SEO can be complicated. When clients have minimal or no experience with it, it can create some obstacles when explaining it to them. As we all know, as marketing agencies we are there to build and implement successful marketing campaigns, while educating clients on changes in our industry, best practices, and a host of other things that relate to our industry, including SEO. This guide may help you with some of those questions you might receive from clients if you’re struggling to explain the process of SEO. You can use this guide to understand how you can get SEO clients. It will help you establish trust and credibility with potential clients, thus removing the mystery.
Here Are 9 Effective Tips on How to Explain SEO to Clients
We’ve put together nine tips that will help you bridge the communication gap and explain SEO in a way clients can understand. It will simplify your work and help your SEO clients understand the value of their efforts.
1. Set Clear SEO Expectations Early
When explaining SEO to clients, it is important to set realistic expectations. Many clients are expecting immediate results, and think that their website will rank #1 in multiple keywords. You must make sure to explain that SEO is not a quick fix and can take months for results. Tell your clients that, while they might see an early improvement in the health of their website and traffic, lasting changes will take time and consistency. Prepare monthly reports and regular updates to inform your clients of any changes and progress.
2. Communication of SEO Results Regularly
Lack of communication regarding SEO results is one of the most common complaints clients have. Establish a regular report schedule and adhere to it. Share short metrics such as search traffic, ranking of keywords, and the health of your site. Avoid confusing clients with overly technical jargon and detailed reports. Focus on the most important points and clearly explain how SEO will help them. It will build trust, and demonstrate that their SEO investment is paying off.
3. Assess Your Client’s SEO Knowledge
A key beginning point in effective communication is finding out how knowledgeable your client is about SEO. Your clients may have little to no SEO basics, or others may have an in-depth background of SEO knowledge. A bit of effective communication includes describing to them what SEO entails and how they can profit from it using their business. Your communication has to be suited to the extent of their comprehension. For instance, you can have to define that SEO means Search Engine Optimization and it is the activity of optimizing a website to become more visible on search results. Spending time on defining SEO fundamentals will provide the client with a basic understanding to feel at ease with SEO.
4. Google's Role in SEO
It should be emphasized to clients that Google’s algorithm is one of the most critical considerations in site rankings. Advise the client that Google’s algorithms update on a regular basis, and such can influence rankings and traffic. When the clients understand changes to algorithms, you’ll be better positioned to control clients’ expectations and establish trust. Inform the clients that when they adhere to SEO best practices, they’ll be able to offset possible impacts of future updates.
5. Outline SEO Best Practices
You do have a minor role in your duties as an SEO advocate, to educate clients on SEO best practices. Provide a brief overview of some key SEO concepts, like keyword research and on-page optimization. Describe what these are and why they matter to rankings. Discuss the value of optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for images. It will give your clients an understanding of what SEO is and why different strategies are warranted.
6. Inform Your Clients About SEO Changes
SEO is a fast-paced environment, so never forget to communicate any change that may affect the websites they manage. Changes are inevitable, whether it is a Google update or SEO practices changing. This is a way to demonstrate to your clients that the environment of SEO is constantly changing and that significant effort is required to keep their ranking(s) constant or improve them.
7. Real-World SEO Examples
Real-life examples are the best way to help clients understand SEO. The best way is to share case studies that demonstrate how your SEO strategies improved the website traffic and conversions of other customers. Before and after metrics will show the result of the strategy. Prospective clients will appreciate seeing results from other businesses (case studies) to understand the improvement in traffic and overall business through SEO, and being able to relate to the examples.
8. Take Clients Through the SEO Process
Take the time to show your clients the steps involved in SEO. Illustrating the key activities, like Keyword Analysis, On-Page SEO, and Backlink Building, allows you to display the SEO process and make your clients comprehend it visually, for instance, in an infographic or a flowchart. Segmenting SEO into easy steps can be an excellent method for you to make your clients visualize the overall picture of SEO.
9. Discussion on SEO ROI and key Metrics
The customers wish to know how SEO is going to affect their bottom line. Let’s clarify what ROI (Return On Investment) means and where SEO stands in relation to it. Specifically considers some of the major factors such as more traffic coming to the website, improved overall search rankings, and betterment in the rate of conversion. You can use spreadsheets or dashboards to present these metrics visually and explain the benefits of SEO. It will allow clients to see the direct results of their SEO investment.
Beginner or Intermediate SEO? How to Explain to Clients
You should tailor your explanation of SEO to the client’s level of familiarity. Here are some tips on how to explain SEO to clients of varying understanding levels:
To make SEO accessible to beginners, it is important to use simple analogies and language. Focus on the core purpose of SEO and start with the basics.
