I had a discussion with my SEO team today on taking responsibility for our clients’ successes, or sometimes, their unfortunate lack thereof. Let’s be honest, not every client has a stellar SEO experience, just like not every sandwich you nosh on or clothing you try on is going to fit. But I do feel an SEO specialist needs to be accountable for their client’s results after at least 3 months of SEO service. Some may disagree with me and say there’s tons of variables – what if the client has a poor site design, is in an extremely competitive industry, or is uncooperative with the SEO specialist?

Sure, the responsibility also lies with the client. The client needs to incorporate the SEO suggestions and SEO work into their site in a timely fashion. The SEO specialist also needs to  guide the client with site suggestions, branding ideas, and strategies on how to outshine their competition.

You can outline an SEO specialist’s work in the line items of a contract, and after a few months you can say, “Well, I did what I was supposed to. It’s not my fault their SEO didn’t work out.” But in the end, when it comes to whether your SEO business and industry cred lives on, it’s about how much you effort you put into making that individual campaign as successful as possible in the time you have allotted for it. If you can say you gave it your 200%, then I’m convinced you did your job well and showed responsibility for that account, whether the client stays on or leaves. However, if you simply did “what you’re supposed to”, then my friend, it’s time to choose another industry.

I’d like to hear your thoughts – should an SEO strategy be strictly bound to contract line items, or is it necessary to go above and beyond? Is there a middle ground? I may sound like I’m on a lofty soapbox here, but believe me, I’m working on actual client SEO campaigns every day, and I know it’s not an easy question to answer. I sometimes wonder what a 9-5 leave-and-forget-about-work job would be like, but I love this industry and my work way too much. Plus, this SEO Girl loves a challenge