The Difference between a Web Designer and an SEO expert. They are different you know!!!
I am about to make a sweeping statement for sure and to those web designers that do actually fully understand SEO, keyword research and optimising content for search engines, I apologise.
Today I had an interesting conversation with a joint venture business partner of mine regarding a prospect that was on the verge of signing up to become a customer for SEO’d blog content. The prospect didn’t become a customer because her web designer has told her that he is doing her SEO. This worries me. This particular case worries me for two reasons.
The first reason is because on request of the keyword research that had been undertaken, none could be shown. How anyone can perform on page SEO without knowing traffic levels, competition levels and commercial viability for the keywords being used to find your product or services is beyond me.
The second reason it worries me is the fact that my business partner was effectively ‘scolded’ by the prospect for trying to help them out. Since when did trying to help someone become wrong?
What I take from this is that here in this market (middle east) there is still a huge gap in the market when it comes to understanding the digital space and your web presence. Taking the word of your web designer that he is doing your SEO could leave you lacking in a number of areas. Here are some questions to ask them to make sure they are doing what you need from an SEO perspective. Ask them;
What keywords are you optimising for?
Can l see the keyword research report you undertook based on the keywords I provided to you? Detailing traffic levels, competition levels and commercial viability
Oh wait you didn’t ask me for any!!
Are you doing my on page and off page SEO?
Once you have the answers to these questions, give me a call or drop me a line – strategy@maximumnetgain.com – and we can have a free 30 minute chat about what might be the best way forward for you.
As I said at the beginning, I am sure there are many web designers who do also have a sound knowledge of SEO, however, what I have seen a number of times with my customers particularly is that they are having the wool pulled over their eyes, due to a lack of education and understanding of the services actually being provided to them. The web designer doesn’t want to lose you and sees any other party coming in as a threat, rather than a collaborative partner to help out. I can hand on heart tell you that I do not want to take the web design business from you. You can keep that thank you very much and deal with all the issues it entails. I would rather just add value to your designs with a quick in and out, sort out the on page SEO and get your off page SEO activity underway too. Then I’m done – the web design element is all yours and Thank You for taking it off my plate. My focus is not where yours is, and in fact I am always looking for good web developers to provide web work to, that’s how much I DON’T want the web design side of the project. What I do want though is a trusted partner who I can push web work to, knowing that they a) are competent at the web stuff and b) understand how the SEO side of things fits in. That way, we can work brilliantly together all for the mutual benefit of the customer! What a strange thought eh?
