SEO/SEM Web Marketing

I had a conversation with a potential client today who wanted me to do some work on a couple of her websites. I asked her to give me her e-mail address so I could visit her site and give her some feedback.

She said: “I don’t do computers, that is why I am calling you !”

I replied: “Well, do you spend any time on the Internet ?”

“I told you, I don’t do computers”

“You mean by ‘computers’ the Internet”

“Yes, that is what I mean. Computers !”

“Madam, computers are a thing that is a box with a monitor and a keyboard, computers are not the Internet”

The phone conversation went downhill from there. She felt insulted that I would try and suggest that she delve into the Internet herself to get a feel for her market, what people were doing, what they liked, what they were looking for.

Her response ?

“Please don’t give me business advice, I have two Harvard MBA’s to do that for me.”

I said: “Well, whether or not they went to Harvard is really beside the point. This is what I do, I delve into the online market space to get a handle on your individual ‘market sphere’. The design and functionality of your website hinges on what it is you are trying to do on the web.”

“I am not doing anything on the web !”

“Then why do you have a website ?”

“My website is for credibility. I have no desire to interact with anyone through the web. I advertise in newspapers and people call me…”

I won’t go any further with the transcript of the dialogue after that, Needless to say, I declined the job. I am getting a bit exhausted with the continual education rap I have had to go through and I am done with explaining why effective search engine marketing is not only important, but essential in todays world.

I have made a decision to only work with clients who ‘get it’, or at least willing to take the plunge and learn.

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