About My Client: Seeking Advice
Hey everyone! I’m currently working in SEO for businesses, but I’ve hit a bit of a roadblock and could really use your insights. Apologies for my English as it’s not my first language, and I’m still gaining experience in the SEO world, especially compared to many of you here.
So, here’s the situation: our client reached out for SEO services but had a tight budget. I initially focused on technical optimization and on-page SEO, working with the keywords they provided. Despite my suggestions for low-competition keywords, they insisted on sticking with highly competitive ones.
When it came time to write blogs, their budget was almost non-existent, forcing me to turn to AI for content generation. I use tools like GPT to research topics and create drafts, which I then refine by adding a personal touch, images, keywords, and meta descriptions. While I’m not thrilled about this approach, we can’t afford to spend a lot of time on quality articles for such low pay.
Interestingly, despite my reservations about the AI-generated content, we’ve seen remarkable results: a staggering 1,500% increase in users, along with other impressive metrics. Everyone’s pleased, but I did caution that those numbers might drop in the future due to the nature of the content.
Now, I’m aiming to build backlinks and leverage our client’s network of 500 customers. They agreed to provide a list and said they would reach out to their clients themselves to arrange guest posts, but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet. Given that my time is already maxed out on blog writing and SEO monitoring, I can’t chase down backlinks unless they are willing to increase their budget—which they aren’t.
I’m concerned because the current articles aren’t generating backlinks, and the AI content isn’t really helping us in the long run. I’ve tried communicating that we might be undermining our efforts with this approach, but I feel like I’m not being heard.
I’m also hesitant to start tracking and improving CTRs on these AI-generated articles since I’m unsure of their long-term effectiveness. With all the stats looking good, my boss is asking for additional ways to improve our results, but I feel stuck. I’ve emphasized the need for backlinks and a budget increase to dig deeper into this area.
Am I missing something in my approach? If you have any advice on how I can navigate this situation more effectively, I would be super grateful!
Thanks for your support!
One response to “About my client..”
It’s great that you’re reaching out for advice, and it sounds like you’re navigating a challenging situation. Here are a few suggestions on how to approach this:
Communicate Boundaries: It’s important to communicate clearly with your boss about the limitations of the current budget and resources. Explain that while the current efforts have yielded impressive results, continuing to use AI-generated content without a solid backlink strategy may not sustain long-term growth.
Educate the Client: Help your client understand the value of quality content and backlinks. Perhaps prepare a brief presentation or report that highlights how backlinks from relevant websites can significantly boost their rankings, and how investing in quality content would yield a better return in the long run.
Alternative Link Building Strategies: If your client is unwilling to invest in traditional link-building approaches, consider other creative solutions. Can you collaborate on social media campaigns or try guest posting on relevant blogs within their industry? Sometimes, even a simple outreach strategy can yield results without requiring extensive financial commitments.
Content Quality Mitigation: If you’re stuck with AI-generated content, consider focusing on improving the quality of these articles as much as possible within the allocated time. This might involve selecting specific topics that are more relevant to your client’s audience or adapting the AI-generated content to better align with the client’s brand voice.
Set Realistic Expectations: Be transparent with your team and your client regarding what results can realistically be expected with the current strategy. If they understand the limitations, it may encourage them to consider allocating more resources toward SEO.
Document Everything: Keep track of all changes you’ve implemented, results gained, and recommendations made. This documentation can help build a case for more investment in SEO strategies based on actual performance and data.
Explore Additional Tools: Look into tools that could help you identify potential content gaps or opportunities without requiring extensive manual work. This might streamline your process and allow you to provide more value without additional time investments.
Self-Education: Continue to learn and refine your SEO skills. Engaging with SEO communities, taking online courses, or reading up on the latest trends can help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide innovative solutions to your client’s needs.
Remember, it’s important to manage your expectations and recognize that sometimes clients may not see the need for additional investment until they experience a decline in results. Stay proactive and be open to adapting your strategies as you go. Good luck!