An Essential Checklist for Client Retention

Hello friends! Welcome once again. Today we will talk about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies, which will not only improve the ranking of your website but also increase your client retention. If you own an SEO agency or are a freelancer, this article is very important for you.

Recently, I sat down with the owner of an SEO agency, and he told me that the biggest problem he faces is not retaining clients. He said that they are doing good work, but still, something goes wrong and clients are not able to retain them. Today I am going to give you a checklist, which has been prepared based on different parameters. If you follow these checklists, your relationships with your clients will be stronger and they will stick with you instead of leaving you.

1. Set client expectations

Many times a lot of things go wrong at the time of onboarding. You must understand your client's goal properly. If you understand their current performance and what they have done in the past, it will help point you in the right direction.

1.1 Total Addressable Market

You should understand whether there is any scope for SEO in your service or not. For example, if a keyword is “digital marketing agency” and its search volume is only 100, how can you drive 10 leads to clients every month? It's important to know what your total addressable market is and whether there is an opportunity for SEO there.

1.2 Agreeing on Expected Results

You should ensure that you have agreed with the client on the expected outcomes. How much can your website traffic increase after six months? It is important to get everything in writing so that there is no confusion between both parties.

2. Establish clear communication

Communication is very important for the success of any SEO campaign. You have to set in advance how many meetings you will have and what the channels of communication will be.

2.1 Reporting Process

You should decide how reporting will be done. It should be clear which matrices will be provided to you and how often reports will be sent.

2.2 Project Progress

You need to tell the client what you have achieved. Reports should show the client how your work has yielded results. Like last month you had 1000 clicks and this month you have 1100 clicks.

3. Performance Reporting

Your reporting is extremely important to clients. You have to provide simple and clear reports. There is no point in giving very complex reports.

3.1 Achievements and areas for improvement

You need to include accomplishments and areas for improvement in your report. If you say you have created 200 backlinks, you also need to explain what benefits you got from it.

3.2 Importance of data

You have to explain the importance of the data. Without data, your work won't matter to clients. Therefore, you need to mention every small improvement.

4. Be aware of trends

You should always be aware of new trends. If there's something new going on, you need to tell the client how it can be beneficial to their website.

4.1 Adoption of new technologies

Explain to the client how new technologies can be adopted. Like, "Here's a new blog that brings in a lot of traffic. We can create content like this too."

4.2 Company Wide Initiative

Communicate with the client what their company's goals are. You talk to one founder as another founder, this will help you understand what their needs are and how you can meet them.

5. Maintain professional relationships

It is very important to remain professional with clients. You need to respond promptly to emails, questions, and queries.

5.1 Client Feedback

It is very important to listen to client feedback. Many times clients leave after saying important things for their business. You need to understand their points and act on them.

5.2 Time Management

Explaining to the client that time is required to see results. If you have made a strategy, it is important to give time for its maturity.

6. Solve potential problems

If for some reason your SEO has decreased, you need to identify it.

6.1 Negative Impact

Let the client know that there are ups and downs in SEO and this is normal. If for some reason your ranking has decreased, you should investigate it and give the correct information to the client.

6.2 Solution Strategy

If a problem has arisen, you will have to make a strategy on how it will be fixed. You have to convince the client that you can solve their problems.

7. Focus on results

Your main objective is to focus on results. You have to understand what the impact of your strategies is.

7.1 Measuring ROI

You have to assess your actions whether they are going in the right direction or not.

7.2 Continuous Improvement

After all the reporting and analysis is done, you need to be prepared for continuous improvement. If a process isn't working, you must be willing to change it.

Checklist for Client Retention

Here is a checklist prepared for you that will help you check various parameters of client retention:

Final thoughts

So friends, this was an SEO checklist that will prove to be very useful for your agency or people working in freelancing. If you follow these points, your clients will stick with you and help you build a healthy and strong relationship with them.

Conclusion

Client retention can be a challenging task, but through proper strategies and communication, you can make it successful. Setting the right expectations, making the reporting process clear, and maintaining constant communication are key pillars of your success.

Through this article, we hope you will be prepared to establish a stronger relationship with your clients. If you have any questions or suggestions, please comment below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does it take to see the impact of SEO?
   Initial results are usually visible in 3-6 months, but it may take 6-12 months for tangible results.
2. Can SEO be successful in every industry?
   No, the success of SEO depends on the online search volume and competition in that industry.
3. What to do if ranking declines?
   Check for algorithm updates and take corrective action immediately if rankings drop.
4. How often should client reporting be done?
   Typically doing detailed reporting once a month is ideal. However, it can be changed as per the requirement of the client.
5. Should small businesses invest in SEO?
   Yes, SEO is an effective way for small businesses to rank in local searches and attract new customers.