View Full Version : SEO Companies Calling My Clients!
SEO Positive
22nd July 2009, 20:19
Lately I am getting few SEO companies who must be going through all my clients, and trying to talk them into leaving us to go with them. In the last week 3 SEO companies have called through a number of my clients to see if they wanted to leave.
Thing is, its not just 1 or 2 of my clients, the same companies are going through loads of my clients.
Luckily for me, my clients are happy, and have told me that they are getting these calls. I have asked them to keep me posted with any other calls that they get.
Is there anything that I can do about this, as It is annoying. Does anyone else get this happening to them?
Look, if you want clients..... Do a good job then get recommendation like I do. Or if you can't do that, at least get your site ranked highly to try and win some clients of your own. You know who you are (not saying its anyone on the forum) but one day they might see this thread.
GreatSEO
22nd July 2009, 20:28
I know exactly where you are coming from :')
Dave
I, Brian
22nd July 2009, 20:31
Is there anything that I can do about this, as It is annoying.
Don't list clients on your site?
I get calls from Indian SEO companies quite regularly. Too funny.
Kev Jaques
22nd July 2009, 20:34
I don't think this will ever stop tbh no matter how annoying it is.
The market is saturated, more so the past 12 months so lot's stepping on each others toes.
It's a shoppers market at the end of the day, if you can hold onto clients then they are kinda like gold dust, obviously a 2 way street but still hard work to keep going with some companies morals/standards lower/higher than others.
SEO Positive
22nd July 2009, 20:39
I had a company call one of my clients today offering to get them to page 1 for 3 key terms for £75 a month. These terms are quite competitive too.
Needless to say that for the competitive key terms, im charging more than £75 per month, so they were going in with low figures to win the business.
The funny thing is though. My customer told me that he had they guy on the phone for about 5 minutes talking at my customer (not with him, at him).
After the pounding of rubbish sales patter was over, my customer said "have you seen where my site is?"
The sales guys said "no"
My customer said, "I already have top position on page 1 for my main key terms, and on page 1 for the rest, so why would I pay you £75 per month, and risk losing my position?"
Made me laugh a little.
SEO Positive
22nd July 2009, 20:40
Tell you what, if it happens any more, I think I might start to name and shame the people calling them. That will teach them.
directmarketingadvice
22nd July 2009, 21:22
Tell you what, if it happens any more, I think I might start to name and shame the people calling them. That will teach them.
What do you mean "name and shame"?
Do you mean that these clients are your "property" and aren't allowed to be talked to by other SEO companies?
Steve
IainW
22nd July 2009, 21:57
You need a client list to prove to potential clients your work is credible
Don't show your clients and you have no proof of quality work
Just part of life.
I had the No1 SEO company on Google ring me up last week wanting me to outsource to them.
hmmmm
Iain
david64
22nd July 2009, 22:08
I think I, Brian is right. Don't put lists of your clients on your site.
I don't:
1 - Say who I work with on my site
2 - Leave links in client footers or sites
3 - Give out client sites to prospective customers
However, they are always going to get these calls. A friend of mine used to do web design and SEO before setting up their own eCom site - to get out of the clutches of clients and he gets calls and emails every week from SEO companies trying to sell him SEO even though he is one of the top ranking sites in the industry.
I have also noticed there are quite a few Indian SEO companies who are pretending to operate in the UK now. If you are clever you can use them to your advantage ;)
GRDCredit
22nd July 2009, 22:18
Have I missed something? The complaint is that one of your competitors is trying to tempt your customers away?
Isn't this what happens in business? If your customers are happy - which they seem to be - then no problem.
OldWelshGuy
22nd July 2009, 22:24
Listing your clients is providing a prospecting list to your competitors. Don't do it.
david64
22nd July 2009, 22:25
Have I missed something? The complaint is that one of your competitors is trying to tempt your customers away?
Isn't this what happens in business? If your customers are happy - which they seem to be - then no problem.
I think things are a bit different in SEO, because having people ring your clients can be a regular occurance. As far as I know SEO/PCC cold calling is the top offender. So more chance to losing someone to some cold calling baffons who probably outsource the work to India or put clients on some out-of-the-box solution.
Plus, SEO is very competitive.
http://www.myspaceantics.com/images/myspace-graphics/funny-pictures/big-tank.jpg
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 08:14
We had this discussion before on another thread a while ago.
