Any advice for getting clients?

[Flex1]

I am starting my own local seo company and we are brand new. So I don't have any testimonials or any previous clients. Right now I'm just focusing on my local state. I have tried sending out multiple emails to local businesses but haven't heard anything back.

Does anybody else have any ideas on how I could get clients?

 

[Andrew Scherer]

Where do you live? Local network/meetups could be a good spot to start.

 

[Flex1]

Yeah that's a good idea. I also thought about doing some probono work, but would I just email random companies and be like "I'll do a local seo service to your website for free." type of thing?

 

[zenlagor]

If you are doing some local SEO how about you target dentists in your area (There's loads of posts on here about it) then you have something to show if they type "dentists in XXX" into google.

 

[Jubv]

I would probably send letters, or just actually go into the businesses (depending on what type of business it is).

Offer your services for free or work on a 'no rank no pay' basis. Once you build up rapport with a business owner ask him for referrals in exchange for a commission.

 

[grafxextreme]

My firm works with companies who are seeking to generate leads. (Insurance, Accountants, Printers, Consultants, Chiropractors, Gyms, etc..) What we do is produce a non-sales webinar addressing an issue your market already has and understands it's a problem. Our clients would sponsor the webinar, perhaps charge a small fee to attend (helps qualify the leads) and then we show them how to convert attendees to sales.

My business partner and I conduct the webinar on behalf of our client. Introduce our client to the attendees. Let's the client interact with the attendees. In essence, gives the attendees an opportunity to meet with our client and get to know them before any talk about sales.

You might think of doing something similar. Keep in mind, the reason this works is because most business owners really don't know what SEO and the rest is all about. This simply confuses them and they've heard things in their associations about people losing money. So, instead of going through the front door which is barred and locked. You go in the side entrance.

Just a thought...

You address an issue they already know they have and they're struggling with. This is something familiar. Once you've helped them solve a problem they are more open to listening to what other problems you can solve for them.

 

[Rumborak]

Offer a first project for free in exchange for testimonial & referrals.

 

[b1step-ahead]

pick 2 or 3 local charities, they always need help. Just set up analytics and help start tracking conversions. Have them right nice things on yelp for you, take some pics and be that "hero" The local seo game has evolved. Be sure to offer killer services.

 

[Flex1]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I am sending out 32 letters tomorrow hopefully and I will just have to see how that goes. I have done a simple version of 7878's letters, but I tailored it to local SEO.

If anybody has any more suggestions please let me know.

 

[gazinbali]

Join Fiverr and post for doing seo.. do basic stuff for $5 but let clients know what else you can do for regular rates.
Just an I dea.. btw there are other sites like forfifty.com.. and for100 but forget urls.. same as Fiverr but highr prices.
google for microworker sites

Gazinbali

 

[NotDysfunktional]

MAKE SURE THEY PICK UP THE PHONE!
& use a call tracking number that you own so they cant kick you to the can

 

[NotDysfunktional]

Okay let me break it down.

You will want to call businesses and make sure they pick up the phone.
If it is not the boss picking up the phone, they are QUALIFIED!
Why? Because that means they are serious about getting business!

Go to google maps and type in your city state then add service.
Ex: Los Angeles CA Service

You can then decide to walk in their shop to meet them in person.
Do not try to sell your services. You just want to meet the owner.
Ask if has any dreams about growing and how big.
If they are cool, you then may decide to schedule a meeting.
Why? Because you are creating a long-term relationship.

The meeting is not about your service, it is about growing their business.
And to do that, you will need to print this out and educate them.

A internet lead is 80% more likely to become a REPEAT CUSTOMER.

Print this list out below and it will give them a better understanding.


Qualify Client For Growth. (someone always picks up the phone)
Keyword Research on Client's Most Profitable Invoices (obvious)
Order Keyword Optimized Written Copy (iwriter)
Local Call Tracking Number (analyticcalltracking)
Purchase "Keyword + City + State" Domain Name (godaddy)
Create & Optimize Gmail, G+, G Local (Maps), Blogger, & Youtube
Create account on the server (softlayer bare metal server)
Fantastico, Wordpress, Update, Add Theme & Plugins (yoast seo)

1 Video About The Business Told By The Owner (Home Page)
15 Videos That Show Their Expertise, But Never Talk Price
15 Videos of Happy Customers (Testimonials Page)
5 Videos on FAQ, SAQ or Free Tips ("Free" Page)
1 Office/Employees/Team Video (Home Page)

Edit In A Lower 3rd With The Tracking Number To All Videos
Upload & Optimize Videos For Local Long Tail Keyword Phrases
Create Still Images From Raw Video For Website & Social Sites
Create & Optimize WP Pages, Add Written Copy, Images & Video
Create, Verify & Add Sitemap To Webmaster Tools In Yoast
Mass Ping All Pages Listed In Sitemap & All Youtube Videos
Verify Google Maps With Postage Code

Create 100-200 Local Citation Directories
Set Up 5 Month MagicSubmitter Campaign
Implement Social Interaction Campaign
Remind Client To Ask For Reviews

Mail & eMail Monthly Analytical Call Tracking Data


The video makes them feel like they have already met the expert(your client)
So as a results, they no logner shop around and are now sold.

Video converts 90% all mobile traffic.

Hope this helps.


