How Do I Get More SEO Clients?

Getting clients as a SEO freelancer is a no brainer in a way.

Yet many people struggle at the beginning it seems.

This post is for you when you start out or struggle as a freelance SEO.

How do I get more SEO clients?

One day I answered a question on Quora:

“How do I get more SEO clients?” The person who asked added:

“I have a good SEO knowledge and experience, but I do not have a portfolio.”

Then they further specified the question as follows:

“Which would be the best methods for getting my first clients?”

My reply did not get the attention it deserved initially.

Thus I published an expanded version on seo2.blog! Here I elaborate a bit on finding clients for a SEO business.

What was the way it has worked for me when I started out?

Rank first and then the clients will come.

To a large extent it is still the way it can work now I think. How?

Try to rank for local queries like “SEO your city” for example: [seo london].
Try to rank non-profit projects for free for their respective keywords and causes and show them off
Try to rank for SEO skills not many offer yet like [ai optimization]
Try to rank for questions normal people ask who don’t know yet what SEO is, example [how can I succeed on Google]

Also go where the clients aka real business people already are on

When you use those forums don’t self-promote but genuinely contribute.

Be helpful! Sometimes people will DM you then!

It happens quite often on Reddit for example.

Let others who already have a name recommend you.

You can also approach SEO companies whether they outsource.

Please do not write generic spammy emails though.

Don’t forget to socialize with your industry peers be it online or when possible in real life.

Some of my best clients were a direct effect of social networking on various social site and also blogging here.

Without a blog most people won’t even notice you!

It’s better to start socializing once you have some flagship content to offer on your blog.

These are the obvious engagement and reciprocity rules.

Once you help others, others are also more likely to help you.

How? In many cases they will also spread the word about you!

Ideally you include their names and quotes as well.

Last but not least make it really really easy to contact you.

Your phone number has to be big and on top (the top right corner seems to be the best place for it).
Your mail address needs to be visible as well, ideally it’s not just “info@” but something like “sales@”
Add a very simple contact form (without a captcha!) because many people prefer those.

You see that I don’t make it as easy on the seo2.blog anymore.

Why? I have had more than enough clients throughout the years.

Yet I may have to listen to my own advice though sooner or later.

* Creative Commons image by John Martinez Pavliga.