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What running paid media for local business actually costs

Benchmarks, pricing teardowns, and operating playbooks from the team that runs campaigns across every channel. No product pitches in the body copy.

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Featured · Agency Alternatives·5 min read·July 2, 2026

Agency Results on a Non-Agency Budget

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70%
Less than a full-service agency
3rd
The option nobody pitches
Agency Alternatives · 6 min

Too Small for an Agency, Too Busy to Do It Yourself

The two options everyone offers you are a retainer you cannot justify and a job you do not have time for. There is a third.

June 30, 2026
1
Phrase, many definitions
Agency Alternatives · 5 min

What "Full Service" Is Supposed to Mean

Every provider calls itself full service. The phrase has no fixed meaning, which is precisely why it appears in every pitch.

January 29, 2026
2
Real options, honestly compared
Agency Alternatives · 6 min

One Team or Do It Yourself: An Honest Comparison

Doing it yourself is cheaper on paper and rarely cheaper in practice. Here is the comparison with the hidden columns filled in.

January 6, 2026
4
Signs it is working
Agency Alternatives · 5 min

What a Good Provider Relationship Actually Feels Like

Not friendliness. Four specific behaviours that distinguish a provider who is working from one who is managing you.

December 9, 2025

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