Comments on: Q and A: Should an SEO Company Optimize Competing Clients?

By: James

James — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:51:01 +0000

Great articles & Nice site

By: SEO

SEO — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:26:52 +0000

I think you are doing a good job.I have learned so much here on your site,Thanks for sharing your wisdom.Keep blogging!

By: Kalena Jordan

Kalena Jordan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:49:58 +0000

@ Steve – see Andy’s comment above. It can work in some situations, as long as there is transparency. Different regional focus is another way it could work.

By: steve Morris

steve Morris — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:40:22 +0000

How can it be logical to take on two competitors in the same industry. Your keyword research would lead to the same keyword choices.There would have to be a looser in the process. How can you ethically compete against yourself for a client, unless you are targeting different local areas.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:24:14 +0000

Thanks Jason – yes – absolutely – ethics are important. If the SEO can’t ethically handle two competing clients then they should not be taking them on. There doesn’t necessarily have to be a winner and a loser in this situation though. As an example – for a number of years we had two clients within the same industry – they quite happily shared the first 4 spots in search results for most relevant keyword phrases – sometimes one was #1 and sometimes the other. Each client was aware of the work we were doing for the other – and both were very happy with the results.

By: Kalena Jordan

Kalena Jordan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:47:53 +0000

@ Jayson – agreed. It’s a tricky issue and that’s why I think transparency between SEO and client is important. If you’re not sure whether taking on a new client will make an existing client nervous, or vice versa, I say ask them.

By: Jayson Bryant

Jayson Bryant — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:43:28 +0000

I feel that ethics has to play some part in the decision of an SEO company servicing competing clients. Surely the only loser will be the SEO company through word of mouth from the failing company.