Why Stage 0?
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:25 am
In this search capabilities maturity model, I have included an unconventional “Stage 0 – Counterproductive”, because organic search is unique in that it can cause real harm and be at a loss, not just on a zero-based basis.
In such a scenario, the client has no collaboration within the company or with a partner agency to make Smart Search work. The content may be thin, weak, duplicated, spun, or over-optimized. Their mobile bulgaria number data may be non-existent or very poor. They may also be engaging in black hat SEO practices, and have link-related or other penalties.
Selection of projects based on the maturity of client capabilities
For a client starting at the lower end of the maturity scale, you might not recommend starting with advanced work like AMP and visual search technology, or even detailed schema markup or extensive targeted link building campaigns. You may need to start with the basics like securing the site, cleaning up the information architecture, and fixing title tags and meta descriptions.
For a client who is starting at the high end of the maturity scale, you don’t want to waste your time recommending the basics—they’ve probably already done it. You’re better off finding new and innovative opportunities to do the best search work they haven’t already mastered.
But we're just getting started...
But technical skills and knowledge are only beginning to scratch the surface with clients. It starts to address what you should implement, but it doesn’t touch on why your work is so hard to implement . The real problems are much squishier, and not as simple as checking the boxes of some SEO best practices.
In such a scenario, the client has no collaboration within the company or with a partner agency to make Smart Search work. The content may be thin, weak, duplicated, spun, or over-optimized. Their mobile bulgaria number data may be non-existent or very poor. They may also be engaging in black hat SEO practices, and have link-related or other penalties.
Selection of projects based on the maturity of client capabilities
For a client starting at the lower end of the maturity scale, you might not recommend starting with advanced work like AMP and visual search technology, or even detailed schema markup or extensive targeted link building campaigns. You may need to start with the basics like securing the site, cleaning up the information architecture, and fixing title tags and meta descriptions.
For a client who is starting at the high end of the maturity scale, you don’t want to waste your time recommending the basics—they’ve probably already done it. You’re better off finding new and innovative opportunities to do the best search work they haven’t already mastered.
But we're just getting started...
But technical skills and knowledge are only beginning to scratch the surface with clients. It starts to address what you should implement, but it doesn’t touch on why your work is so hard to implement . The real problems are much squishier, and not as simple as checking the boxes of some SEO best practices.