Your client wants to target irrelevant keywords. What do you do to resolve the conflict?

The best approach is always to talk this through and, as an outsider, try to see that the client may know something you do not. If you disagree, but the client still wants to target the keywords, get some traffic, see if they perform, and let the data illustrate your point. Ideally, then, contrast this with some more work focused on getting more relevant keywords and demonstrate the different returns of the two approaches.

Here is my experience with the same issue: I initiated a transparent and open discussion with the client, emphasizing the importance of maintaining topical authority – the relevance and expertise associated with their industry. I explained how this approach could enhance their online visibility and attract a more qualified audience. Additionally, I informed the client about the potential drawbacks of targeting irrelevant keywords, including a higher bounce rate, lower conversion rates, and a diminished overall user experience.

In my career many times clients suggested wrong keywords - In this situation, we need to talk with clients about why choose this keyword & why they add to the list. We can share with our client the keywords gap analysis report to the main competitor. and also we can share Google SERP results website for this type of keyword. Last, we can be aware if we use this type of keywords then we can loose our potential traffic & revenue.

We need to understand the reasons behind their irrelevant keyword choices. They may not be aware of relevant, desired keywords or have misconceptions about SEO dynamics. After all clients need the best results that can be only possible by targetting relevant kewords with the web pages. So, better we need to educate them what is SEO and why it is authentically needed. We can analyze the keywords that needed for the business and show them search volume, competition, and intent of the keywords they want to target, and compare them with the keywords you suggest. We can use tools like SEMrush, Google Trends, Keyword Planner.

Many time it happens that clients want to add irrelevant keywords which are not relevant to their service or products. So, first we need to do a competitor analysisand show him that our competitors are using relevant keywords and high search volume keywords, so we need to use those using SEMrush, Google keyword planner tool. it helps to improve keyword ranking and gain relevant traffic on our website. This way we can save our efforts by not doing wrong SEO on irrelevant keywords.

When faced with a client expressing interest in targeting irrelevant keywords, it's crucial to grasp their viewpoint fully. kickstart a dialogue to delve into their rationale for selecting these keywords and the outcomes they hope to achieve. Through attentive listening to their goals and apprehensions, aim is to unearth any hidden motivations or misunderstandings influencing their choice. This approach enables me to empathetically engage with their perspective and provide perspectives on the significance of focusing on pertinent keywords that resonate with their business objectives. By fostering transparent communication and joint problem-solving.

Understanding stems from open dialogue, exploring the reasons behind their keyword choices. Perhaps they're influenced by industry buzzwords or misconceptions about SEO dynamics. This step is about active listening, seeking to uncover underlying goals or misconceptions. It's also an opportunity to educate on the criticality of aligning keywords with actual content and user expectations, thus setting the stage for more strategic keyword selection.

When confronted with a client's desire to target irrelevant keywords, it's essential to understand their perspective. I would initiate a conversation to comprehend their reasoning behind the choice of keywords and their desired outcomes. By actively listening to their objectives and concerns, I aim to uncover any underlying motivations or misconceptions driving their decision. This allows me to address their perspective empathetically and offer insights into the importance of targeting relevant keywords aligned with their business goals. Through open communication and collaborative problem-solving, I strive to reach a mutual understanding and guide the client towards a more effective SEO strategy.

Understanding their perspective is the first step. It's important to understand their reasons for feeling the way they do. Also, a coach's advice is more likely to be embraced if someone first feels heard.

Education is pivotal, bridging gaps in understanding with insights into SEO's evolving nature. Highlighting the significance of keyword relevance, search intent, and user experience can shift perspectives. For instance, illustrating how Google's algorithms prioritize content that closely matches user intent over mere keyword density can make a compelling case for relevance and quality content.

When faced with a client's desire to target irrelevant keywords, my approach is to educate them on SEO best practices. I would engage in a detailed discussion to explain the importance of targeting relevant keywords that align with their business objectives. By providing insights into how targeting irrelevant keywords can impact their search engine rankings and overall visibility, I aim to foster a deeper understanding of the significance of keyword relevance in SEO. Through clear communication and guidance, I work to align the client's goals with effective SEO strategies that yield tangible results.

Educating the client is the best way forward. Tell them how SEO works, how important keywords are, and what impact they have on your rankings. Help them understand how targeting irrelevant keywords will hurt their rankings, they will experience low traffic and will be unable to achieve their business goals. Create a strategy with the right keywords and explain how on-page optimization is done and the results it brings.

Offering solutions involves presenting alternative keywords that align closely with their services or products, yet have a realistic competitive landscape. Utilizing tools like Moz's Keyword Explorer can help identify such terms, illustrating how they offer a balance between search volume and competitiveness. This practical demonstration of keyword research can reveal opportunities they hadn't considered, providing a constructive way forward.

Giving the client alternatives keywords that they can rank for and reach the right audience and tracking the impact of the new keywords on their marketing efforts will help the client know why proper keyword targeting is key.

I'm a big fan of running a small ppc campaign or accessing an existing account to inform perception. Some clients, deservedly so know their business better than anyone, but that carries over to every aspect of Marketing their business, good and bad. A ppc campaign split between their "irrelevant" terms va proposed terms measuring desired conversions will most likely put this to bed in as early as a few days to a few weeks..

A quick and dirty way to assess the value of a set of keywords for the often long-term goal of SEO is to run a small-scale paid search campaign. Line up the keywords you recommend vs the client's preferred keywords and measure the results against your primary KPIs. Then, rather than making this a battle of personalities, just let the data speak for itself and guide your way forward.

Empirical evidence speaks volumes. Proposing a controlled test, targeting a mix of their preferred keywords and your recommended ones, can be enlightening. Using A/B testing or similar methodologies to monitor traffic, engagement, and conversion metrics will objectively showcase which keywords yield better results, reinforcing the value of informed keyword strategies.

Continuous collaboration ensures ongoing alignment and adjustment to SEO strategies. Regularly sharing insights from analytics, celebrating wins, and discussing areas for improvement fosters a partnership dynamic. This collaborative approach ensures that SEO strategies remain dynamic, adapting to both the changing digital landscape and the evolving goals of the client.

Communication is key. Your client may know something you do not. There may be an opportunity in these keywords. Even if those terms are wrong, the conversation may open your eyes, collaboratively, to other opportunities. Talk, talk some more, then talk again. Communication between agency and client is the foundation that SEO success is built upon.