For experienced webmasters, starting an SEO service company can be a great way to generate direct income, build connections in the industry, and expand your online portfolio. With hundreds of thousands of potential clients out there, the market for SEO professionals is wide and lucrative, with many time-stretched webmasters looking for a hand promoting their websites, managing their reputation, and connecting with their online customers.
As a virtual assistant, if you have the skills and know-how, you can include SEO Support to your ever expanding list of internet marketing services. Definitely consider adding SEO Virtual Assistant services to your business. It’s not rocket science, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Unfortunately, there’s not much advice out there on the business side of SEO. Sure, there are hundreds of resources for self-done SEO, and even more guides on business SEO strategy, but very little on starting and running an SEO business. These four tips are designed to help you get your business off the ground, attract SEO clients, and create an income through SEO services.
1. Have a track record.
Designers have portfolios, writers have sample kits, and journalists have published work that attracts editors’ attention. Do not think that just because SEO falls on the ‘marketing’ side of services, that you can get away with not having a visible, measurable track record.
When clients look for online service providers, they look for two things. The first is the initial impression, which dictates whether or not they look further into your services. The second is your reputation, which dictates whether or not they will order. If your company website can’t demonstrate your past value, you will find that clients might not be so keen on contacting you.
2. Price according to your value, not your market.
There are hundreds of dirt-cheap SEO services out there, and mostly for good reason. When you are in a market that’s saturated with ineffective imitators, even the slightest level of confidence is enough to ensure that you have long-term clients. If you can offer quality, price accordingly. Even in the most low-income industries, the smartest companies price by the value that they can provide, not the effort or expenditures required to offer their services.
3. Be selective about your clients.
Some clients are just more trouble than they are worth. Any experienced service business owner can tell you horror stories about certain clients, from bizarre orders and requirements to a complete lack of usable information. When you take on clients, you are taking on potential publicity, and also a potential long-term working arrangement. Pick carefully, because it is much more difficult to terminate a relationship than it is to simply turn one down.
4. Optimize more than just websites: streamline your business too.
Having steady cash flow is not a reason to stop developing your business. SEO, like many other industries, is built almost entirely on measurable, visible effects. When your business stops evolving, you end the possibility of opening up more future income, assisting bigger clients, and exploring new revenue streams. Optimize your business by selectively outsourcing certain tasks, hiring employees and assistance, and advertising in high-traffic online locations. As tempting as it may be to take a break, there is always work to be done online, and there are always new clients to find.