How often do you tell a potential client you don't want to work with them?

Ever had an enquiry blow up on you after your response?

I live around 14 miles away from the nearest city here in the UK. Based in a large town I dominate Google with the search phrase "SEO [town name]" and recently I've been working on my Google rankings for "SEO Consultant [city]"

On Monday I joined a [city] Facebook group as a friend forwarded me a post from a company asking for SEO company recommendations. As a result, the creator of the group sent me a FB message asking about SEO costs for her website.

This was Sunday, normally I don't reply out of office hours but I was lazing on the sofa with my iPad and thought "Well, she's in charge of the group, this would be a good networking opportunity if nothing else" so I replied asking what search terms she wanted to be Google page 1 for, she replied "Business Mentor [city] and Executive Coaching [city]" she seemed eager to learn more about my costs and services and had other questions too.

I took a look at her page and it was a free website (Weebly) with car crash multicoloured fonts and random capitalisation, altogether looked like an 8 year old tried to have a bash at writing content for the website.

Her home page had the main Headline "EMPOWERING you to Succeed in all that you Desire!"* cliche in pink font, complete with explamation mark (point for US). ^{I have fudged this phrase for anonymity}

I asked her to email me at [domain name] so I could reply in more detail. On my browser toolbar I have several shortcuts to help with the repeated questions I get asked about clients wanting to learn exactly what SEO is.

Anyhoo, she replied 'OK' and Monday rolls around, no email. I messaged her back on FB and informed her I was out of office on Tuesday on a client visit [neighbouring town 15 miles away] so I'd be out of office - if she wanted my soonest reply to email me otherwise there would be a delay in my response.

She did email me, a short message, I replied that the Headline should change from "EMPOWERING you to Succeed in all that you Desire!" to "Business Mentor and Executive Coaching [city]" for Google to read (Otherwise Google is ranking her for the empowering bunkum) also to consider migrating platform as opposed to a free website she had built herself.

Tuesday morning 5am usual wake up time (I blame the menopause) , I check my emails and there's a looong email from her slating my attitude.

• She was very annoyed I insisted on her emailing me as opposed to communicating via messanger
• It was wrong of me to use the word 'cliche' to describe her headline
• I will lose customers with my attitude of telling her pink font was maybe not the best choice for her business (Executive Coaching) and I should change the way I tell people that advising that exclamation marks were wrong. After all, it's a personal decision.
• She was proud of hr website she had built herself, I am telling her to change everything that she's worked so hard to achieve (achieve what exactly? Not ranking in Google and needing SEO advice and services?)

Once I had finished laughing and 2 cups of tea later I composed a reply effectively saying that if she was resistant to change for her business voice when targeting CEO's and Executives, refused to even consider investing in a professional platform like Squarespace or Wordpress, and told her straight, I never conduct serious business over Messanger .. I have shortcuts saved, also several case studies/helpful blogs on my site to link to for learning about the SEO industry.

It's best we don't persue this relationship any further.

Anyone has similar? Sacking a client before you quote?

submitted by /u/wowafemaleseo
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