Setting up an SEO Consultancy

[tb987]

This is something I am mulling over and was wondering what tools people use to offer these services professionally. e..g directory submission software, keyword research, rank checking and reporting etc

[Resonate]

@ tb987;55223 This is something I am mulling over and was wondering what tools people use to offer these services professionally. e..g directory submission software, keyword research, rank checking and reporting etc

Firstly before you start & i am sure OWG may agree is that you need a provable background of what you can do in the terms of Seo. So many people now a days can pick up a piece of Seo software & claim to be the next best thing in marketing. Seo software makes life easy but can you do it with out it? Personally my Seo Consultancy is ranked number1 on Google & it takes work not just a piece of software!

Anyway back to the question a good free directory submitter software & a real good bit of free seo software.

[rhyswynne]

Couldn't agree more

I'd say I've got a pretty good record for SEO terms for a number of clients, but that was a support of 3-4 people. If I was to go it alone....meh, not sure.

SEO though is a great industry to be in, as largely a lot of people who are in it are rubbish, and affiliate marketers are peddling their wares. Get a half decent non-affiliate to promote and you can get it to the top with relevant keywords relatively easily

[tb987]

Originally Posted by Resonate

Firstly before you start & i am sure OWG may agree is that you need a provable background of what you can do in the terms of Seo.

I have been doing this in earnest since 2004 and have a provable track record for a few of my company's main sites and have a good story to tell. I also know that a lot, if not the majority, of small businesses would benefit from some very basic SEO advice and they are not getting it.

Get a half decent non-affiliate to promote and you can get it to the top with relevant keywords relatively easily

I have done this for my own sites and feel I could help others, although these may be easy niches.

Thanks for the software tips

Tony

[temi]

It will be quite useful to get at least two reference/testimonials to convince prospective clients that you indeed verifiable evidence that you have done SEO for others before. This will be quite good when pitching for business.

[tb987]

Testimonials are alway a great idea. In another sector I have also asked customers to blog about their experience for a discount.

[smeagain]

Firstly, to be quite brutal, the fact that you ask about what Tools to use (directory submission software etc) suggests to me that you maybe aren't yet proficient enough to undertake this task as a wage earning activity. I specialise in SEO and use very little software for anything appart from Word, Excell, Weblog Expert and Google online Tools.

Now to be a bit more constructive, there are rank checkers that use APIs and therefore offer less risk of offending Google etc TOS. Advanced Web Ranking has good words written about it. Keyword Research can be done using Google Keyword Suggestion Tool which works very well. Auto Directory Submission (IMHO) should be avoided. There is no substitute for doing this mandraulically for numerous reasons.

As for obtaining Clients, research a Market Sector that you have a good understanding of. Then use SEs to find underachieving sites for Relevant and potentially productive Search Phrases. Then make a pitch to improve their SE rankings. DON'T get suckered into making firm guarantees, use phrases such as significantly improve etc.

You may also need to consider doing a few freebies or cut price SEO jobs to get the references/testimonials if you can't come up with any already.

[tb987]

Good advice Smeagin, you hit the nail on the head with rank checking and this is in my mind. It is certainly something I would expect if I were outsourcing this for my sites. A before and after ranking check across MSN, Yahoo and Google based on keyword research and I guess you also need to insist on access to web stats to demonstrate traffic improvements.


Cheers,

Tony

[smeagain]

SEO without server log files is like swimming the Chanel with your wellies on.

[Resonate]

Smeagain i totally agree