back and you dont have no competes and stuff then you could 'risk' doing both, but if they find out they wont be happy, and a lot of competitors are in some form of communication with each other.

 

[whiz]

When I watched a few courses on this exact problem they mentioned to only go for one business in that niche per area, and then move on to look in other local areas, and if you get 2 people wanting you in the same niche in the same area you decline one and pass them on to someone else for lead gen.

But like fuck it if 2 companies come back and you dont have no competes and stuff then you could 'risk' doing both, but if they find out they wont be happy, and a lot of competitors are in some form of communication with each other.

Hmm.

Maybe I could use that as a selling point to demand a premium price.

They would definitely love to get a secret weapon before their competitors, as well as avoid the fear they would have if they declined my offer ("Is someone else going to take his deal?").

The question is: do you push for a no-compete or do you just wait to see if they say anything?

It seems kinda extortion-like to bring up the no-compete. It's kinda like "threatening" that you'll be working with others if they don't pay the premium.

I guess you just do whatever the fuck you want until they ask about the no-compete.

But I would like to avoid the drama that would undoubtedly ensue when someone finds out I'm working for their competition as well. If I brought up the no-compete I could be like "Well, I told ya..."

I dunno.

 

[foleymon]

You are not doing anything wrong, this is your business. If they happen to ask you about a no compete you can worry about it then. Until that time create the sites that will make them start to ask you if you are doing it for more than one dentist. Don't forget he's sticking his hands in more than one mouth.

 

[whiz]

You are not doing anything wrong, this is your business. If they happen to ask you about a no compete you can worry about it then. Until that time create the sites that will make them start to ask you if you are doing it for more than one dentist. Don't forget he's sticking his hands in more than one mouth.

I'm moreso thinking like... if it's an easy up sell I'd definitely like to take that. But especially if I never get another client in the area... then I'm stuck making $1k/mo when I could have pushed for the no-compete at $3k/mo.

I would really like to sell them on the "secret weapon" approach but idk. It might be too salesy. Or extortiony.

Just trying to see all the angles.

 

[Edvard Benk]

I'm currently prospecting.

There are certain zip codes where I'm sending out letters to 10-15 businesses who are direct competitors. What happens if two or more of them want to sign on with me?

I guess if I manage expectations correctly (not promising Position 1, but maybe something like First Page), this leaves me enough room to satisfy 2-4 clients.

As long as I'm getting them results (ROI), then I would assume they would all continue doing business with me.

What happens if two of them communicate with each other and discover that I service both of them?



Has anyone ever been in this situation?

anon is an SEO agent Romanoff

 

[Stavro]

I would really like to sell them on the "secret weapon" approach but idk. It might be too salesy. Or extortiony.

It's just basic supply and demand. They can pay the lower price for a likely #2-5 ranking, or they can pay a premium and consistently be #1.

Personally, I offer the non-compete in the initial sale, but spun as an exclusivity perk. Something like "because we only have 1 slot open in your area, only the best company will be chosen". Then once the real-time discussion comes, make it an interview rather than a sales pitch. Start with basic background of your company, details of the service, then switch over to "so why should your company be selected" type questions.

In any negotiation, people are going to be defensive. The key is to shift that defensiveness away from "why should I give you money", and toward "why are you rejecting me". If you can make THEM work for YOUR acceptance, the few who do bite will be willing to pay whatever you ask.

 

[whiz]

It's just basic supply and demand. They can pay the lower price for a likely #2-5 ranking, or they can pay a premium and consistently be #1.

Personally, I offer the non-compete in the initial sale, but spun as an exclusivity perk. Something like "because we only have 1 slot open in your area, only the best company will be chosen". Then once the real-time discussion comes, make it an interview rather than a sales pitch. Start with basic background of your company, details of the service, then switch over to "so why should your company be selected" type questions.

In any negotiation, people are going to be defensive. The key is to shift that defensiveness away from "why should I give you money", and toward "why are you rejecting me". If you can make THEM work for YOUR acceptance, the few who do bite will be willing to pay whatever you ask.

Makes sense. Thank you.

I think I'm gonna try different things in different area codes/local markets just to see what works best.

I do like the idea of selling one mega-package per local market and making them feel like they have to fight for it. It makes it both exclusive and urgent. If they didn't sign on with me, they'd be shitting themselves if I just got up and walked out of their office confidently (IS HE GOING TO MY COMPETITOR?! ).

 

[Ftr]

Hmm.

Maybe I could use that as a selling point to demand a premium price.

They would definitely love to get a secret weapon before their competitors, as well as avoid the fear they would have if they declined my offer ("Is someone else going to take his deal?").

The question is: do you push for a no-compete or do you just wait to see if they say anything?

It seems kinda extortion-like to bring up the no-compete. It's kinda like "threatening" that you'll be working with others if they don't pay the premium.

I guess you just do whatever the fuck you want until they ask about the no-compete.

But I would like to avoid the drama that would undoubtedly ensue when someone finds out I'm working for their competition as well. If I brought up the no-compete I could be like "Well, I told ya..."

I dunno.

Yeah I think you can use it to get a premium price or just use it as an incentive to get the deal closed, like I am sending this out to your competitors but I wanted you to have first refusal kinda thing in a nice way, if they are not gonna go for you then you will offer your services to their competitors, but probably say at this point you only do one company per area.

I personally wouldn't push for the no compete, I would let them bring it up if they want or I would use it as a negotiating tool to get the deal over the line.

I don't think you have to be threatening to say it it depends on your tone, just saying I wanted to come to your company first before I went to any others because I really like XYZ about you etc. I think framing it in that way is the most beneficial for you.

I think there can be a lot to think about so like you said I prefer the do whatever the fuck you want way, but I'm with you on avoiding the drama, just bring it up in a nice way like I mention, its all about how you frame it, there's a million ways to say it so they understand without it looking like a threaten or a bargaining chip, just saying you wont being taking on any clients within this area in this niche as you only have one spot open to ensure high quality and no conflict of interest.

 

[firstnamelastname]

there is a higher chance that your letters will end up in the shredder than being replied to.
wait for such 2 competitors to actually contact you, and only then worry about this problem.