Need Advice

I'm talking to the manager of a company who's site is not seo'd properly. I don't want to give anything away to them on the phone but still need to show them what I know.

They offer 17K per year which means they don't expect to pay proper money and don't appreciate a good seo. They say they'd rather have someone with a degree. I think knowledge is worth more than a degree.

Also, all their content is dynamic on the home page and is being pulled from a sql dbase, so they don't have separate URL's so it sounds like they don't have a clue.

Should I not give away too much to them on the phone or give them a 100% free consultation? Then they wouldn't give me a job at all and just use me if you know what I mean.

There's a risk you take every time you open your mouth...

"IF" you say too much they can "think they can do it themselves" - BUT they must already think that way

1. Some companies only want free advice - they have no intention on hiring you - and they already know this.

2. Some companies you can't help PERIOD... whether you say too little or too much - and they already know this.

3. Some companies have a company to run (and it ain't a SEO Company) and need a SEO they can trust.

... which of the 3 do you only want to find, woo, and work for?

If the current prospect fall in as #1 or #2 you'll never be wanted, needed nor desired today BUT lot of quick 'cost nothing' [not even to you] free stuff may help them get a little ahead so they can become a company that has a company to run and need a SEO service provider they can trust... who will they call...

...not some guy that was too scared to show their stuff!

Lastly, it's hard to stub your nose at "potential revenue"... but potential revenue isn't revenue no matter how much you wish it to be... a bull SEO in the China shop is better approach than a floundering minnow.

If it was me I would first find out what type of degree they are looking for, then explain to them how having that degree will not help in their needs. I would also try to explain to them the difference between web programming and SEO.
You need to be very tactful when doing the above statement so it does not sound like your selling yourself too hard.

As far as what to point out. Nothing! Tell them why you can help, how you can help, but do not give them any specific things that apply to their site.

Example.
Title optimization
Body optimization
Site / url structure optimization
Google optimization
Code optimization
In short tell them what you do and why, but do not tell them how or if they need to.

To be honest if they have a mind set of getting someone with a degree it does not matter how much you know or even if you're the best, if you do not have one they will not hire you.

It's a lot of stuff to take in to consideration. I would obviously want to be the trusted, and, much respected SEO, but, like you say, a lot of these companies are just out there for the free stuff, so I'm going to watch what I say to them.

It's annoying to me when I study so much, mostly day and night. And they turn around and say we're going to drop 4 grand a year because you have no degree, and, people who have degrees don't know enough, or mostly, don't have the experience to get the jobs. I think SEO is mainly something that is self taught.

They asked for graduates, I graduated in IT with a HND (which is an English qualification). Didn't really help me much.

What are your thoughts? I hope I didn't appear emotionally unbalanced there.

I'm going to have to take my medication now.

Some companies want people with degrees, period. Also some companies and people for that matter, do not understand or realize that there is a difference between web programming and SEO. Unfortunately there isn't a degree for SEO "from anybody reputable". Getting back to the first point that some companies just want people with degrees, this has nothing to do with what the person actually knows. Yes it helps if the degree is in the field in what he is going after, but companies look at getting a degree the same as military service...you showed dedication, loyalty and commitment. These things cannot be taught in school. Either you have them or you don't. These are highly sought after things by many companies.

Constructively, I'd go strictly commission or a base fee for the first couple of months and commission thereafter...

When you punch out like that - you know your salt and they know you do to or at least the risk is yours to take and not theirs.