How to Get High-Profile SEO Clients for Agencies and Freelancers

It looks like more and more agencies and freelancers are struggling to find leads. Are you one of them, wondering, “How can I get SEO clients?” If you’re reading this, chances are you have already looked around.

Wasn’t that easy peasy, right?

The trouble is that a lot of the information available can be overwhelming — some downright contrary to others. But don’t get discouraged, at least not until you finish reading this.

In this guide, we have taken the time to go through the best non-cliché practices. We will look at each one in detail, outlining their level of difficulty and how you can apply them.

Contents

• How to find SEO clients: The fundamentals
• How can you get your first SEO client?
• How can you get SEO clients without cold calling?
• How can you find clients as a freelancer?
• How can you get SEO clients for your digital marketing agency?
• How can you get more SEO clients constantly?
• 11 Proven Strategies to Get SEO Clients [Ranked by Complexity & Efficiency]
• 1. Match every piece of content to your funnel
• 2. Showcase your portfolio and testimonials everywhere
• 3. Go all in on LinkedIn
• 4. Use affiliate and referral marketing
• 5. Go for service marketplaces
• 6. Consider offering white-label SEO services
• 7. Organize or participate in relevant events
• 8. Find partners in related niches
• 9. Do SEO audits for big brands and share them online
• 10. Offer some freebies
• 11. Invest in building your brand (even if you’re just starting out)
• Conclusion

How to find SEO clients: The fundamentals

Before we proceed to the actionable tips, let’s cover some of the most common questions and concerns.

How can you get your first SEO client?

At first, it can seem like this is almost impossible, but there are many tactics that can help you find your first SEO client. Some of them might involve a few more steps than others, but they all have their pros and cons.

You can try looking on LinkedIn, networking, or even sharing your portfolio in a few strategic places. We will look at these methods and many more later. And guess what? After you get that first client, the rest will come more easily.

How can you get SEO clients without cold calling?

While it might seem like the best option, cold calling might be quite obsolete by now. Well, you have so many other options, after all.

You can work on building your personal brand, creating converting content, launching free products, etc.

This way, you will end up with a warmer audience, which will make the whole process much more effective. So, no matter whether it’s your first client or your hundredth, you can land them without cold calling.

How can you find clients as a freelancer?

For freelancers, it might be a bit more costly to run ads, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find clients using other channels. You can engage some brands on social media or even try service marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, etc.

Another trick is to frequent niche-relevant online communities on platforms like Facebook, Quora, Reddit, and so on.

As you share your insights and answer questions, you build your authority. You can then plug your services in case anyone's looking to find professional assistance.

How can you get SEO clients for your digital marketing agency?

A digital marketing agency typically has a bigger budget compared to, say, a freelancer. Plus, they have more manpower. This means they can try more methods and handle more and/or bigger clients.

To land new customers, you could publish some of your best case studies or run free SEO audits for other businesses. Want another great idea? Create different pricing categories that offer better deals compared to your competitors, just to mention a few.

Learn more about guest posting solutions for Agencies

How can you get more SEO clients constantly?

Now that you know how to land your first client, the next thing is how to get more SEO clients. Chances are you need more than one client to pay the bills — unless they are a megacorp, in which case, congrats!

For the rest of us, the best bet for growing that client list lies in growing your brand. Many clients (72% of them, to be exact) tend to be loyal to a brand they know and trust. Sounds great, but how can you grow your brand?

• Work on your relationship with each client. Did you know that 83% of people do repeat business with a brand after getting a promotional item? A simple gesture like sending out some branded merch can go a long way for a brand-customer relationship.
• Invest in specialized quality tools. For one, great software speeds up your work process and productivity levels. Plus, most tools come with analytics features that give you all the data you need to track your progress and show it to your clients.
• Make your blog and social media sound like you. Your brand image isn’t that much about knowledge. Everyone in your niche will know pretty much the same things. What you have to prioritize is your personality. What makes you special?

And, of course, once you know what makes you stand out, maintain a consistent design, style, tone, etc., to help people remember you. Just so you know, a consistent brand image can lead to 33% more income.