Explanation of Example
“At GenTech Marketing we see SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as a way for people to find your business more easily online. Imagine that your website is a shop in a large city. You want to have your store on the main road, where everyone can see you. Your’store,’ will reach the main street when your website is at the top of Google’s search results. This is done by improving the content, structure and popularity of your website so that Google views it as a reliable and valuable source.”
Basic Points for Beginners
- SEO Focus on Visibility Explain SEO is all about making your website visible to customers who are searching for similar terms or services.
- Basic benefits: Point out that a site optimized well attracts more traffic, which can result in increased business.
- Nontechnical Language: Do not use SEO jargon, or other technical terms.
Explaining Intermediate Terms
If your clients have some basic knowledge of SEO and digital marketing, you can give them a more in-depth explanation. This will include technical aspects as well as strategic insight.
Explanation of Example
SEO is a method to improve your website ranking on Google and other search engines. Think of it as a series of rules that will make Google and other search engines prefer your website. There are two main types of SEO: on-page SEO and off-page SEO.
- On-page SEO is concentrating on optimizing the HTML code and content on your web pages. This will include optimizing headers and meta descriptions and using the right keywords.
- Off page SEO is a ranking method of your website but from the outside and places a way of influencing your ranking through links to other high-quality sites.
Enhancing your site’s authority and relevance is vital so that search engines consider it a trustworthy source of information. This will result in more clicks and more views, thus generating more business. Search engines are constantly changing how they rank results. Therefore, it is important to keep up to date with best practices, adjusting your approach accordingly.”
Key points for Intermediates
- Familiarize Yourself with New Terms: Introduce your audience to On-Page and Off-Page SEO strategies to give a complete overview.
- Use Examples that Make Sense: When presenting advanced concepts, think in terms of analogies relevant to your audience’s business or daily experience.
- Stress Continuous Improvement Explain SEO is not a one-time task but requires constant optimization and monitoring in order to maintain and improve ranking.
You can make sure that your clients feel confident and informed about the SEO strategies implemented for their company by tailoring the explanations to the level of knowledge they possess.
Still Having Trouble? What Are the Benefits of Partnering With an SEO Agency?
Marketing agencies that are struggling with SEO because of limited time and resources can benefit from partnering with an SEO agency. This will streamline their efforts and improve results. How can you get SEO clients by collaborating with a team of experts?
1. Access to Specialized Expertise
It is wise to utilize the services of SEO professionals when there is limited resource. An established SEO business will have experts with great experience and knowledge. Your SEO strategy will be efficient and up to industry standards.
2. Cost-Effective Solution
It may be expensive to develop and sustain an in-house SEO team. Outsourcing SEO provides you with access to a team without paying the overhead of recruitment and training. It is a cost-effective solution and enables you to deliver high-quality SEO without blowing your budget.
3. Focus on Core Services
Outsourcing SEO enables your team to be dedicated to strategic initiatives and core business operations. SEO is a continuous and complicated process that demands special attention. Working with an agency enables you to ensure SEO is being worked on by experts while your team focuses on other vital services.
4. Use Advanced Tools and Technologies
SEO companies have access to advanced tools and technology that are not affordable by you. These tools enable in-depth keyword research, competitor analysis, and performance tracking. These resources are only accessible to companies, so hiring one will ensure maximum utilization of your SEO plan.
5. Results that are Proven and Track Record
An experienced SEO company will have a record that has been tested and proven to bring quantifiable results. You can be certain of the success of your SEO campaign if you possess case studies and testimonials that speak of your competence.
6. Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation
SEO is an ongoing process involving constant monitoring and tweaking to ensure that it continues to be effective. SEO agencies will continuously monitor performance and data and make necessary adjustments to stay abreast of market trends and search engine algorithm updates. This ensures your SEO strategies stay competitive.
7. Strategic Advice and Recommendations
SEO agencies give good advice and suggestions that are derived from the proper analysis. They can assist in making your SEO efforts match your clients’ business objectives by giving information on how to make content optimized, enhance technical SEO, and improve their online presence.
GenTech Marketing is your SEO Partner
Collaborating with a professional SEO company like GenTech Marketing could be a game-changer for your agency. This is huge when facing time and resource constraints. Our team is dedicated to developing tailored SEO solutions that are able to serve your clients’ needs. We know what questions to ask SEO customers to get better converting customers.
We can assist you in making your SEO efforts better to achieve fantastic results for your clients, so contact GenTech Marketing today to find out more about how GenTech Marketing will assist you in creating your SEO strategy. Together, let us create great SEO results and advance your agency to the next level.
