What was the biggest challenge you faced as an SEO in 2012?

[clarktbell]

As an SEO (in-house, freelance, consultant, agency, entrepreneur) what was the biggest challenge you faced in 2012? Please be as specific as you can, and let us all know what you are doing to overcome this challenge in 2013.

For me personally I would have to say the biggest challenge I had to deal with was Google+ Local. Obviously Google is putting a lot into G+L, but it has been so messy and at times I have just thrown my arms up in the air. Especially when it comes to multi-state locations and losing reviews.

[DorotheaKettler]

For me it consisted in explaining to clients that it's absolutely impossible to offer them any fixed deadlines and clear results. Most of them expect me to say something like: "In 3 months your website will appear among the first 5 results in SERP". During the past year more and more of these people came to me.

What I will do to overcome this in 2013? The same things I did this year as well: keep calm and patient and try to explain to each and every client why  I can't predict search engine behavior with 100% accuracy.