• Collaborate with others (both professionals and clients). Networking and referrals are a huge deal when landing new clients. The stronger your network, the higher the chances that someone will refer or recommend you.

You can also create tutorials or free courses with other experts. Sometimes, it may be sponsoring a YouTube content creator in your niche or appearing in a podcast to share your insights.

Don’t worry — you are in good company. Big brands like Semrush and Surfer have used the same tactic in the past.

Source: Brand24

Of course, you must make sure that your service is incredibly effective and actually delivers results. Otherwise, getting SEO clients (good clients) constantly will be too hard.

Plus, without quality service, even when you do manage to get a client, they most likely won’t hang around for long.

Now that we have covered how to get the first SEO client and even the second one, let’s move on to the next big section.

11 Proven Strategies to Get SEO Clients [Ranked by Complexity & Efficiency]

Now, the section you’ve been waiting for. How do you get those top-tier SEO clients for your business as a freelancer or an agency? Here are 11 non-cliché strategies that can actually help.

1. Match every piece of content to your funnel

• Complexity: Medium
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Gradual

You already know that creating content is one way to find SEO clients. There are several stages a client’s journey may take before you get hired. Your clients will need very different content at each stage — from the awareness down to the final purchase stage.

So, you want to create a conversion machine. You can pull this off by tying every piece of content to a particular stage of the funnel.

Top of the funnel (ToFu):

For the top of the funnel (ToFu), you need content that casually catches potential leads’ eyes while helping them get to know you better. While it’s informative, you definitely don’t need to push a sale at this stage, or you could scare those readers off. So, go for:

• How-to blogs.
• Infographics.
• Short explainer videos highlighting current trends.
• Snappy informative posts on LinkedIn, sharing some quick SEO tips and insights.

Middle of the funnel (MoFu):

Then, for the middle of the funnel (MoFu), you target those actively seeking SEO solutions. That’s why you focus on:

• Comprehensive guides.
• Case studies.
• Comparisons that highlight how your service trumps others out there.
• Long-form articles that explore different types of SEO issues and how to fix them.

Bottom of the funnel (BoFu):

Now, onward to the bottom of the sales funnel (BoFu) — those ready to sign on the dotted line. For this group, you need to give solid reasons for choosing you over your opps. Maybe you can even try pitching a sample of benefits they will enjoy once they hire you. So offer:

• Free SEO audits.
• Free strategy consultations.
• Testimonials from happy clients.
• ROI projections from other work you’ve done in the past for other clients.

The idea is that you want to create content with intention, not just for the sake of ranking or brand authority. Make every piece count. How? Create a system of intertwined content pieces.

For example, in your SM post, you can link to your newsletter form. In your blog post, you can add a mention of your ebook download or free tool. And so on.

2. Showcase your portfolio and testimonials everywhere

• Complexity: Easy
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Gradual

When it comes to the question of how to get clients for SEO business, showing off a bit is a big thing. Results speak louder than claims. So, you want to show off what you have already done.

This means putting your portfolio where people can see it — on your site, social media, any external outlets, listing platforms, etc.

You don’t want to be salesy, though. Simply walk your readers through the clients’ journeys from point A to point B. Also, it’s important to skip the generic, vague reviews. Instead, make sure your portfolio tells a story.

This means collecting testimonials from different customers that mention specific features.

Also, make sure that you include a CTA, preferably not with the generic “BUY BUY BUY” message. Try something different. For example, you can make your call-to-action lead to a series of video downloads that help your readers achieve XYZ.

3. Go all in on LinkedIn

• Complexity: Hard
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Fast to Gradual (depending on the strategy)

Many marketers often ask how to get SEO clients on LinkedIn. That’s not a surprise, especially in B2B, since everyone talks about its effectiveness. Essentially, LinkedIn is like an upgraded office networking.

There are tons of strategies, from cold DMs to building your personal brand there (much harder but much more effective).

