Top 10 (or more) Questions to ask prospective SEO client

[LD]

I am trying to put together a list of the best logical questions to ask a prospect client during first meetings for SEO which will help define their needs, budget, expectations and such. I've read soft-sell, reverse selling and a few other methods, but wonder if anyone might have a good generalized list that they like to open initial meetings with that has had success? (I tried searching the forum but I guess my search parameters may not have been effective.)

[gareth_esutera]

I always asks the following questions to my potential clients as I find them essential for in-page SEO.

1. What's the purpose of your website? Increase sales? Get more franchisers or investors? etc

2. Who are your target audience?

[LD]

I am also curious if budget is something to bring up early in the interview. Knowing a prospect wants a Cadillac but only wants to pay for a Cavalier indicates a problem right away and can save hours of time spent with a prospect when knowing they don't have a budget for the service. A prospect may also have no idea of cost when interviewing SEO companies because it's their first exposure to SEO - or they might just not have enough money and are trying to low ball a budget with hopes that the SEO person/company might be desperate.

Those that are seasoned in SEO sales would know what works best. Any suggestions?

[kronikmedia]

Marketing budget when it comes to search engine optimisation is an important consideration. I work as a web designer and design websites for a diverse clientely ranging form small businesses to established companies. I am surprised bythe lack of knowledge about search marketing and google ranking when it comes to smaller businesses. Sometimes I have had clients ask me after I have designed and launched their website that they have typed theor keywords in Google and their website does not even rank on first page.

It is improtant to first ask the client how much they are willing to spend. We all know how much work can be involved in search engine marketing. It is easy to spend a few hours every day and still not do all hat can be done. Infact it is possible to spend one hour a week or even 10 hours a day. I all depends on how much they are willing to spend. There are no secrets to search engine marketing but only hard work and lots of it. Its all about time spent in the right direction and time is money.

[LD]

Marketing budget when it comes to search engine optimisation is an important consideration. I work as a web designer and design websites for a diverse clientely ranging form small businesses to established companies. I am surprised bythe lack of knowledge about search marketing and google ranking when it comes to smaller businesses. Sometimes I have had clients ask me after I have designed and launched their website that they have typed theor keywords in Google and their website does not even rank on first page.

It is improtant to first ask the client how much they are willing to spend. We all know how much work can be involved in search engine marketing. It is easy to spend a few hours every day and still not do all hat can be done. Infact it is possible to spend one hour a week or even 10 hours a day. I all depends on how much they are willing to spend. There are no secrets to search engine marketing but only hard work and lots of it. Its all about time spent in the right direction and time is money.

Great points and so true! Sometimes when we develop a website project, the final icing on the cake is the SEO which is why 99% of us are on the web. I'm sure there are a few businesses out there that only use their websites to better manage their client base, however, for the rest of us who want traffic and new sales, sometimes the small biz client doesn't always understand the need and just sees the service as another expence. I am working on a better pitch to help them understand the benefits without coming across as just selling another service. I'm hoping this thread might help us in that area.

[seomysite]

What is the web address/URL of the site that you would like us to optimize?
On which platform your website built in?
Please provide us with a detailed description about the services that you offer
What is the geographic target of your business?
Define your current marketing strategy?
Who are your customers?
Who are your best customers? And Why?
List your major competitors with Name, Location and Website Addresses.(URL)
What are the primary keywords you would like to target? (No single phrase keywords please)
What are the secondary level keywords you would like to target? (No single phrase keywords please)
Can we review the keywords and make changes as per your business objective?
Do you have traffic stats / website log for us to review?
If so, Can we have the access for the same?
What do you want to accomplish with SEO/SEM? (Ranking / Traffic / Conversion )
Have you worked with any SEO /SEM companies before? If so, what was performed and what were the results?
Do you have an established budget for SEO/SEM? If so, what is it?
Do you have any constraints while working the project (Timing / Budget etc)
Please provide any additional information you think might be essential at this time.

[ArthurNYC]

I have been on both sides of this conversation and there is nothing more annoying and nothing that turns me off more than asking these basic questions. If you want to win my business, come into my office and tell me what my target market is, my geography, my stats from external analysis and my results. Impress me with figuring these things out on your own and then we can augment them together as we decide to move forward. But if I have to tell you that my goal is to sell product and I own an ecommerce site and my site is NOT Amazon.com then I am annoyed already.

There is so much information available about every website and every business that you need to walk in with a preliminary report for me if you want to win my business.

Of course, just my opinion.

Arthur

[LD]

I have been on both sides of this conversation and there is nothing more annoying and nothing that turns me off more than asking these basic questions. If you want to win my business, come into my office and tell me what my target market is, my geography, my stats from external analysis and my results. Impress me with figuring these things out on your own and then we can augment them together as we decide to move forward. But if I have to tell you that my goal is to sell product and I own an ecommerce site and my site is NOT Amazon.com then I am annoyed already.

There is so much information available about every website and every business that you need to walk in with a preliminary report for me if you want to win my business.

Of course, just my opinion.

Arthur

But tell us how you [em]really[/em]feel. Just kidding.

I understand your point of view. I can also vouch that my telling you what you need before truly understanding you as a prospect can be "eventful". These are basic questions that help to find out a lot about the prospect as a person and their business. Sometimes this type of questioning can tell more about the person and the business than any research. Also, I find that people, prospects and clients as well, like to talk about what they do with a robust passion. At least that has been my experience.

[weegillis]

While we're tossing opinions around...

What is the web address/URL of the site that you would like us to optimize?

If you want to win my business, come into my office and tell me what my target market is, my geography, my stats from external analysis and my results. Impress me with figuring these things out on your own and then we can augment them together as we decide to move forward.

All that's missing is a want ad. It would take some stones to walk into an office and tell them you've been researching their business and have a service to offer that will better their position. Then again, SEO takes some stones, anyway.

My thought is that armed with the want ad, @seomysite might ask the first question, then respond with, "We'll get back to you in three days. Don't hire anyone in the meantime, as what we bring back might have a bearing on who you hire and for what purpose."

[Wuoshi]

What's your expectations?

I feel that's an important question because customers often expect miracles or they believe that they're buying a completely different service than they are.