Well, I am totally shattered today. Here it goes, I had a client who was ranked on the 2nd or 3rd page for a 2 keywords. I made a small proposal, and forwarded it to him. We agreed upon 1500 dir submissions, 3 articles written and submitted to 100 article directories, 100 social bookmarkings and making blog posts. We agreed upon a price and I moved forward. I did the 1500 dir submissions inhouse and even wrote 3 articles and submitted them to 100 article directories and even got the bookmarkngs completed -- all in house As all people in SEO know, these are weak links and wouldn't help much in gaining SERPS. So now I had to go with blog posts. I made only 2 blog posts and got both the site ranked in top 5 for the said Search engine. Well just as in any other business, I too wanted to make profits as much as I can. So I did a lot of research and got 2 blog posts made and got the necessary results. In short, I achieved the necessary results within one month itself (out of the 2 month contract). Now, I was suppose to report to the client So, I got a report made and sent it to him. Now here is where the problem starts... 1. Client: You didn't do any work? Me: I have got he necessary results as had been agreed upon with no sitewides and monthly paid links. 2. But you have bought only 2 links???? Me: Well, the job could be done with 2 links, so there was no use of buying other links. 3. But I didn't pay XXXX for some dir submissions and article submissions and 2 blog posts? (This kinda irritates me) Me: You paid me to get the necessary results, which I have done within the timeframe and with no sitewides and monthly paid links. He wants a refund for the money or is willing to pay a part of what he thinks is appropriate of my efforts. Should I have bought 100's of links from blog networks and showed the results to him, that this is the way I am building links and increasing SERPS for you? (Which I don't think would have benifited him much) Is this the same reason why SEO companies don't divulge SEO reports to clents? Is this the same reason why SEO companies keep beating round the bush thereby just milking the customers of their money and getting results at the end of 1-2 years? (Highy appropriate of them if the "buyer" has such a mindset and attitude) (Sorry, if this hurts someone but I am in a bad mood today. I feel, I have been ripped off of my efforts. The customer had more than 1500 links but couldn't make it to the top page, you undertook my services, I achieved them with 2 links and some weak links too - to protect our mutual interests, I am even wiling to make more blog posts - if that's what you want, even willing to provide 3 month support (free of cost) to keep the said rankings -- and here he is asking for a complete refund???? if companies are charging clients on a monthly basis and still beating around the bush and not achieving rankings, I feel it is highly appropriate of them to do so. If customers are like this, then companies too need to act in the same way. PERIOD. Al
You must honor your deal, if you said you would buy some many odd links and do so many submissions, etc you must honor it.
You need to first show your clients the rankings achieved for your others clients/ websites so he gets satisfied. Always let them know what all work you are going to offer so its a transperant deal, we always send them the whole list and charges. After this if they are not satisfied they get a refund. Amit
Oh well, client problems. They always exist. Some clients will understand, some don't. Some will appreciate your knowledge and time spent. Some just look at time. And if they think you did stuff in a short span of time and looks like only a few stuff has been done physically, they think they are not getting what is worth their money. I think reporting is still needed but you need a lot of interpretation and conclusion in the reporting so they see more value in it. They see more that you are the expert and not them.
Bro, with all modesty, all submissions, bookmarkings and articles were written and submitted. Nonetheless, I have learnt it the hard way. Experience and knowledge is one part of business and showing that some work is being done is another. Will be careful from the next time I deal with someone. Regards Alok
Some of the clients really give you hard time no matter how much results you show. First they want the top 20 position, then they would go on saying I want more results (top 10) and even if you achieved that goal they still keep on asking more. The reason might be the huge sum they pay which makes them kinda jealous to giveaway even if we have done our job. Sorry bro that you were dealt so badly. I know you've learned a great lesson. Be careful when you deal next time and good luck.
Well, that's why i should stop give my clients proves, only prove i should supply is google after the work is done.
I think there is a fine line there. The key is to promise allot & deliver MORE! Always provide at least a General list of what you will be doing for the client. Example:(Depending on whats needed) * Inbound Link Building * Content Vs. Keyword Density * Image - alt/title Attributes * Hyperlink - title Attributes * (SE) Search Engine friendly Navigation * Inner / Cross linking * Content tweaking (as needed) * Landing page support * Outbound link management / restrictions * Meta tag arrangements * Engine submissions * Analysis / Troubleshooting to insure good results for selected search phrase * Etc..... Providing a client with too much (IN-DETAIL) information on how hard or easy the above mentioned tasks will be is a REFUND SPAWNER. We all like to think that we pay good money for hard to obtain services, as soon as we feel that we paid WAY too much for something that we think could have been done ourself (If we new then what we know know), then we tend to feel cheated & want our money back (This is a natural response). - Not to mention the additional BUYERS REMORSE - So now you have a mixture of a client that knows all your (Secret) techniques & is experiencing buyers remorse. BAD COMBO, a bomb hard to defuse! There are 2 sides to the coin as you can see, the trick is finding the right mixture of information you provide along with Supporting end results. The worst thing anyone can do is Provide ALL details (Basically teaching them how to open their own SEO firm) & Promising more than you can deliver (BAD, BAD Public Relations). In your case I think you simply educated the client more than you should have & in combination with Buyers remorse, it created heated tension in the clients feeling of overpaying. We live & we learn, Isn't direct client relations WONDERFUL? lol lol ~Joke~
To me, I see dir submission, article submission and bookmarking as traffic generation techniques. Did you monitor visitor traffic before and after you've done your job? The real objective of SEO is not ranking, it is about getting more customers with your web pages. What clients really need is good quality traffic so that visitors can be converted to paying customers. But they wanted top ranking instead. And when they got the ranking but not more traffic and customers, they refuse to pay. So it is important to specify right at the beginning if you'll be paid for job done or results achieved.
IMHO, it really depends up on the deal you have made. If you have promised him more links and blog posts, then you can't blame the customer though you have achieved top ranking for him. Because that was not the only deal, right. More over you can't guarantee that the site will stay in top of SERPS with just two blog posts. Naturally your customer will be worried. But on the other hand, if the whole deal was only achieving his site position on first page google, then he must definitely pay in full. In such a case, no mater if you have one single link or thousands of links, you have got him the desired result. So I would say give him what you have promised and he must pay for it.
Be sure to show the customers some testimonials or some proofs before going into agreement and contract...and be more specific about your contract..
That's natural to the clients that want an excellent results... That's true you must not reveal or tell them all the process you have done. You will regret in the end.. All the regular techniques that you use you will discuss it in your report....
Arvind, I am still waiting for the $600 refund you promissed. Can you please make the payment as promissed. Thanks Gordano
yes if he doesnt understand what SEO means in polite terms, buy some links and .......e it up! What else can you do in this scenario
With all due respect here, he wasnt paid to teach them how to do seo themselves, he was paid to deliver the necessary results they agreed upon. If it was top 20 rankings for a set of keywords then so be it. People want the world for 5 bucks and i have seen so many good seo's get ripped off and then the rest of us wonder why we get ripped off by some of teh snake oil seo's out there. Once you find a good seo you better treat them good or they will LEAVE YOU. You expect the seo to devulge all his secrets to you therefore not needing you anymore?????????? This is crazy , no more comments are needed. lol
Not really, it seems to be more of a bulk submission service. Since it was agreed with the client beforehand though they should pay.