First of all, congratulations! You’ve taken the first step towards a very promising venture and I’m more than happy to know that you’re considering setting up your own SEO Agency. That makes us rivals! Friendly rivalry, that is.
From someone who started from scratch and at a very young age, I feel that the enthusiasm newcomers show towards this ground-breaking venture is endearing. It reminds me of my own journey and it brings me to reminisce about my own struggles as a start-up. Now that I think back, all I started out more than a decade ago! A decade worth of hard work has brought me where I am today. My longevity in this line of business should tell you one thing and one thing only:
It Works
But before it does, you have to be prepared to go through a lot of challenges. Then again, isn’t it the same for any other line of business? We hear success stories all the time but it shouldn’t be other people’s success we should be focusing on. We should focus on their struggles; we should learn from their journeys. “For we do not learn the most important things from success but from the struggles” or in other words, we grow from things that challenge us. So you should really treasure this time. This is when you are going to grow the most.
Before you plunge headfirst into the whole SEO gig, however, I want you to know what to expect. This is to better prepare you for the future. After all, I don’t want you to be getting into anything and just quit soon after! It’s important that if you’re going to do this, you’re going to do it right. No do-overs; no backing-outs. If you’re going to do this, might as well make it worth your time and money – capeesh? So, here goes:
Starting Small Is Strongly Advised
You read that right. I know that some of you would like to make a statement right off the bat but you should know that it is always best to just work with what you can – no collaterals, no business loans, no nothing. If you really need money to start with, borrow something you know you can pay back even if the venture doesn’t turn out too great. Do not borrow money that is way beyond your capacity to pay. You can cut down on a lot of expenses when you do business online. As a start-up, you may want to put a rain check on your dream office. It would be wise to start with as few people as you can as well. You can’t afford to pay all that yet; just focus on how you can profit at the moment. When your business starts to take off, that’s when you begin investing in equipment, in manpower. For now, just try to cut back as much as possible. There’s a reason why you opted for an online business and that is so that you can start with as little money as possible. I also advise offering both local and national SEO at the beginning, and not limiting your company to just one service.
There’s Going To Be A Lot Of Competition
Yes, SEO is a booming industry and you’re going to run into a lot of tough competition. If you key in “SEO agencies” in a Google search, you will get millions of results. This is how popular and widespread Search Engine Optimization is all over the globe. Sure, you may considerably lower the competition when you specifically target local markets but remember that SEO is an online service. This means that a marketing agency doesn’t have to be in Tokyo to service a Tokyo company. The agency can be halfway across the globe and still cater to faraway clients. But tough as it may, the industry is thriving and there are equal opportunities to sell for all agencies. This is why many individuals still seek a career in dental SEO (or any other niche). There’s going to be a lot of competition but I hope that doesn’t dishearten you from joining the race. Learn to target your own markets. A little bit of competition should make you work harder not discourage you from doing anything at all.
Generating Leads Is Not As Easy As You Think
Next, getting clients will also be a real challenge – especially when you’re a new company and you still lack the history to prove your competence. I have been at this stage and I can tell you that it can be very dissuading. It can make you rethink your decision to try out SEO. You may even feel like quitting at some point. But, hang in there and know that no effort goes unrewarded. Sure, generating leads and rounding up clients can be a very frustrating task but when you manage to garner the trust of a few people, things begin to play out a lot more smoothly. You just have to earn your company that break – and you will never earn it by quitting.
You Will Feel Rejection
Yes, you will be rejected – many, many times. And it will sting, just like how breaking up with a lover stings. Cold calls, flagged emails, and even rants just you name it. You will experience all manners of rejection and it’s not going to feel good. Still, don’t lose hope and always think positively. Try to get to the root of the problem and find out what you’re doing wrong. Maybe you’re calling at peak hours when everyone’s just a little edgy at work. Or, maybe your packages and promotions aren’t appealing enough. You might also want to consider hiring professional marketers to generate leads for you in the meantime. There are so many things you can do get over the rejections and start making people take notice of your services. Don’t take it too personally.
It Will Pay Off In The Long Run
Lastly, know that all these things and trials will pay off in the future. It has for me and it will for you. You just have to tough it out until it happens. It may get tiring and a bit frustrating so whenever you come to reach that point, just rest – but never quit. Rest for a day and grind tomorrow again. Persistence is the key to success. Make mistakes, learn from them, and grow.