I think it doesn't matter that they call your clients. It is however unfair if they start to slate your work.
I had this issue with and seo consult(ant) who contacted clients from my list and slagged our work off fabricated problems that were not an issue. This led to me spending time reassuring my clients that it was wrong what he was saying and proving it to them.
I feel there are two reasons that people will possibly leave you.
Bad service and cost.
If service is bad then sorry that is your fault, but if cost is the issue then either your great service will make them stay or they have no loyalty to you gaining them success.
One thing I wont do is drop my price.
I have learned that you cant stop these people only put up with it.
IainW
23rd July 2009, 08:25
I think I, Brian is right. Don't put lists of your clients on your site.
I don't:
1 - Say who I work with on my site
2 - Leave links in client footers or sites
3 - Give out client sites to prospective customers
But there have been other discussions and opinions that you do need to show your work, portfolio or testimonials so that you can attract the prospective customer. People do look for portfolios
IainW
23rd July 2009, 08:28
Listing your clients is providing a prospecting list to your competitors. Don't do it.
Maybe the answer is to provide the list when the customer asks for a testimonial but having said that, customers may not want to contact you to ask as they'd rather see them on your site and then decide.
How does the customer know that you know you're stuff and are the guys to choose?
I have customers asking for my portfolio list all of the time - -no list could mean i missing out couldn't it?
Iain
I list some of my clients on my site. Personally, I think if you're offering a service like seo then you do need to have something to show to prospective clients passing your way prior to them contacting you. I've had clients ring me over the last month or so telling they've been contacted direct by an seo company but I'm not bothered, neither are my clients.
It's business, if my clients aren't happy with my service then they have the freedom to move elsewhere as I don't operate a "lock in" policy. Equally, a number of the clients "not" on my portfolio page have been contacted too so it's just the nature of the beast!
If you offer a decent service which builds up trust then there's no risk of your clients jumping ship.
Ray
directmarketingadvice
23rd July 2009, 09:43
I list some of my clients on my site. Personally, I think if you're offering a service like seo then you do need to have something to show to prospective clients passing your way prior to them contacting you.
I agree. (and also agree with Iain)
If there's no evidence on the site, then you're just another guy on the internet claiming you can get people high rankings.
I wouldn't contact a company like that. I'd move on to the next site.
Steve
PS The exception would be if their own site was really high up in the SERPS and that's how I found them. But, that's a form of proof, too.
SEO Positive
23rd July 2009, 10:25
We had this discussion before on another thread a while ago.
I think it doesn't matter that they call your clients. It is however unfair if they start to slate your work.
I had this issue with and seo consult(ant) who contacted clients from my list and slagged our work off fabricated problems that were not an issue. This led to me spending time reassuring my clients that it was wrong what he was saying and proving it to them.
I feel there are two reasons that people will possibly leave you.
Bad service and cost.
If service is bad then sorry that is your fault, but if cost is the issue then either your great service will make them stay or they have no loyalty to you gaining them success.
One thing I wont do is drop my price.
I have learned that you cant stop these people only put up with it.
This is exactly what I mean.
One company were going on at one of my clients saying that the onpage was bad, and not enough links, etc etc etc.
He was page 1 for ALL his keywords (at least do your homework before trying to call another companies customer and put them down). Needless to say the customer put him straight and told me who it was.
I get a company who are mentioned on here quite a lot call all my customers on a regular basis. A clue as to who they are: its warm inside, but its............
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 10:27
This is exactly what I mean.
One company were going on at one of my clients saying that the onpage was bad, and not enough links, etc etc etc.
He was page 1 for ALL his keywords (at least do your homework before trying to call another companies customer and put them down). Needless to say the customer put him straight and told me who it was.
I get a company who are mentioned on here quite a lot call all my customers on a regular basis. A clue as to who they are: its warm inside, but its............
In which case that is totally wrong.
Who is the company?
Lets give them a taste.
I get a company who are mentioned on here quite a lot call all my customers on a regular basis. A clue as to who they are: its warm inside, but its............
They call EVERYBODY on a regular basis, not just your customers.
david64
23rd July 2009, 10:33
I list some of my clients on my site. Personally, I think if you're offering a service like seo then you do need to have something to show to prospective clients passing your way.
For some reason everyone I work with have never asked for any examples. I do have a few of my own sites I can give out but if they seem to be time wasters I won't give those out either :p
Has anyone ever heard of a company - web design OR SEO that have had sites they didn't do in their portfolio?
