September 21, 2023

Working with new shoppers for the primary time may be overwhelming. Getting all of the important info to start out engaged on rising their enterprise by website positioning is one factor. Doing it in a means that reveals you’re a seasoned skilled is one other.

After working with a variety of website positioning businesses and as a freelancer, I’ve discovered that asking the correct questions initially of a (potential) cooperation is vital to getting began with a profitable marketing campaign rapidly and simply.

We’re going to take a look at 23 inquiries to each qualify and get began working with new website positioning shoppers. 

Though some questions could differ relying on the kinds of shoppers you’re employed with, I’ve put collectively an intensive client questionnaire template you may copy and use instantly to avoid wasting you time and have all the pieces you want prepared.

Let’s take a look.

Steal our website positioning questionnaire template 

You can begin by making a copy of our shopper questionnaire template.

I’m going to stroll you thru every part (and why it’s important), together with:

  • Entry to present platforms and paperwork.
  • Questions on their enterprise.
  • Questions on their web site.
  • Questions on their objectives.
  • Questions on their earlier advertising and marketing efforts.
  • Questions on hyperlink constructing.

Earlier than we have a look at these, there are just a few fast issues to say. 

First, you may change the template’s colours and really feel and add your brand to suit your model.

Secondly, relying in your website positioning shoppers and your space of focus, you might want to regulate among the questions (or add in a few of your personal). 

Or for those who’re working with an company that works with a number of kinds of shoppers, you might need to create a selected template for every. For instance, one for e-commerce shoppers, one for native website positioning shoppers, and so on.

With that mentioned, let’s leap straight in. 

Part 1. Gaining access to what you want

Entry to your shopper’s present information is crucial to create a profitable website positioning technique. You want entry to their platforms to make a full web site evaluation, have a look at historic efficiency, and arrange website positioning experiences. 

As soon as each events have determined to work collectively, it is best to get entry to their platforms, together with:

  • Google Analytics 
  • Google Search Console
  • Google Adverts
Getting access to platform questions

In case your shopper just isn’t a brand new enterprise and has labored with different businesses or freelancers earlier than you, additionally it is useful to get entry to any documentation they could have. 

These can embrace key phrase analysis and experiences, which can assist forestall you from duplicating any work they’ve already accomplished. 

Example of questions to ask about existing documents

Part 2. Questions on your shopper’s enterprise

Subsequent up, you’ll study all the pieces about your shopper’s enterprise. 

When placing collectively an website positioning technique, it’s vital to contemplate what’s greatest in your shopper’s web site and its positioning on the SERPs. But in addition that each one deliverables and KPIs align with the enterprise’s total objectives. 

Realizing whether or not your shopper’s enterprise is seasonal can assist you anticipate pure highs and lows in visitors and plan campaigns successfully.

Example of questions to ask about business

Part 3. Questions on their web site

On this part, you have to guarantee there are not any nasty surprises. A further area you recognize nothing about? Planning a migration in three months? 

Now’s the time to search out out!

Questions about client's website

Part 4. Questions on your shopper’s objectives

Understanding your shopper’s objectives (each within the brief and long run) can drive your total website positioning technique and aid you perceive and handle your shopper’s expectations.

Are they a brand-new enterprise trying to rank within the high place for a key phrase dominated by business leaders? Are they anticipating their visitors to go from zero to 1 million in six months? 

In that case, this might let you recognize you have to run away rapidly assist them perceive what objectives can be practical, given their present enterprise stage, price range, and time body.

Questions about goals

Part 5. Questions on their earlier advertising and marketing efforts

Who has your shopper labored with up to now? Have they accomplished something aside from website positioning, comparable to digital PR? Plus, what labored and what didn’t in the event that they beforehand had commonplace working procedures (SOPs) in place?

Realizing this info can information you thru implementing processes that give you the results you want and your shopper. By understanding what they’ve accomplished earlier than, you may keep away from any points they could have had beforehand that led them to dissolve their former partnerships.

Questions about previous marketing efforts

Part 6. Questions on hyperlink constructing

Everyone knows hyperlink constructing is a major a part of website positioning and is probably going one thing you have to contemplate in each shopper’s website positioning technique. 

Nonetheless, it’s important to know what efforts they’ve made beforehand and in the event that they presently have some other workforce members or freelancers solely engaged on buying hyperlinks. This can forestall you from duplicating any former or present hyperlink constructing efforts. 

It is usually essential to know in case your shopper has used any doubtlessly dangerous hyperlink acquisition strategies up to now that would negatively impression your website positioning efforts transferring ahead. 

Performing a backlink audit with each new shopper you tackle is all the time a good suggestion for those who’re employed as a normal website positioning marketing consultant. This gained’t probably apply to you for those who’re employed for a selected job, comparable to creating content material plans or solely engaged on technical website positioning.

It all the time makes issues simpler to know the way a lot cleanup you have to do and the way a lot potential threat there’s if the shopper tells you about being concerned in hyperlink schemes, for instance. 

Questions about link building

Last ideas

So there you may have it. In all, 23 website positioning inquiries to ask shoppers which are damaged down into six sections in a template you need to use repeatedly. Remember to make a copy and customise it to your model and companies in order that it’s prepared in your subsequent shopper.

Ensuring you utilize each alternative to set your self up for achievement is an important a part of constructing long-lasting relationships with shoppers. The primary half is having instruments out there to onboard new shoppers rapidly and simply.

After all, that is only a information on what to stroll by with a shopper on their first or second name. You may customise the template based mostly in your focus and wants. 

Assume we’ve missed one thing or have any questions? Ping me on Twitter.