Self-Help for SEO Agency-Client Relationships

He’s Just Not That Into You
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
Getting the Love You Want

…If you’ve turned to these or any other self-help relationship books over the years, you know the power of communication. You understand the value of looking at a relationship from the other side. And you know that relationships develop based on what both sides put in and take out.

The relationship between a business and their SEO agency is no different.

This month’s SEO Newsletter is a resource for SEO agency-client relationship building. Like all relationships, this one requires communication, understanding and a willingness to collaborate. Here are the CliffsNotes for this month’s newsletter.

Myth-Busting the SEO Agency Relationship

Who should read this: Have you recently hired an SEO agency or consultant to advise your business on search optimization? Are you dissatisfied with the progress or results delivered by your SEO agency?

Or, are you an SEO consultant that feels your working relationship with your client is being hindered by communication issues or mismatched expectations? If you said yes to any of the above, you should read this (and if you’re an SEO you can send it to your client).

Why you should read this:

• It describes misconceptions about goals, tasks, and tactics of SEO and provides corrective info so both parties are on the same page.
• It comes from the perspective of an SEO who has experienced first-hand many of the obstacles that can prevent smooth implementation of SEO initiatives.
• Among the relationship building advice included are five tips about how to get the most from an SEO agency. You’ve hired them to help you, and the environment can be optimized to allow for that help.

How to Gain Insider Expertise as an Outside SEO Agency

Who should read this: Are you a marketer or copywriter who has recently signed a new client who’s industry you know nothing about? Do you need to speak intelligently on behalf of your client online? Get on a fast track to achieve expert status.

Why you should read this:

• It outlines a 5-step process for becoming a topic expert. Follow these steps for goal setting, research and practice, and measuring progress and you’ll be on your way to subject matter expert.
• It gives you tools to guide your research on a subject, including a questionnaire to get in the head of your client, their competition and their customer.
• When you’re an expert on your client’s field, you can better serve them through SEO, website conversion and a social communication strategy that fits their needs.

Choosing an SEO Agency Post-Penguin

Who should read this: Are you unsure of how to vet an SEO agency? Do you want to develop a presence in the search engines but are concerned that more harm can be accomplished than good in the hands of the wrong SEO? With some guidance you can trust that you’re finding a good SEO agency match for your business.

Why you should read this:

• It helps you identify signs that indicate if an SEO agency is committed to being a long-term partner or is looking to land the next contract.
• It offers guidelines for how involved a business should expect to be in the SEO process to be comfortable with the practices used.
• Knowledge is power and SEO education is peace of mind when you have an SEO agency. Here you’ll find the key to confidence in the purpose and direction of a project.

If you subscribe to the newsletter, you’ll find all this and more in your inbox this afternoon. Otherwise, subscribe to have our industry news and advice delivered straight to your inbox each month.

Virginia Nussey is the director of content marketing at MobileMonkey. Prior to joining this startup in 2018, Virginia was the operations and content manager at Bruce Clay Inc., having joined the company in 2008 as a writer and blogger.

See Virginia's author page for links to connect on social media.