Yet, you can’t go jumping into random DMs and hope that will work. Truth is, you can make your profile so attractive that it can become a lead magnet all on its own. This is where optimizing your LinkedIn profile comes in.

Start by adding relevant keywords that people use to search for services like yours. Use them strategically in your summary, headline, and skills section — just don’t overdo it.

Here is how Semrush does it, but this also applies to individual profiles.

Source: LinkedIn

Next, you have to identify individuals or companies that might need the solutions you offer. Then comes the part where you engage with them — the dreaded “cold calling.” Well, messaging in this case. Thankfully, there are some simple strategies you can use to make that easier.

• Make sure you personalize your email to each receiver. The more background research you do to understand their business, and what they need, the more you can tailor your cold email to them.
• Your email should be focused on their needs and the solution or value you’re bringing to the table, not on you. This one is major.
• Include links to relevant articles and maybe even offer a free SEO audit.

The point is to get that foot in the door so that you can make a good impression. If they like your ideas, they will probably check out your profile and feed. So, it’s a good thing you’ve been sharing those insightful tips in your feed, as we mentioned earlier.

If you can afford it, you can grab one of those snazzy tools that automates the outreach process for you. Play your cards, right? Your question will change from how to find SEO clients online to how to scale up quickly. But again, research this first and test it a lot (we mean it).

4. Use affiliate and referral marketing

• Complexity: Easy
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Fast (if you already have a client base)

People trust people. Yeah, we know it sounds like a cliché. But it is a fact at this point. The same way as the sky is blue, ice is cold, and you’re ambitious enough to want to get more clients for your business.

81% of consumers say that posts from influencers and friends made them interested in a service or product. 81%. Do you really need any other proof?

An individual or company looking for SEO service is more likely to trust the recommendation of someone they know or trust. This is why if you are asking how to get SEO clients for your digital marketing agency, consider starting an affiliate program.

Source: Active Campaign

The process is straightforward and easy to set up. Plus, there is tons of software to help you. Basically, you offer to pay commissions or some other incentive to clients or other people who refer your service to others. These perks could be a discount, some free service, etc.

You are likely going to get better results when you use a double-sided reward system. This means both the referrer and the person invited will get something from participating in your campaign.

5. Go for service marketplaces

• Complexity: Easy
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Fast

Okay, this is probably the most obvious tip on this list. But it is still effective, and not trying to use it would be a big opportunity wasted.

While being so obvious, marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr might be decent places for SEO client prospecting. This works especially when you are just starting out and can’t compete with bigger agencies or more experienced freelancers.

Source: Fiverr

Of course, when you can’t afford to run PPC or don’t have time to build a personal brand, marketplaces are your best bet. Still, usually, the competition is pretty tough in these places. So, you have to really work on your profile to make it stand out from the rest.

The good thing about this option is that you can customize it to suit your preferences. You can also expand services or pivot a bit to other niches without too much hassle. Adsy serves as a good example of this method in action.

6. Consider offering white-label SEO services

Source: X

• Complexity: Medium to Hard
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Gradual

A white-label service is a third-party service provider that can do your work for you and won’t claim any rights afterward. Believe it or not, many agencies who are wondering how to get SEO clients can benefit from these services.

You simply reach out to other agencies in your niche and offer to help them with their work. In this case, you are the white-label service, so you won’t get any recognition from the clients themselves. But you won’t have to struggle with the hassle of landing clients yourself.

Most use this option when they have extra demand or maybe a tight deadline and not enough time/manpower to meet up on time.

But this will most likely only work if you have a proven track record of delivering great results on time. Otherwise, getting another agency to believe in you will be tough (read as ‘impossible’).

7. Organize or participate in relevant events

• Complexity: Hard
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Gradual

As we mentioned earlier, this method is perfect for those looking for how to get SEO clients without cold calling.

The best part of organizing or participating in events is that it doesn’t have to be just SEO. You can work with conferences in any niche, even slightly related to marketing or sales.

It’s pretty amazing if you have a personal brand and can be a speaker. People see you sharing your authoritative knowledge and experience on SEO topics. Some of them will definitely approach you for more questions.