Worst I have heard of is a site cold calling as my old company. That all ended when they rang up a web design client and he gave them a list of things he'd like to change on his website. Guy is in the slammer now. He had a bunch of people cold calling for him off some government scheme of getting dolies into work.
Online Trader
23rd July 2009, 10:36
Although the Company that is being referred to are IMHO a load of crooks there is nothing to stop them calling "your customers" nobody owns customers and they are fair game for competition, if they were not then business would not exist ;)
Has anyone ever heard of a company - web design OR SEO that have had sites they didn't do in their portfolio?
IIRC Weblinx have one of SEO Positive's personal sites on their portfolio.
david64
23rd July 2009, 11:02
What is it like to be page one for SEO? I'd imagine it's more of a vanity/client-impressing thing as it would be tough to get above the fold and I'd imagine the enquiries are not that great. I'd also imagine that it is a bit of a poor use of resources as there is a good chance you won't be there for long. Similar to [web design], a term that only has 20% of the sites still on page one that were there about 12 months ago.
When I first got involved in SEO, I remember WebLinx were about pos. 5 for [SEO]. That was when they had that blue website.
SEO Positive
23rd July 2009, 11:11
What is it like to be page one for SEO? I'd imagine it's more of a vanity/client-impressing thing as it would be tough to get above the fold and I'd imagine the enquiries are not that great. I'd also imagine that it is a bit of a poor use of resources as there is a good chance you won't be there for long. Similar to [web design], a term that only has 20% of the sites still on page one that were there about 12 months ago.
When I first got involved in SEO, I remember WebLinx were about pos. 5 for [SEO]. That was when they had that blue website.
It is more of a vanity/client-impressing thing for me, but also a chance for me to prove that although we are a new company (18 months old) we are up there with the best of them. Were a small company, and limited resources, but I am still able to not only get my clients on page 1, but also my site on page 1 for some of the most competitive words on the internet.
With regards to traffic, and business. Lets just say, it pays for itself.
seismology
23rd July 2009, 11:13
why do you worry? If you know that you are providing them quality services then you don't have to worry, your clients will not be leaving you by just getting calls from other companies. But these things happen, might be you also got few of your clients from some other company.
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 11:21
why do you worry? If you know that you are providing them quality services then you don't have to worry, your clients will not be leaving you by just getting calls from other companies. But these things happen, might be you also got few of your clients from some other company.
As i mentioned before its nothing to worry about until they start chatting bubbles.
When they point out things that aren't really an issue.
When they claim you are using un ethical means that will ge them banned. (scare scaremongering)
And its the time you waste reassuring them. Time is money.
SEO Positive
23rd July 2009, 11:23
As i mentioned before its nothing to worry about until they start chatting bubbles.
When they point out things that aren't really an issue.
When they claim you are using un ethical means that will ge them banned. (scare scaremongering)
And its the time you waste reassuring them. Time is money.
Thats right.
What gets me is when you get someone to first page for their key terms, and companies call them saying that were using black hat techniques (which were not) and saying that they might be page 1 now, but unless they leave us and go to them, then their site will get penalised.
Thats what bugs me. However, not lost anyone as yet to this, but I just wanted to mention it, as it is annoying.
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 11:34
Thats right.
What gets me is when you get someone to first page for their key terms, and companies call them saying that were using black hat techniques (which were not) and saying that they might be page 1 now, but unless they leave us and go to them, then their site will get penalised.
Thats what bugs me. However, not lost anyone as yet to this, but I just wanted to mention it, as it is annoying.
This is what it is like.
Send me the details.
Give them a taste of their own medicine.
They will soon apologise.
I think it's funny that someone who has posted on this thread condemning the activity has actually cold-called me, via a link which was in my sig, proceeded to bash the person who did my SEO and try and get me to sign up with them.
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 12:01
I think it's funny that someone who has posted on this thread condemning the activity has actually cold-called me, via a link which was in my sig, proceeded to bash the person who did my SEO and try and get me to sign up with them.
Did the seo deserve a bashing?
Did the seo deserve a bashing?
He got me to page one for my terms within 3 months.
I've now been replaced by 5 pages of australian and american results.
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 12:09
He got me to page one for my terms within 3 months.
I've now been replaced by 5 pages of australian and american results.
in which case whats the phrase and url :D
Lets have a look why?
in which case whats the phrase and url :D
Lets have a look why?
