EXPANDING INTO SEO SERVICES WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY
I have a situation.
I am the owner of a small web design agency. A potential client has asked us to provide SEO services, but we don’t currently offer this. My team is already stretched thin, and I’m unsure if we can learn and deliver SEO without negatively impacting our core service. I’m concerned about stretching too thin and risking quality.
What should I do? Please advise using 7SFS.
Here’s how you can approach this situation using the 7 Steps Fulfilment System (7SFS):
1. CELEBRATE & BE GRATEFUL
Celebrate the fact that a client has shown trust in your agency by asking for additional services. This shows that your core service (web design) is highly valued, and there’s an opportunity to increase revenue by expanding your offerings
Be grateful for the opportunity to consider expanding into SEO services, as this could open the door to new clients and long-term growth.
2. ALIGN YOUR FULFILMENT VISION
Align the opportunity with your long-term vision for the business. Does adding SEO services fit with your broader strategy of becoming a one-stop digital solution, or would it distract from your focus on web design?
Define the goals for offering SEO services. For example, do you want to offer it to a limited number of clients initially? Do you see this as a long-term service addition, or are you exploring short-term growth opportunities?
3. KNOW YOUR WIN
Success means integrating SEO services without compromising the quality of your core service. You want to ensure your team isn’t overwhelmed and that you can deliver both web design and SEO with excellence.
Identify metrics like client satisfaction, project turnaround time, and SEO service quality to measure success. Use these to assess whether the SEO offering is sustainable.
4. KNOW YOUR CLIENT'S WIN
The client’s win is getting SEO services that improve their website’s visibility and search engine rankings. They trust your agency to deliver these services without compromising the quality of the web design work you already provide.
Be transparent with the client about your current capacity and level of expertise in SEO. Consider offering a phased approach where you start with a basic SEO package while gradually building your in-house capabilities.
5. SIGN WIN-WIN AGREEMENT OR NO DEAL
Assess your current team’s workload and whether you can take on SEO without stretching them too thin. You may need to outsource SEO to a freelancer or partner with an SEO agency initially.
If you move forward, discuss realistic timelines and deliverables that align with your current capabilities. This ensures that both parties benefit from the agreement without overwhelming your team.
6. DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE
Whether you deliver SEO in-house or outsource, maintain the same level of quality that clients expect from your web design services. Regularly review client feedback and results to ensure both services are being delivered effectively.
Optimise your processes to handle SEO services without adding too much overhead. This could involve creating templates, automating parts of the SEO process, or training a dedicated SEO specialist.
7. ACHIEVE WITH JOY
Celebrate the successful integration of SEO services with your team. Acknowledge their hard work in adapting to the new service offering and maintaining high standards across the board.
After a few months, reflect on how well the SEO service is working for your agency. Analyse what’s working and what needs improvement. Use this feedback to either expand SEO services further or decide if you want to remain focused on web design.
By following these steps, you can evaluate and implement the new SEO service while ensuring that your core offering remains strong and your team doesn’t become overwhelmed. This method allows you to test the waters and adjust accordingly as your business grows.