Comments on: Should SEO Contracts Be Exclusive? http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194 SEO, Local Search Optimization and Website Design for small web business owners Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:23:26 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: admin http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-56352 admin Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:14:40 +0000 http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194#comment-56352 Will, You know, I was thinking about your company while I was writing the above. I think from your comment, you are saying that clients in the specific vertical in which you specialize must be willing to pay a sturdy retainer for being taken on, but you are not saying that you have a limit on how many clients you are willing to take on in that niche. In other words, you aren't signing totally exclusive contracts, but are willing to work with multiple competitors, so long as they are adequately funded? Or did I not get that right? I know you have direct experience with this, Will. Miriam Will,
You know, I was thinking about your company while I was writing the above. I think from your comment, you are saying that clients in the specific vertical in which you specialize must be willing to pay a sturdy retainer for being taken on, but you are not saying that you have a limit on how many clients you are willing to take on in that niche. In other words, you aren’t signing totally exclusive contracts, but are willing to work with multiple competitors, so long as they are adequately funded?

Or did I not get that right? I know you have direct experience with this, Will.

Miriam

]]> By: Will Scott http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-56329 Will Scott Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:07:07 +0000 http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194#comment-56329 Hey Miriam, I thought I'd bring this comment over here. I can see how your example is different than what we typically hit -- well funded direct competitors in local markets. In other words, our clients have relative parity of opportunity. What you describe are different budgets, different goals and abilities. Admittedly, our exclusivity requires a certain spend and is in a vertical with whom we have demonstrated success. And, the promise of exclusivity is a good sales tool as well. Will Hey Miriam,

I thought I’d bring this comment over here.

I can see how your example is different than what we typically hit — well funded direct competitors in local markets. In other words, our clients have relative parity of opportunity. What you describe are different budgets, different goals and abilities.

Admittedly, our exclusivity requires a certain spend and is in a vertical with whom we have demonstrated success. And, the promise of exclusivity is a good sales tool as well.

Will

]]> By: admin http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-56282 admin Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:20:43 +0000 http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194#comment-56282 Dear Tom, It's nice to have you here. I'd not heard of Cobalt before. Is this a company your own marketing firm outsources to, or have you just heard good things about them? It's an interesting concept, becoming particularly known in a specific vertical. A benefit of this would be that the specialist or firm would gain very in-depth knowledge of an industry through much work. But, a drawback, as we're discussing above, would be that the firm's clients would be be bidding against each other for advertising. How does Cobalt approach the issues of competition amongst its own clients if it only works with one industry? I'd be interested in hearing more about that. Thank you for taking the time to comment! Miriam Dear Tom,
It’s nice to have you here. I’d not heard of Cobalt before. Is this a company your own marketing firm outsources to, or have you just heard good things about them?

It’s an interesting concept, becoming particularly known in a specific vertical. A benefit of this would be that the specialist or firm would gain very in-depth knowledge of an industry through much work. But, a drawback, as we’re discussing above, would be that the firm’s clients would be be bidding against each other for advertising.

How does Cobalt approach the issues of competition amongst its own clients if it only works with one industry? I’d be interested in hearing more about that.

Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Miriam

]]> By: Thomas M. Schmitz http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-56247 Thomas M. Schmitz Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:58:29 +0000 http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194#comment-56247 In search marketing and in many other industries there are accomplished and effective firms that focus or specialize in one industry or vertical. Since you mentioned car dealerships I'll use the Cobalt (http://www.cobalt.com/) as an example. This is an Internet marketing provider that specializes in the automotive industry, both for manufacturers and dealerships. In recent years they have they built a vibrant search marketing department and are considered to be the industry's 'go to' company. In search marketing and in many other industries there are accomplished and effective firms that focus or specialize in one industry or vertical. Since you mentioned car dealerships I’ll use the Cobalt (http://www.cobalt.com/) as an example. This is an Internet marketing provider that specializes in the automotive industry, both for manufacturers and dealerships. In recent years they have they built a vibrant search marketing department and are considered to be the industry’s ‘go to’ company.

]]> By: admin http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-56064 admin Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:42:30 +0000 http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194#comment-56064 Hi Tim, It's a traveling blog conversation. I'm a strong believer in business owners finding the right match for their project. I agree with you on this! Thank you for stopping by. Miriam Hi Tim,
It’s a traveling blog conversation.

I’m a strong believer in business owners finding the right match for their project. I agree with you on this!

Thank you for stopping by.
Miriam

]]> By: Local Hound http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-56061 Local Hound Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:31:17 +0000 http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=194#comment-56061 Miriam, this was a great response. I think these 2 posts should be required reading for small businesses shopping for a Search Marketer. My conclusion: Find one that serves your individual needs, like you are so obviously doing. Miriam, this was a great response. I think these 2 posts should be required reading for small businesses shopping for a Search Marketer.

My conclusion: Find one that serves your individual needs, like you are so obviously doing.

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