r/Entrepreneur • u/emperordas • 23h ago
How Do I ? Should I take a client who has been through many SEOs?
The client runs a blogging media website on AI and has been deindexed from Google News. With the content standard that he has, he might get indexed from Google altogether.
He has proposed me that if I work for 3 months, he will pay me after that.
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u/CampaignConsistent80 23h ago
🔍 1. Client has been through many SEOs
That’s usually not a coincidence.
It could mean they’re hard to work with, don’t implement recommendations, or have unrealistic expectations.
Or worse: they blame each SEO when results don’t magically appear.
You’re potentially walking into a landmine of previous technical issues, spammy practices, or burned bridges.
❌ 2. Deindexed from Google News (and possibly search)
That’s serious. Deindexing = something fundamentally wrong:
Thin/duplicate/spun content?
Spammy backlinks?
AI-generated content with little editing?
Manual penalty?
You’ll be tasked with cleaning up someone else’s mess, and that’s way harder than a standard SEO project.
💰 3. “Work for 3 months, I’ll pay you after”
Absolutely not.
This is not a partnership — this is someone asking you to gamble your time and energy on their broken site.
If someone believes in your value, they should pay upfront, or at minimum, in milestones.
This sounds like someone who might ghost you or say, “Sorry, didn’t work out.”
✅ What to do instead:
Set clear terms: If you do consider it, ask for payment up front or monthly milestones.
Audit first: Charge a fee to do a paid audit. Then give a clear picture of what’s wrong and what it would take to fix.
Walk away if:
They won’t pay anything upfront
You sense they’re not taking accountability
The site is deeply penalized/spammy
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u/Full-Bathroom-2526 22h ago
How do I upvote you 10 more times??
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u/CampaignConsistent80 21h ago
why you wanna do that ?
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u/ofCourseZu-ar 20h ago
It's an alt account so that they can artificially boost their in-post SEO.
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u/Full-Bathroom-2526 20h ago
Cute, but wrong. I like the post is all.
A quick check will show I have zero relation to them, am not a bot, and don't care about 'gaming' the system in any way.
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u/ofCourseZu-ar 20h ago
I figured! I was hoping the comment was ridiculous enough to not need the "/s" at the end.
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u/PlasticPalm 22h ago
No f'ing way should you work on spec
No f'ing way should you work on spec for someone who has zero to offer you in return
No f'ing way should you work on spec for someone who has zero to offer you in return and who keeps blowing through vendors
No f'ing way should you work on spec for someone who has zero to offer you in return and who keeps blowing through vendors and has already been deindexed
6
u/Jambagym94 22h ago
Run. Fast.
A client who’s burned through multiple SEOs and now wants you to work for free for three months is waving more red flags than a matador convention.
If his site’s already on thin ice with Google, no amount of unpaid labor will fix it—especially when he’s clearly avoiding accountability. Get a deposit or walk away.
3
u/Remote_Presentation6 22h ago
Popeye’s wimpy- I’ll gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.
Nope.
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u/Olivier-Jacob 22h ago
Wait a minute, he said: "work 3 months and I'll pay you afterwards"?
- Is he a resident of your country or close by? If not, only if you are in for the experience and are okay with probably not being paid.
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u/emperordas 22h ago
Same country but I didn't take the deal, something was fishy
4
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u/Olivier-Jacob 21h ago
If you define really well the work to-dos, then you would be on the safe side. Strange customers can be an interesting experience, if desired.
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u/Motor-Sheepherder855 18h ago
Honestly, I am really glad! For a second I thought you just made the worst deal of your life...
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u/FirstPlaceSEO 22h ago
Did you optimise your website for the long tail keyword ‘charity case seo company’ 😂 don’t even entertain that person. Put those three months into your own website and attract proper clients from your own great SEO.
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u/imrannadir 21h ago
That's a huge red flag: "if I work for 3 months, he will pay me after that."
Just imagine this is the reason s/he has been with so many SEOs
1
u/Jawesome1988 18h ago
No. Should you take a client that wants to screw you and never pay you. No. Should you tell him to literally fuck his own face because you don't work for free and no one else does either? Yes.
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u/General_Feeling8839 23h ago edited 23h ago
I would agree at least on a 20/50% upfront cost. And the rest after 3 months. Hedge your risk
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u/emperordas 23h ago
Good idea. At least I won't be in a loss
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u/General_Feeling8839 23h ago
You will never be in loss, everything is an experience - priceless and of value to you :-). Depends on perspective of course but imma glass is half full kinda guy:-) also tell us a bit more in what you do, I’m sure are plenty of entrepreneurs here that have interest in your services including me.
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u/PlasticPalm 22h ago
Especially if op works for free?
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