Direct answer

Compare the work, access, assumptions, and accountability—not just the monthly number.

What to remember
  • Compare delivery models, not retainers
  • Expose implementation dependencies
  • Define access and ownership before signing

01

Define the operating model

Strategy, implementation, content production, digital PR, local profile management, and reporting are different jobs. A price without a delivery model is not comparable.

  • Who makes changes?
  • Who owns the accounts?
  • How much content is included?
  • What triggers a re-scope?

02

Find the hidden dependencies

A proposal may assume that your developers ship fixes, your team supplies subject expertise, or your approvals arrive in days. Those assumptions affect both cost and likely progress.

03

Demand useful reporting

Reporting should connect work to observable changes, search visibility, qualified actions, and remaining uncertainty. Activity counts alone reward motion rather than outcomes.

04

Contract questions

Clarify cancellation, access handoff, content ownership, historical data, third-party fees, and the disposition of accounts when the relationship ends.

Claim limit

This article is a decision aid, not a universal ranking rule. Verify the conditions on your own site and preserve a baseline before changing them.