Don't you worry about it, I've got an elderly welsh chap on the case.
Ali-v-8
23rd July 2009, 13:14
Don't you worry about it, I've got an elderly welsh chap on the case.
Ha ha ha. In which case you in great hands. hi di hi
Galway
23rd July 2009, 15:04
Just about everybody listed in the top 3 pages of any search will be cold called, its the nature of the game and it won't change. Almost all of those listings will have an agency of some sort behind so every call is in effect calling somebody elses client.
The best thing is to do your best and keep talking to your clients, the cold outside company (trying not to name them) have even canvassed me in the past but they are not really an SEO agency... are they??
just search the brand lol
TheSlackers
23rd July 2009, 17:45
I think it's funny that someone who has posted on this thread condemning the activity has actually cold-called me, via a link which was in my sig, proceeded to bash the person who did my SEO and try and get me to sign up with them.
It's also funny that someone on this thread is actually ripping content off other people's clients websites and using the spammy pages to link back to their own site!!! :rolleyes: Now that's "annoying"!
Toni Anicic
24th July 2009, 08:26
Are you telling me you don't have laws in UK that would prevent businesses to do this?
It's called unloyal (it's not even a word in English LoL) competition. Basically, it should be defined by some work ethics laws that cold calling competitor clients and offering lower prices is illegal.
QVA - Emma
24th July 2009, 08:58
Are you telling me you don't have laws in UK that would prevent businesses to do this?
It's called unloyal (it's not even a word in English LoL) competition. Basically, it should be defined by some work ethics laws that cold calling competitor clients and offering lower prices is illegal.
That would be incredibly hard to poilice - can you imagine the problems it would cause?? Problem is everyone offers something different, the price may be lower but you may not get the same services as you are currently.
Fact of the matter is we are all big boys and girls and are more than capable of making a decision about who we want to work with, whether it be from a cold call or not.
My personal view is I do not accept cold calls from any company. If it is a service I am looking for I will seek it out myself.
directmarketingadvice
24th July 2009, 09:08
Fact of the matter is we are all big boys and girls and are more than capable of making a decision about who we want to work with, whether it be from a cold call or not.
Exactly.
And, if you ban cold calling, are you also going to ban ads in business magazines in case they're seen by someone with an existing provider?
You can't (I hope) own your customers.
Steve
Ali-v-8
24th July 2009, 09:12
Are you telling me you don't have laws in UK that would prevent businesses to do this?
It's called unloyal (it's not even a word in English LoL) competition. Basically, it should be defined by some work ethics laws that cold calling competitor clients and offering lower prices is illegal.
Well that strange?
Where are you from?
I mean every country has telesales people that ring up offering CHEAPER services or better services this is not an issue.
What we feel that is bad is when some one claims there are issues with the service where there are none.
Toni Anicic
24th July 2009, 10:00
Well that strange?
Where are you from?
I mean every country has telesales people that ring up offering CHEAPER services or better services this is not an issue.
What we feel that is bad is when some one claims there are issues with the service where there are none.
I'm from Croatia.
We also have a law about telecommunications that forbids anyone from calling you, e-mailing you or sending you mail if you didn't authorize it previously.
Ali-v-8
24th July 2009, 10:18
I'm from Croatia.
We also have a law about telecommunications that forbids anyone from calling you, e-mailing you or sending you mail if you didn't authorize it previously.
Yeah that's here to. Its called opt in.
But find me sales companies that don't ignore it.
I'm sorry but commerce survives on competition.
Its underhanded tricks that ruin it.
directmarketingadvice
24th July 2009, 10:47
Yeah that's here to. Its called opt in.
There's no opt-in required for telemarketing or direct mail. If you don't opt out, you can be approached that way.
(and, as far as I know, you can also be approached by a one-to-one email... if it's done right)
Steve
Galway
24th July 2009, 11:03
It will never stop and I am sure that an industry like ours that is built on deception, tricks and secrecy will have far more of this activity than most.
Ali-v-8
24th July 2009, 13:14
There's no opt-in required for telemarketing or direct mail. If you don't opt out, you can be approached that way.
(and, as far as I know, you can also be approached by a one-to-one email... if it's done right)
Steve
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you now have to opt into any mailing of data sharing.
It used to be opt out as the box was pre-tick online But law is now that you must choose to receive the mail.
directmarketingadvice
24th July 2009, 13:27
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you now have to opt into any mailing of data sharing.
