Do you share link reports with clients?

codfordinner · Dec 15, 2015

I feel like sharing my link reports almost cheapens my service. They may think.. Hmm.. You give me 175 backlinks a month, but oh look a fiverr gig can give me 800 a month for 5 dollars.
Obviously I can explain about quality over quantity, but still. I feel like it doesn't check out for the price I want to charge some clients.
I have yet to have a client tell me they feel this way, I'm just wondering if there's a better way to send reports where it really displays the value I bring my clients.

Fuggz · Dec 15, 2015

I don't really get why any reputable SEO firm would base their service off of amount of backlinks, or even quality of backlinks... Clients want results. Show them a report of what keywords they are ranking for and each position for those keywords, that is almost all that really matters! I don't know any client in their right mind that would care about amount of backlinks over results.

I very seldom even discuss backlinks with clients. The only ones that even bring it up are ones that have read an article or two about SEO and really know nothing about it at all. I typically will explain a little to them about off-page SEO but them soon realize it is too complicated for them to fathom, or they are trying to fish for tips and may think they can handle SEO themselves. If you are providing a reputable service then let them drop you and buy fiver gigs. I will always charge a reinstatement fee when they come crawling back, you know you will have no more real problems if they come crawling back, and this gives you the opportunity to outrank the client for the keywords yourself.

Basing SEO service off backlinks alone is just something I don't understand...

codfordinner · Dec 15, 2015

Fuggz said:
I don't really get why any reputable SEO firm would base their service off of amount of backlinks, or even quality of backlinks... Clients want results. Show them a report of what keywords they are ranking for and each position for those keywords, that is almost all that really matters! I don't know any client in their right mind that would care about amount of backlinks over results.

I very seldom even discuss backlinks with clients. The only ones that even bring it up are ones that have read an article or two about SEO and really know nothing about it at all. I typically will explain a little to them about off-page SEO but them soon realize it is too complicated for them to fathom, or they are trying to fish for tips and may think they can handle SEO themselves. If you are providing a reputable service then let them drop you and buy fiver gigs. I will always charge a reinstatement fee when they come crawling back, you know you will have no more real problems if they come crawling back, and this gives you the opportunity to outrank the client for the keywords yourself.

Basing SEO service off backlinks alone is just something I don't understand...

On the other hand, movement in the first couple months can be very slow moving if at all. If I don't provide link reports, how exactly do they believe I've been doing anything at all other than collecting a cheque and talking savvy?

Jumbuck1976 · Dec 16, 2015

codfordinner said:
On the other hand, movement in the first couple months can be very slow moving if at all. If I don't provide link reports, how exactly do they believe I've been doing anything at all other than collecting a cheque and talking savvy?

You have to explain the time-frames with the client early on. Let them know it's slow for the first few months and then speeds up a little later on.

To be honest it's a pretty good qualifier. Any decent company will make the investment and let your experience work things out. If they freak out at the thought of it taking 3 months then they're gonna be terrible SEO clients and take up all your time for little cash.

It's the 80 / 20 - rule.

mzonas · Dec 16, 2015

I just show them rankings report. Most of my clients don't even know what link building is. I just tell them they will get results, I show results, everybody is happy.

remon24 · Dec 16, 2015

I only share the niche guest posts' links for which they pay separately and then ofc the ranking report and traffic comparison(quarterly).Which for me is more than enough to show them their progress over investment.

Fuggz · Dec 16, 2015

codfordinner said:
On the other hand, movement in the first couple months can be very slow moving if at all. If I don't provide link reports, how exactly do they believe I've been doing anything at all other than collecting a cheque and talking savvy?

I understand where you are coming from, and I guess it depends on how you are getting clients and your reputation but time-frame should definitely be known to the client before you close the deal.

If you aren't seeing any results at all after a month or two I am assuming your clients have new websites? With most of my clients I would do On-Page/On-Site SEO giving them a report on optimized On-Page plus mobile friendly changes and PageSpeed increases will usually keep them more than happy for the first month or two. Also go ahead and if/while you are waiting for results do an SEO audit. Even just a Screaming Frog Report and/or WebSite Auditor report and as last resort an ahrefs/majestic/semrush/OSE reports explaining things like competition should be enough to let any client know that you are certainly on top of things and working hard at getting them results.

If there is anything that is confusing or if you would like any more advice don't hesitate to ask!

codfordinner · Dec 20, 2015

Fuggz said:
I understand where you are coming from, and I guess it depends on how you are getting clients and your reputation but time-frame should definitely be known to the client before you close the deal.

If you aren't seeing any results at all after a month or two I am assuming your clients have new websites? With most of my clients I would do On-Page/On-Site SEO giving them a report on optimized On-Page plus mobile friendly changes and PageSpeed increases will usually keep them more than happy for the first month or two. Also go ahead and if/while you are waiting for results do an SEO audit. Even just a Screaming Frog Report and/or WebSite Auditor report and as last resort an ahrefs/majestic/semrush/OSE reports explaining things like competition should be enough to let any client know that you are certainly on top of things and working hard at getting them results.

If there is anything that is confusing or if you would like any more advice don't hesitate to ask!

I typically get my sale by providing the report first, and explaining these are on-site factors we'd fix.
I definitely have very naggy clients that aren't paying very much and are consistantly expecting updates and movements and progress. Almost ignoring what I'm telling them about how it's slow at the start, threatening to stop if they don't see results after 30 days, etc etc.
Yes most of my clients have new sites as well where we can typically see no movement the first month.

Do you share link reports with clients?

codfordinner

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Fuggz

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