Can I get SEO-richness with that please?
Just got an RFP that included the generic needs, wants, wishlists, checklists, requirements, have-tos, and all that jazz. The thing that stuck out to me was section for Visibility.
The ———— will be easily found on Google searches. Utilize search engine optimization tools.
I have been going about this web design process all wrong I just realized. This is so simple, why didn’t I think of it before: just include SEO-richness in my list of requirements, duh.
Much like I love to add mushrooms on to almost anything I eat, clients like to add their needs and wants for projects as a checklist of sorts. And, for most of the work, this is not a problem, and actually makes a lot of sense.
But for something as finicky as SEO, this is definitely not a good thing. One, SEO cannot and should not be promised on any project. At least not if you truly want the best for the client. Perhaps some designers are comfortable using black hat tactics to show quick results and dump the project on the client–thus not worrying about future results and responsibility.
However, I cannot do that. It’s just poor practice, it’s sleazy really. I feel it’s my obligation as a designer to give a client the best training I can, the best structure for their site, and the best general rules to abide by for the future. I always say right up front that I cannot guarantee anything, and if anyone is doing so, that they should be treated with caution.
This is basically another issue where the client just doesn’t know any better, or they’ve had dealings with black-hatters and they assume it’s just literally a check, and I can do it for them. However, unless this is addressed right away this could end being on me.
With proper education, I’ve always found that clients see the light (so to speak), and actually are very interested in being actively involved in this process. After all, it is their business, and theoretically they know it much better than I do.
I’m not sure there’s anything that can really be done to change these perceptions as a whole (if there is, I’d love to hear it!), but there is a great opportunity to approach new clients and show that we, as designers, care about their business goals, and that we care about helping them get there, but also that there is no one be-all, end-all solution to their needs. We are giving them tools to enable their businesses to attain their business goals, at least, that’s how I view it.