My Lowest Local Prices
$4,449.95 Start Up
$1,995.95 Monthly (Double Every 100 Calls)

 

[anderson313]

Prove beyond a reasonable doubt that what you do makes money for your clients and that you can quantify it.
Break this down into EASY to understand information.
Do something to get the attention of your prospect (free leads/lumpy mail/dollar bill letters)
Show them the proof.

Make the proof so obvious they'd have to be a moron not to use you.

Ask yourself these questions:

If you were in there shoes, were swamped all day trying to run your business, and yet another (in their eyes) "internet geek/dork" approached you about something you know you need to do, but are so swamped with just trying to survive, why should they listen to you?

The second you, in my opinion, start talking about SEO their eyes glaze over. What you want to talk about is MONEY and how you will make them more money.

 

[Nut-Nights]

Targets small business, Try to offer them services at cheaper price. Try to contact them through Mobi (It really works)

 

[CreadevDotorg]

Sup homie, grats on getting yourself situated. Although these forums are way awesome, and ya'll have mega smart angles, we normally cant reply. In this case we can, here is some advice from the SEO biz angle. We get handfuls of organic leads a week using these tactics alone:



Overwhelm the hell outta OP's:
- Always post too much and too complex information. This will show them the complete detailed route, but 95% wont be able to keep up and ask you for help at one point or another. Little do they know alot of your steps combine into 1 step. Nothing says you cant make 1 obvious step into 3 other steps...people have ADD and/or get lost easy.
- By overwhelming with complex information this makes content for your forums or your own corp blog.
- By 3rd party Forum posting these guides, this leaves a signature for epic "omg im lost please help, can you just do it for me" emails.
- In 3rd party forums, you can drop links to your corp blog as well as spin there -- content doublekill, just make sure the platform forums are indexed.



Make free SEO plugins with your branding all over them, but keep them limited so they need to ask you to extend:
- Find popular ecom carts and develop proper (singular) analytics, conversion, and adwords goal tracking.
- Figure your route to multi-domain custom analytics within the single GA script (for enterprises)
- Develop a bare bones organization RDF snippet (no one does organization right, nested...multisite...POS...)
- Develop category looping RDF, bare bones product page RDF (leave out the reviews desc as data)
- Develop a means to run SSL always links/src/resources at software level + inject strict secure header at index level
- Offer all of these in extension markets for FREE - spin the desc, imply you can do tons more and these are just starting points



Do your part, represent legit, kill the india SEO spammers:**
- Make a syslog + html log honeypot, something named welcome.php. All it needs to do is write time + FORWARDED_FOR + _ADDR to a log.
- Reply to all SEO spam with the link masked as a bait link, either literally and/or as img src inject.
- Wait for them to read it for logs to trickle in, ban everything in site + submit their corp ISP/IP to blacklists.
- Rejoice as both your competition decreases, gets filled with junk data, and your clients filter less SEO email as spam.


** Note india SEO spammers are ruining legit SEO consultants. We must destroy them together. I have a honeypot that can help you with this if anyone is interested...

 

[kalel35]

Prove beyond a reasonable doubt that what you do makes money for your clients and that you can quantify it.
Break this down into EASY to understand information.
Do something to get the attention of your prospect (free leads/lumpy mail/dollar bill letters)
Show them the proof.

Make the proof so obvious they'd have to be a moron not to use you.

Ask yourself these questions:

If you were in there shoes, were swamped all day trying to run your business, and yet another (in their eyes) "internet geek/dork" approached you about something you know you need to do, but are so swamped with just trying to survive, why should they listen to you?

The second you, in my opinion, start talking about SEO their eyes glaze over. What you want to talk about is MONEY and how you will make them more money.

And I think another mistake many SEO's make is they allow the potential client to control the conversation. And the client is only worried about "how much" is it going to cost me. If you give in and answer that question BEFORE you have established your VALUE then you just lost that client.

 

[ardley216]

 

[gary2]

do some research and find out local forums... these ppl meet weekly or in regular frequencies... this forum helps a lot for business purposes, clients and help in awesome networking....

 

[Dr Acula]

Here you go...

1. Get Testimonials & Samples

Either offer your work dirt cheap or free. Either way, you need them.

2. Get Leads

Head over to Google. Type your area plus a business sector. On the right you'll see people who are willing to spend money on what you do. Contact them.

3. The Offer

Tell them

- You're a new agency (they appreciate honesty);
- Tell them where you live (you're less faceless this way)
- Give them SEO examples;
- Tell them once they rank, they no longer need to spend money on Adwords;
- Tell them you're building your portfolio and you will do the work cheaply and quickly with money-back guarantee.

Do the above every day and you'll never go hungry. I have a similar agency (not bragging, but one pie among many) and, though these days I'm pretty hands off, well, very hands off, this is how I got the ball rolling. I had more business than I could handle and soon expanded to employees, etc.

Best of luck!

 

[ardley216]

And I think another mistake many SEO's make is they allow the potential client to control the conversation. And the client is only worried about "how much" is it going to cost me. If you give in and answer that question BEFORE you have established your VALUE then you just lost that client.

This. He may only have 4 posts, but he is right. Control that conversation. But in the UK, do not 'sell' it, the soft approach is best, sell YOU. But do notlet them control the conversation.