You’re shopping for a marketing agency. One says they’ll handle “everything” for $500/month. Another quotes $2,000. A third wants $5,000.
What’s the difference? Are you getting ripped off or getting a deal?
Here’s what a $500/month marketing package should actually include, what it won’t cover, and how to know if you’re paying for real work or hot air.
The Reality of $500/Month
Let’s start with math.
$500/month = roughly 5-8 hours of work (assuming $60-100/hour rates). That’s it. Anyone claiming they’ll run your entire marketing operation for $500 is either lying about the scope or cutting corners you’ll regret later.
What 5-8 hours can realistically cover:
- Email marketing (2-4 emails per month)
- Basic SEO work (one blog post plus optimization)
- Small paid ad management (one platform, small budget)
- Basic reporting and communication
What it can’t cover:
- Full website redesigns
- Complex ad campaigns across multiple platforms
- Video production
- Comprehensive SEO overhauls
- Dedicated account manager available 24/7
If an agency promises all of that for $500, they’re either outsourcing to the cheapest labor they can find or they’re not doing the work at all.
Package Option 1: Email Marketing
What you should get:
- 2-4 emails per month
- Email design and copywriting
- List management and basic segmentation
- A/B testing subject lines
- Monthly metrics (open rate, click rate, conversions)
What you shouldn’t accept:
- Emails that look like spam
- No personalization or segmentation
- Sending to purchased lists (illegal and ineffective)
- No tracking or reporting
Red flags:
- They can’t explain their email strategy
- Your unsubscribe rate is climbing
- They’re sending daily emails (unless you sell daily deals)
- Generic templates with your logo slapped on
Package Option 2: SEO Basics
What you should get:
- Keyword research for your business
- On-page optimization for 3-5 pages
- One blog post per month (600-1,000 words)
- Basic technical SEO audit
- Google Analytics setup and monitoring
- Monthly traffic report
What you shouldn’t accept:
- Promises of “page one in 30 days”
- Buying backlinks
- Keyword stuffing your content
- Reports that show rankings for irrelevant keywords
Red flags:
- They guarantee specific rankings
- They won’t show you what keywords they’re targeting
- Your content reads like a robot wrote it
- They’re targeting keywords nobody actually searches for
Package Option 3: Paid Ads (Small Budget)
What you should get:
- Ad setup on one platform (Google or Facebook/Instagram)
- 2-3 ad variations to test
- Ad copywriting and basic creative
- Audience targeting and testing
- Weekly monitoring and adjustments
- Monthly performance report with cost per lead
What you shouldn’t accept:
- “Set it and forget it” approach
- Spending your entire budget in the first week
- Running ads to your homepage instead of a landing page
- Vague reporting without actual conversion data
Note: $500 monthly retainer doesn’t include ad spend. If an agency says “$500 total including ad budget,” you’re getting maybe $300 in actual ads. That’s too small to work with.
Red flags:
- They’re running ads but can’t tell you the cost per lead
- Ad creative looks generic or poorly designed
- They never optimize or test new variations
- They blame “the algorithm” when ads don’t work
Package Option 4: Content Marketing
What you should get:
- 2-4 blog posts per month (600-800 words each)
- Basic keyword optimization
- Internal linking strategy
- Content calendar planning
- Performance tracking (traffic, engagement)
What you shouldn’t accept:
- AI-generated content with no human review
- Articles that have nothing to do with your business
- No connection between content and your services
- Recycled content from other websites
Red flags:
- Every post reads exactly the same
- No clear strategy connecting content to business goals
- They can’t explain why they chose specific topics
- Posts are published inconsistently or randomly
What Should Be Standard in Every Package
Regardless of what services you’re getting, these should be included:
Access and ownership:
- Login credentials to all accounts
- You own all content created
- You can export your data anytime
Communication:
- Response within 24-48 hours
- At least one monthly check-in
- Clear point of contact
Reporting:
- Monthly report showing what was done
- Metrics that matter (leads, sales, ROI)
- Recommendations for next month
Transparency:
- Clear scope of work in writing
- No surprise fees
- Easy cancellation terms (30 days max)
Price Comparison Guide
Here’s what different budget levels typically get you:
$500-$1,000/month:
- One service from the options above
- Limited hours (5-10 per month)
- Basic reporting
- Good for testing an agency or very small businesses
$1,500-$3,000/month:
- Two or three services combined
- 15-30 hours per month
- More comprehensive strategy
- Good for small businesses ready to grow
$3,000-$5,000+/month:
- Full marketing strategy across multiple channels
- 30-50+ hours per month
- Multiple team members
- Good for established businesses with serious growth goals
Questions to Ask Before Signing
“How many hours per month does this package include?”
“Can I see examples of work you’ve done for similar businesses?”
“What specific deliverables will I receive each month?”
“What happens if I’m not happy after the first month?”
“Who will I be working with directly?”
“What’s not included in this price?”
If they dodge these questions, walk away.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
Agencies love to advertise low monthly rates, then hit you with extras:
- Setup fees ($500-$2,000)
- “Rush” fees for normal turnaround times
- Revision fees (beyond “reasonable” revisions they never define)
- Platform fees they markup 20-50%
- “Strategy” fees on top of execution
Get everything in writing before you sign.
When $500/Month Makes Sense
You’re just starting out and need help with one specific thing.
You have a clear, limited scope of work.
You’re testing an agency before committing to more.
You understand the limitations and aren’t expecting miracles.
When to Spend More
You’re ready to grow and need multiple marketing channels working together.
You’ve tried DIY and it’s taking too much time away from running your business.
You have budget for things like ad spend on top of agency fees.
You need strategic guidance, not just task execution.
The Bottom Line
A $500/month marketing package should give you 5-8 hours of quality work on one specific service. Not a magic solution. Not your entire marketing department. Not “full service marketing.”
If an agency promises more than that for $500, they’re either underdelivering or about to burn out and disappear.
Know what you’re paying for. Know what you’re getting. And if the math doesn’t add up, trust your gut.
Not sure what marketing services you actually need? I help small business owners figure out where to spend their money (and where not to). Book a free 20-minute call for an honest assessment.