Key points
- Pay per qualified lead, or a share of the work won
- Agree in writing what counts as a lead
- Tracking must live in accounts you own
- Rank-based deals can be gamed with easy keywords
How it works
The agency invests its own time up front and is paid when results arrive. In our model you pay per qualified lead, or a percentage of the work those leads become.
What makes it fair
A clear lead definition, for example a call over a set length from a real prospect in your service area. Call tracking and forms are set up in your accounts, so both sides see the same numbers.
What to settle before you sign
- The exact definition of a qualified lead, including minimum call length and service area.
- How spam, wrong numbers and repeat callers are excluded.
- The price per lead, or the percentage and how the job value is confirmed.
- Who owns the website, profile, tracking numbers and content.
- How either side can end the agreement.
This model suits businesses that can answer the phone and close work, because the agency's income depends on it as well. It is less suited to a business with no capacity to take on more jobs, where a fixed scope of work may be better value.
What to watch for
Deals that charge per ranking keyword invite agencies to target terms nobody searches. Also check who owns the website and profiles if you part ways. With us, you do.
People also ask
Does local SEO matter for a manufacturer that ships nationwide?
Yes, but for a narrower job than most shops expect. Your Google Business Profile ranks around your building, not across the country, so local search wins the buyers and engineers within driving distance of your plant. National work comes from website pages about your processes, materials and industries. Set up both, keep one profile at your real address, and don't stretch the service area to cover the country, because it won't change where you rank.
Read the full answer: Does local SEO matter for a manufacturer that ships nationwide? →
Are service area pages still safe after the August 2026 spam update?
Service area pages that give each town real, specific information are still safe. Pages that only swap the city name into the same text match Google's description of doorway pages and were at risk long before August 2026. Reports of pages dropping after the update are anecdotal and inconsistent, so audit each page: keep the ones with local substance, merge the thin ones into one service-area page, and cut pages for towns you don't serve.
Read the full answer: Are service area pages still safe after the August 2026 spam update? →
How long does SEO take to show results?
Most local businesses see measurable movement in map and organic rankings within 60 to 90 days, with calls and enquiries building from there. Competitive markets and brand new websites take longer. SEO compounds, so the results in month six are usually far larger than the results in month three.
Read the full answer: How long does SEO take to show results? →
How much does local SEO cost for a small business?
Local SEO is priced by the work your market needs, not by a fixed package. The cost depends on how many locations you have, how competitive your city and trade are, and the state of your website and Google Business Profile today. A proper quote follows an audit, and you should never have to sign a long contract to get one.
Read the full answer: How much does local SEO cost for a small business? →
Is buying addiction treatment leads legal under EKRA?
It can be, but how you pay decides it. EKRA makes paying for referrals to addiction treatment a federal crime, it covers private insurance, and in 2025 the Ninth Circuit confirmed it reaches marketing intermediaries. Paying per admission or per patient is where the risk sits, with penalties up to $200,000 and 10 years per occurrence. Have a healthcare lawyer review any lead deal. This is not legal advice.
Read the full answer: Is buying addiction treatment leads legal under EKRA? →