Is it getting harder to sell SEO services?

[AdamThompson]

Is it just me, or is it getting harder to sell SEO services?

• SEO costs more now and takes longer to achieve results
• There seem to be more good SEO agencies out there (gone are the days where the primary competition was offshore outsourcers and web design agencies)
• It seems that the number of agencies is growing faster than the number of companies buying services
• As online competition heats up, it takes more and more budget to really "win" in a market, but so few companies are willing to invest enough

Any others notice similar trends? What will the future look like?

[JCurrier]

I agree that, for all the reasons listed, selling SEO may be harder. But, for all the reasons listed, you have an opportunity to differentiate yourself. You have access and knowledge of the reasons why potential clients would say no. Address the objections head on and find ways to assure the client that you are different.

If you approach SEO as something that does not differ between providers, then you will only end up competing on price. There are lots of good agencies out there. How many are truly great? In what ways can you edge out these good companies by delivering great value?

[GuillermoOrtiz]

I agree with Bradley. Offering more than just SEO makes selling services much easier. The way SEO is going anyhow, you truly need to be multi-disciplined anyhow. There will always be a plethora of scammy seo companies because the average business owner doesn't know anything about SEO and it's too easy for them to make money.

[KevinBudzynski]

IMHO, there were so many "scammy seo" companies that many companies believe it's a vodoo type business nowadays and ruined it for many legitimate SEO companies (this is mostly true for small-mid size companies).

It seems like more and more companies look for a good web design/developement company (for either a new site or routine maintenance) and this leads into the SEO work (agree w/Brad).

[BrentAllison]

I also wouldn't discount the number of businesses that have previously been burned by so called SEO experts and were left with a bad taste for the industry.

[brad.s.knutson]

Companies that offer services like Moz Analytics, Majestic, Raven Tools, and others probably aren't helping the situation for individuals

I have found it much easier to find projects and clients when presenting myself as a web developer/designer with a strong knowledge of SEO and marketing, rather than just a developer or just an SEO.  For me, SEO is just another tool in my belt.

I think that it will become harder and harder to get strictly "SEO" work, as companies with access to the plethora of online tools (free and paid) will begin to bring a lot of that work in-house.