Just started. I know how to SEO but I don't know how to get clients. Help?

[MapleleafGuy]

I know how to do local SEO. I've done it for my SEO site (just started so 2 out of 4 targeted keywords ranking page 1 top 4 and my landscaping site which is 3 pack for most keywords.

Problem is despite doing 100 cold calls locally, letting them know i was actually local and not some indian scammer, and encouraging them to look me up to confirm what i'm saying regarding my abilities to rank myself, i got nothing.

I've now also ranked my SEO site #4 on SERPs for 1.5-2 weeks and have gotten no calls or emails. I also have a portfolio page showcasing screenshots of my landscaping and SEO rankings. I have a performance based fee system where it's tiered based on what i can achieve. i'm still working out the logistics of that but in any case, no clients at all.

What am I doing wrong? City of half a million.

 

[maymaynot]

Are there any networking events for local business owners that you could attend? Perhaps if you had a chance to meet potential clients in person would work. Honestly, I don't see you're doing anything wrong.

 

[fisicx]

How many reviews have you got? People often use reviews as an indicator of trust.

How did you research your keywords? Maybe your targets are different to the ones people use when looking for help with their garden. Do lots of people want landscaping?

Why are you cold calling? How do you know the person you are calling is even interested in landscaping?

Why does a landscaper need screenshots of their ranking?

 

[MapleleafGuy]

Are there any networking events for local business owners that you could attend? Perhaps if you had a chance to meet potential clients in person would work. Honestly, I don't see you're doing anything wrong.

I have a lot of social awkwardness. I'm pretty sure i'm on the spectrum. It's why i went all in on SEO for my landscaping business.

But yes there are networking events. I dont think I'd be helping myself out more than embarrassing myself.

 

[fisicx]

I'm confused now. Is this thread about promoting your SEO business or landscaping business?

Either way cold calling is not the answer. It's all about marketing - if you understand marketing you will be seen by and attract the right people. SEO is just one very small tool in the big marketing toolbox.

 

[MapleleafGuy]

I'm confused now. Is this thread about promoting your SEO business or landscaping business?

Either way cold calling is not the answer. It's all about marketing - if you understand marketing you will be seen by and attract the right people. SEO is just one very small tool in the big marketing toolbox.

SEO. My landscaping is fine. i just brought that up to show ive ranked two sites now.

anyway you're not really telling me anything.

 

[fisicx]

anyway you're not really telling me anything.

I'm telling you to learn marketing. Done right good marketing will generate new leads. SEO is a very small subset of marketing.

 

[MapleleafGuy]

I'm telling you to learn marketing. Done right good marketing will generate new leads. SEO is a very small subset of marketing.

I've read a few marketing books but it's not my personality. it feels like justifying manipulative behavior. that's just me. i tried it for a month or two in my landscaping biz and i felt dirty. again, my personality. not saying it's wrong.

i think my problem right now after thinking on this and observing my clients in landscaping is i can build trust with them face to face because they call me or email me with intent. im pretty good once i get that foot in the door.

but with SEO i dont get a foot in the door. so i just sit and nothing happens.

 

[fisicx]

but with SEO i dont get a foot in the door. so i just sit and nothing happens.

Stop selling SEO. Start selling the benefits of SEO. If you are good at marketing you will soon start getting leads.

 

[ProspectSignal]

Late to this, but for anyone landing here with the same problem: the thing that changed it for us was only contacting businesses that already have a visible problem you can point at, instead of calling down a list.

1. Pick one trade in one metro (say, roofers in one county). Search "[trade] [city]" in Maps and note the 3-pack.
2. Go to positions 4-20. You're looking for something concrete: no website linked on the profile, a site that isn't mobile friendly, under 10 reviews when the pack averages 80+, wrong or missing hours, a category that doesn't match what they actually do.
3. Write 3 sentences to the owner about that one thing. "Your profile has no website linked, and the three roofers above you all have one. That's usually the first thing I'd fix. Happy to show you what I mean in 10 minutes." No pitch deck, no rankings screenshots.
4. Do 20 of those a week and track replies by problem type. You'll learn fast which problem owners care about (in our experience "no website" and "fewer reviews than the guy above you" get far more replies than anything about rankings).

It also suits people who hate selling: you're not persuading anyone, you're pointing out something they can check themselves in 30 seconds.