It used to be opt out as the box was pre-tick online But law is now that you must choose to receive the mail.
What do you mean?
Are you saying that no business can send me a letter without my permission?
(i.e without me having opted in with them)
Steve
Ali-v-8
24th July 2009, 13:35
not at all.
All i am saying is that the old system of opt-out is now illegal. That is a fact.
You must now opt-in (tick box)
The way that some companies get around this is by using the terms and conditions box. This is set so that you have to tick it to continue and guess what most companies include in that document (well most do)
directmarketingadvice
24th July 2009, 13:43
not at all.
All i am saying is that the old system of opt-out is now illegal. That is a fact.
You must now opt-in (tick box)
But, what does that mean in reality?
For example, is it now illegal to mail to compiled lists?
Steve
Ali-v-8
24th July 2009, 14:21
It depends on where the data is from.
Its my understanding that if a complaint is made that you must prove that they had opted in to receiving the mail.
I cant figure it how you would police it my self.
directmarketingadvice
24th July 2009, 14:26
It depends on where the data is from.
Its my understanding that if a complaint is made that you must prove that they had opted in to receiving the mail.
In that case, it would make using compiled lists illegal.
Do you have a link to this?
Steve
david64
24th July 2009, 14:31
Do you have a link to this?
I think Ali is right. I remember being around cold calling that was going on and I seem to remember it was acknowledged that what was going on was illegal.
Here is a link re. emails:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073790994
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_and_Electronic_Communications_(EC_Directiv e)_Regulations_2003
(http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073790994)
directmarketingadvice
24th July 2009, 14:40
I'm still pretty sceptical.
For example, if this were true, surely it'd be illegal for an estate agent to post flyers in their area.
(because those people wouldn't have opted in)
Steve
david64
24th July 2009, 14:49
I'm still pretty sceptical.
That link borked up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_and_Electronic_Communications_(EC_Directiv e)_Regulations_2003
I think all this stuff is limited to electronic communication.
MARLEY2
24th July 2009, 15:00
Hi there everyone. I have noticed some people talking about a company called smart traffic an SEO company. does anyone know if they are really that good ? they say pay half before and the same again when they get you to page one ?
SEO Positive
24th July 2009, 15:10
Hi there everyone. I have noticed some people talking about a company called smart traffic an SEO company. does anyone know if they are really that good ? they say pay half before and the same again when they get you to page one ?
maybe you should start a new thread asking this, and you may get a better response than having the question buried halfway in this thread.
maybe a mod will see this, and move it.
thanks.
davin.master
27th July 2009, 06:56
thanks valuable tips to escape our client from others.
Ali-v-8
27th July 2009, 08:00
"It is unlawful to send someone direct marketing who has not specifically granted permission (via an opt-in agreement). Organisations cannot merely add peoples details to their marketing database and offer an opt out after they have started sending direct marketing."
SEO Positive
27th July 2009, 08:03
"It is unlawful to send someone direct marketing who has not specifically granted permission (via an opt-in agreement). Organisations cannot merely add peoples details to their marketing database and offer an opt out after they have started sending direct marketing."
Yeah, I agree, you should be able to have a say from the outset, as this is "people spamming".
directmarketingadvice
27th July 2009, 10:09
"It is unlawful to send someone direct marketing who has not specifically granted permission (via an opt-in agreement). Organisations cannot merely add peoples details to their marketing database and offer an opt out after they have started sending direct marketing."
You're referring to "The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003".
I thought you were talking about something more recent.
In that case, I stand by my statement:
There's no opt-in required for telemarketing or direct mail. If you don't opt out, you can be approached that way.
(and, as far as I know, you can also be approached by a one-to-one email... if it's done right)
Steve
admagic
27th July 2009, 10:23
There is a completely "other" take on this.
Get a handful of sites of your own ranked #1 - put those on your website, and only then release other testimonials to bonafide customers.
And you can then keep tabs on who is cold calling because they will be ringing your sites contacts instead..
SEO Positive
27th July 2009, 10:25
There is a completely "other" take on this.
Get a handful of sites of your own ranked #1 - put those on your website, and only then release other testimonials to bonafide customers.
And you can then keep tabs on who is cold calling because they will be ringing your sites contacts instead..
I already do have a few sites of my own in the mix to see who is cold calling my clients.