you should just start optimzing your own sites, skip the clients and go right to affilates, I wish I did that
Start with 5 of your own websites, all on different topics. Try a few things with the first one. Document everything you do and change to that site. Study the tips and techniques on this forum and then build out the other 4. Link them together etc... At the end, start your company, include those 5 sites (should all be PR4 - 5) and go from there. I believe 5 sites is the level that I believe you need to be to be taken seriously as a small SEO company for say local businesses. The thing is, everyone will have their own opinions because it is just that type of work, 'opinions'. These are mine.
Here´s how I got my first SEO client. My own site was ranking very well and I actually wanted to meet some people that would be likely to advertise. I listened to the local radio station and heard the same ad over and over again. They even mentioned a website. I looked at the site, imagined all the keywords and phrases that they could possibly want to rank for, then called them up and told them why they were not ranking. They had me in their office the next day. Don´t wait for them to come to you. Find some companies locally that you know you can help. Once you´ve proved yourself, word of mouth takes over.
I agree, unless you have one site that is exceptional or appealing to your target market the most. We use our surf site on a local level and then our real estate clients for the real estate world which is starting to be our main focus. Building a strong portfolio of satisfied clients will help your services sell themselves. Mike
I agree with most of the other posts. If I were at all interested in someone to do SEO work for me or my company the first thing I would want is references and work that you've done. I want to see the domain you've SEO'd, I want to search google myself for the terms, and I want to talk to the site owner. After a few of those, I would hire you. However, to get the clients, you will have to be flexible on price for the first few sites...
I would say that an SEO is good if people find him. Make your clients find you, and you are a good SEO. Only then can you make your clients' clients find them. Makes sense ?
SEO specialist if consideed good if client are the one finding them. Their past job makes them popular.