And, of course, some of them will convert, even if not right away.

Source: Instagram

Now you’re wondering what if you can’t be a speaker at SEO events? No worries! How about organizing an online SEO conference or even participating in one with your booth?

Whatever method you choose, in-person networking is always a great thing to do. This is one way of promotion in marketing that can make a world of difference.

8. Find partners in related niches

• Complexity: Hard
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Gradual

The SEO service niche is pretty much cramped, or so it feels. Like all things where there are a lot of people, it is also very competitive. This can make it look like it’s a hassle to get SEO clients, especially when you are riding solo.

But on the bright side, you can also partner up with other SEO businesses or freelancers who do some work that might require SEO services. Kind of like what GoPro and Red Bull did, or Taco Bell and Doritos, or… You get the point.

Source: X

It’s a valid move endorsed by brands across different niches. So, you can try it yourself. But don’t panic — it doesn’t have to be a huge collab (especially if you’re a small agency or a freelancer).

For instance, if you’re a small agency, try reaching out to a small web design business or a boutique content writing service. They might agree to bring you on board so they can offer extra services to their clients — your SEO services.

You can provide leads for them, and they will do the same for you. See how this turns into a win-win? Even if you’re a freelancer, you can still collaborate with other independent professionals. After all, many clients ask for recommendations in any scenario.

If you’re actually good at this partnership, the whole ‘where to find SEO clients’ question won’t be such a big issue.

9. Do SEO audits for big brands and share them online

• Complexity: Medium
• Efficiency: Medium
• Process duration: Fast to Gradual

Let’s be real. You can craft the perfect cold outreach email, but most companies won’t bother to come after you. Unless you really give them something to salivate over.

When you do SEO audits for one or more popular brands and then share the results on your socials and blog, you provide a real-life sample of your value.

Source: YouTube

You can create a YouTube or TikTok where you’re using big names to push your content for more views. The whole point is to show your expertise when doing this.

Still asking, but how can I get SEO clients with this? By strategically redirecting people. Don’t forget that every piece of content should lead somewhere (see strategy #1). You have to send leads down your funnel organically by linking to relevant content.

Pro tip: You can use this video audit to send viewers to any free offering of yours, which brings us to the next point.

10. Offer some freebies

• Complexity: Hard
• Efficiency: Medium
• Process duration: Fast to Gradual

So, we mentioned that when working on how to find SEO clients, your links should lead to your free offerings. Here’s how that works. Many people love free things — who doesn’t?

Studies show that product sampling can increase sales by 2000%. Hold up, we are done yet. 58% of consumers are more likely to buy something after checking out a sample. So, what kind of freebies can you use that might be good enough?

How about free SEO tools? Granted, this might be complex, especially if you can’t hire a developer to build one for you. If so, consider free SEO audits — easier but time-consuming.

Source: Ahrefs

Besides, for agencies that have software, a free trial is usually the most logical solution for obvious reasons. It’s a direct way to let people sample your product.

11. Invest in building your brand (even if you’re just starting out)

• Complexity: Hard
• Efficiency: High
• Process duration: Gradual

You can read all the blogs that talk about how to find new SEO clients. Yet, if you are not actively working on growing your brand, it isn’t going to help much. Clearly, it should be pretty high on your list whether you are a freelancer or an agency.

Source: LinkedIn

We already discussed in detail how you can do this. Just keep in mind that “what you feed grows” and “what you don’t nurture dies.” That saying is true for living things as well as non-living projects.

So, start investing in your brand even if you’re a beginner — your future self will thank you.

Conclusion

We’re sort of proud of you for making it this far! Now you know how to get clients for SEO. Most importantly, you can replicate this result as many times as you like.

The main thing is not just mastering how to get more and more clients but also how to keep them. You know, retention is major for a reason.

If you really follow the tips shared here, then the ‘how to get SEO clients’ challenge will be the least of your worries. You will become so good at it that you will have to learn how to meet up with all the new demands.

But no worries there either; we’ll have a guide on that for you as well. :)