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Scott Hendison has a dilemma: one of his clients won't take any of his advice. I'm sure many SEOs have run into the same sort of scenario in their lifetimes, where the SEO gives good strategies -- and many of them at that -- and the actual client does nothing about it month after month. How do you handle this kind of client?
Some find that it is important to set expectations before the agreement is signed. The SEO should communicate to his client that the client will need to make changes to her site.
It's up to us to create expectations up front when we create an engagement and to continue to do so quarterly. Getting sign off on a search marketing plan as you go and achieving goals gives everyone something to aspire to and helps us to provide and reach quantifiable results.
On the other hand, if expectations aren't set, it will probably be a matter of time before the client and the SEO break up -- and the client will fault it to the SEO.
Other suggestions include dropping the client (who wants that kind of client anyway?) and picking up the phone and articulating these concerns to them in person rather than over email.
How do you handle clients who aren't responsive to your advice?
Forum discussion continues at Sphinn.
