Why do so many seo's lack marketing skills ?

[lockie]

Had yet another call today from an seo offering to get me on the first page of google for the term "locksmith". When i asked why would i want that keyword optimised he then explained thats what people search for when they look for a locksmith.
I asked him if he got locked out is that the term he would use, yes was his reply.So i asked how on earth he would expect to get a firm that covers his area if he lived in cornwall by using that search term, errrrrm well im sure there would be one, or something similar he says.

I pointed out im more concerned about search terms that convert into calls and ultimately sales and his answer was yes but that means less site visits. I would rather have 10 visits that convert into sales than 200 visits that do not was my answer and i wound up the call.

It seems every person to date selling seo services that rings me has not got a clue about the real purpose of having a website.

Too many are concerned with results but they focus on the wrong type of results.I wonder how many have any actual marketing experience.

 

[Webtistic]

Its the same old story.. never trust an SEO company unless you have been recommended or they have actual results!

 

[Webtistic]

By the way Lockie, would you be interested in us getting your locksmith business to number one for the term 'African Fried Monkeys'?

I really do believe that if you invest £10k with us and give it a couple of years, then we could do it. Let me know eh

 

I doubt if the guy that rang you was an SEO,probably phone sales.

Earl

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I really think you have to understand a good level of marketing when it comes to having a service which has anything to do with any part of the basic sales process.

If you're a SEO you need to understand the quality of visitors.

If you design websites you need to understand visitor perception, layout etc for a better conversion rate.

If you're a copywriter you need to understand visitor psychology and persuasion.

Etc.

One of the many reasons why I believe marketing is the largest aspect involved in business by a large margin.

 

[lockie]

I doubt if the guy that rang you was an SEO,probably phone sales.

Earl

Ive not seen many phone sales using mobile numbers.

 

[creospace]

I don't think this problem is unique to SEO, there's plenty of web designers out there who don't know the first thing about business so how can other business owners trust them with theirs?

 

[Mike Seddon]

Had yet another call today from an seo offering to get me on the first page of google for the term "locksmith". When i asked why would i want that keyword optimised he then explained thats what people search for when they look for a locksmith.
I asked him if he got locked out is that the term he would use, yes was his reply.So i asked how on earth he would expect to get a firm that covers his area if he lived in cornwall by using that search term, errrrrm well im sure there would be one, or something similar he says.

I pointed out im more concerned about search terms that convert into calls and ultimately sales and his answer was yes but that means less site visits. I would rather have 10 visits that convert into sales than 200 visits that do not was my answer and i wound up the call.

It seems every person to date selling seo services that rings me has not got a clue about the real purpose of having a website.

Too many are concerned with results but they focus on the wrong type of results.I wonder how many have any actual marketing experience.

Excellent post and I couldn't agree more.

It's just people getting onto what they see as a profitable band wagon.

 

[Gillie]

It could be said that there are a lot of professions out there though, that appear to be highly profitable etc so people get on board without a full understanding of the actual business they are doing.

And yes I have come across sales people who use mobiles, the most notorious ones being the cheap and nasty car sales people !

 

I had a similar experience with one lately myself.

The lady (and that was why I probably didn't hang up on them) tried to tell me a load of search terms she would get me onto page 1 for - but I told her I am on page 1 for nearly all the ones that actually mean trade for me (ie localised etc).

I had quite a decent debate with her over the phone, but in the end she admitted defeat and cleared off

I know of some other NI business owners who have been conned into some of these SEO schemes though, just because they know absolutely nothing about the web.

Is there no code of conduct, or regulations to stop this nonsense, and blatant mis-selling imho ??

 

[M178591]

I agree. I am a former marketing manager who has gradually moved more and more into the ecommerce area. A few months ago I went self employed, my concept is to offer search marketing services from the perspective of a marketing manager rather than as a web designer or a techy. So far I have had quite a lot of interest. I have a couple of companies who employ me on the basis of a part time, outsourced ecommerce marketing manager to look after their whole ecommerce system almost as another member of staff. Apart from giving myself the obvious plug, my observation is that this is quite a common problem which is what prompted me to go self employed in the first place. I usually tell clients that the ecommerce route to market is just another sales avenue and you have to work at it in just the same way as you would any other sales channel and therefore simply generating loads of irrelevent search traffic is pointless.

 

[rosszero]

The person making the phone call was definitely not an SEO. A simply reply would have been "what about coming up for the keyword: locksmith in 'insert location here'". obviously they had never heard of localised searches

 

[creospace]

The person making the phone call was definitely not an SEO. A simply reply would have been "what about coming up for the keyword: locksmith in 'insert location here'". obviously they had never heard of localised searches

Not really much of a tele-sales person either by the sound of it

 

[Baby's Best]

SEO is a marketing strategy yet, in order to be truly successful in marketing it is important to keep in mind that marketing should be holisitc rolleyes: another one of those words...) in what it covers: off and online. The person was obviously blind to marketing common sense and your business interest!

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Like many SEOs seem to be, probably someone who has read a few of the dummies guides to SEO and is just looking to make a quick buck - probably called from work on his lunchbreak...! (Either that or his brother is doing the calling round for him, hence why he seems to lack both SEO and telemarketing skills!).

 

[MichaelG]

Yeh lockie, like builders, very profession has its share of cowboys.

Here is a look idea for your website young sir (free - just remember me when I need you to help me get back into my house)

Why not add a free Vcard - MMS feature to your website - where visitors can enter their mobile phone number and get sent your contact number for free to store on their mobile phone - your number should be available on every mobile phone - just in-case

Now that's a feature!

 

[wood1e2]

I don't think this problem is unique to SEO, there's plenty of web designers out there who don't know the first thing about business so how can other business owners trust them with theirs?

I totally agree...

 

[lockie]

Yeh lockie, like builders, very profession has its share of cowboys.

Here is a look idea for your website young sir (free - just remember me when I need you to help me get back into my house)

Why not add a free Vcard - MMS feature to your website - where visitors can enter their mobile phone number and get sent your contact number for free to store on their mobile phone - your number should be available on every mobile phone - just in-case

Now that's a feature!

Ive not heard of this feature so will look into it as it seems a great idea, thanks.

 

[MichaelG]

Go to http://www.monilo.com/

 

[Codefixer]

I increasingly get these calls, particularly from directories that offer to get me on the first page of Google.

When I tell them I'm already on the first page of Google for my main keywords they still try and sell their services or listings.

 

[lockie]

Go to http://www.monilo.com/

Brilliant, may get it put on the side of the van too. I can see this working from the van being parked in london.

Thanks very much no one else i know does this.