SEO and PPC Services FAQ: Pricing, Contracts, Timelines and Reporting

This SEO and PPC services FAQ answers the questions business owners ask Local Blitz before hiring us: what affects the cost, how our month-to-month contracts work, how long SEO and Google Ads usually take, what we report on, how ad spend is billed, who owns the accounts and how to get started.

It’s part of our services hub. If you want detail on a single service, start with SEO, local SEO or Google Ads management. Local Blitz has been in business since 2009, with offices in San Diego and Indianapolis.

SEO and PPC Services at a Glance

SEO (search engine optimization) and PPC (pay-per-click advertising) both put your business in front of people searching for what you do. They work differently, so the questions about cost and timing have different answers for each.

Service	What it covers	How results arrive
SEO	Technical fixes, on-page optimization, content and links that help your site rank in Google’s unpaid results	Builds over months and tends to keep working after the work is done
Local SEO	Google Business Profile, map pack visibility, reviews, citations and location pages	Builds over months; category, proximity and reviews usually decide the map pack
Google Ads (PPC)	Search campaigns, keywords, ads, bidding, landing pages and conversion tracking	Ads can show soon after approval; performance improves as data builds
Facebook and Instagram ads	Meta campaigns, audiences, creative, lead forms and retargeting	Starts once ads are approved; results depend on offer, audience and creative

Questions About Cost and Contracts

How much do your SEO and PPC services cost?

There’s no fixed price list because we don’t sell cookie-cutter packages. Cost depends on the number of locations and services you want to promote, how competitive your market is, the current state of your website and Google Business Profile, how much content is needed, and how many ad platforms and campaigns we manage. Our pricing page explains these factors, and a free strategy call gets you a quote for your situation.

What engagement models do you offer?

We offer monthly retainers, one-time projects, and a setup fee plus a monthly fee. Which one fits depends on the work. A website fix or audit can be a one-time project, while ongoing SEO or ad management usually runs monthly.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

No. Our plans are month-to-month, so you aren’t locked into a long contract.

Is ad spend included in your management fee?

No. Ad spend is paid directly to Google or Meta from your own account, and our management fee is separate. You see exactly what the platforms charge you, and what we charge for managing the campaigns.

Questions About Timelines and Results

How long does SEO take to show results?

It depends on your market, your competition and the state of your site, so we give ranges rather than promises. Google’s own guidance for business owners says that in most cases, SEO work needs four months to a year to make improvements and then see potential benefit. Local SEO for a business with a well-built Google Business Profile can move sooner; a new site in a crowded market usually takes longer.

How quickly does Google Ads start working?

Ads can start showing soon after launch. Google’s ad review guidance says most ads are reviewed within one business day, though some reviews take longer. The first weeks are typically spent gathering data on search terms, costs and conversions, and performance usually improves as we tune keywords, ads, bids and landing pages.

Can you guarantee first place on Google?

No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Google’s advice on hiring an SEO states plainly that no one can guarantee a number one ranking. What we can commit to is the work, clear reporting on calls, leads and rankings, and honest advice about what’s realistic in your market.

Should I invest in SEO, PPC or both?

It depends on your goals, budget and timeline. PPC can bring calls quickly while SEO builds, and SEO can lower how much you rely on paid clicks over time. Many local businesses start with Google Ads for steady leads and run SEO alongside it. We’ll recommend what fits your situation, and if we’re not the right fit we’ll say so and point you elsewhere.

Questions About Reporting, Billing and Accounts

What do you report on?

Our reports focus on the results that matter to a local business: calls, leads and rankings. For paid campaigns that includes cost per lead and which campaigns and keywords produce calls and forms. Our guide to the metrics we report and why explains each one.

Who owns the Google Ads, Analytics and Business Profile accounts?

We recommend that your business owns its accounts: Google Ads, Google Analytics, Google Business Profile, Meta ad accounts, your domain and your website. The agency should be added as a user or manager. Because ad spend is billed to you directly by Google or Meta, the account history and data stay with your business.

Can I pause or cancel my services?

Yes. Plans are month-to-month. Paid ads stop as soon as campaigns are paused and can restart quickly. SEO gains don’t vanish overnight, but rankings can slip over time if competitors keep working and you stop.

Do you offer local SEO and Google Business Profile work?

Yes. Local SEO covers your Google Business Profile, reviews, citations and location pages. In our experience, category, proximity and reviews usually decide who shows in the map pack, and conflicting old listings can cause duplicate-profile trouble, so cleaning those up is often an early step.

Questions About Getting Started

How do I get started?

Book a free strategy call. We’ll ask about your services, service area, goals and what you’ve tried, then recommend a plan. If you want a quick look at how AI search tools see your business first, try our free AI visibility check.

What do you need from me to begin?

Access to your website, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile and any ad accounts, plus a list of your services, the areas you serve and what a good lead looks like for you. If any of these accounts don’t exist yet, they can be set up in your business’s name.

Talk to Us About Your Marketing

Local Blitz has helped local businesses with SEO and paid ads since 2009, from offices in San Diego and Indianapolis. Plans are month-to-month, there are no cookie-cutter packages, ad spend goes directly to Google or Meta, and reporting covers the calls, leads and rankings you care about. See all our services, or book a free strategy call and ask us anything this page didn’t answer.