SEO Client Issues

Over time, I have sometimes met resistance with the clients I do SEO work for and have come up with a few categories for these client issues. I am trying to ultimately come up with a common, yet comprehensive list so that I can address these issues as they come up with the clients and before they take root and become big problems. Are there any I have missed?

Fear of Change – someone at the company fears making changes to the way they have been doing things even if it is for the better.

Territory – a web designer / developer or content writer feels that their territory is being invaded by the SEO changes.

Control – Someone at the company feels they are losing control over some aspect of the website that was they once had control of.

Ego - a web designer / developer or content writer has fallen in love with their own design or text and resents anyone else touching their masterful work-of-art.

Hi,

Not sure where this fits in your list but I have met SUCH resistance to introducing content. I say give me information pages, give me value-added content and the client says ¨Why should I tell them everything online?¨ We´re talking about buying property abroad here so it is very possible to wax lyrical for the next ten years and still keep your secrets intact.

One bozo told me that his website was doing fine (despite having no sales and practically no traffic) because his clients only wanted to look at pictures anyway.

Duh!

Guess I´d put it down to :

Fear of Extra Work
Dont want to have to provide extra content.

Yes, I've found resistance to asking for new content as well even on pages where I need a couple of more paragraphs so that I have enough content to work with. Then if I write the content myself so that I can add a few additional keywords, this can cause trouble as well.

Fact is this... no matter how much a business owner loves his/her designer if you can prove:
ROI
Improve Unique visits
Improve Conversions
Improve Sales Leads
all through solid web metrics and SEO techniques they have two options:
1) Go with your suggestions
2) Keep the flash frame-set web site their son made in the basement

I understand your frustration but honestly most web designers for SOHO offices are either small-timers or the friend of a friend with a crack copy of Dreamweaver and Photoshop.

You have to be able to present to your potential client what you do / Can do for them....
WITHOUT showing them how to do it!!!

I have had more Small business folks try to blow smoke up my rear trying to weasel information on SEO out of me that it makes my head spin.

Resistance is understandable... too many cowboys and Black hat operations out there spamming people with Traffic Magnet like emails guaranteeing Google greatness at only pennies a day.

You have to educate ... without instructing on how you do what you do... if you show them (the owner and designer) how you do SEO ... you are out of a job.

My advice, most small Mom & Pops don’t understand the power of the web and importance of SEO. The ones that do understand it have small pocket books to match their grand ambitions.... So treat these projects with the tact that you are educating the importance of SEO & how you can prove that they need it (Web Metrics with baseline data etc..)

It’s a hard job, and honestly your better off going to small – mid sized businesses and going to their Marketing / Sales managers rather than the IT guys to promote your business. IT guys have been picked on too much as kids and don’t like it when someone comes to their sandbox and tells them to do it another way.

Good Luck