Jul 15 2008
SEO Clients that You Should Refuse
For most businesses, especially the newer ones, it is potentially suicidal to turn a client down. Even older companies work on the belief that it isn’t right to refuse a client. But in reality, one is bound to do this out of necessity. One cannot accept every type of client especially if he is not cut out for the kind of work that is required.
Many articles have already been written about how to avoid bad SEO firms and there are even more on the subject of bad clients. At some point, you may have come across a client who is just too difficult to deal with – someone who may have had impossible requirements or someone who treats every situation as a crisis situation that should addressed now (not as soon as possible but NOW).
With this in mind, one important advice that you should take note of is that if you feel that you’re incapable of working under a client’s specifications, you’re better off not taking that work on. For the most part, clients are like short-term bosses. You work for them for a pre-specified time. This being the case, if you’re not the type who can work for a certain type of boss and a client fits the description, it’s best to turn him down altogether and probably refer him to someone else who can live up to his standards.
At this point, it’s also important to emphasize that just because you’ve refused a client doesn’t necessarily mean that you are bad or the client is, for that matter. It only means that you’re incompatible and it’s more beneficial for the both of you to work with different partners. You will want to assess your capabilities against the client’s specific situation. For instance, if the service required doesn’t justify the amount that the client is willing to spend on, it’s much better if you refer him to someone who can take on the challenge. For instance, a business that is based in a small area may not be able to benefit much from extensive SEO campaigns. You will want to be straightforward and tell the client right out that you are not the right person for the job. This saves him money that can be wasted on something that may not work; it will save you time and preserve your reputation.
