These are common questions Chicago owners ask before hiring help with marketing, including ones Google shows when people search for agencies. Every answer sticks to published rules from Google and the FTC. None of them is a price: prices depend on the work and come from the agency in its proposal.
About this site
Marketing Company Chicago is an independent referral service, not a marketing agency. When you send the form, your details go to an independent marketing agency that prepares any proposal and does any work. Asking is free and you never have to hire anyone. More is on the about page.
Agencies and proposals
What does a marketing agency do?
It plans and runs the work that puts a business in front of the people looking for it: the website, search engine optimization, paid ads, social media, email and the Google Business Profile. Some agencies do one of these; a digital marketing agency Chicago owners hire for several should show how they fit together.
What is a digital agency?
A firm that works on online channels rather than print or broadcast. Ask which channels it runs with its own people and which it passes to partners.
How do I choose a marketing agency?
Start with what you need, then interview agencies with Google’s own questions: can you show me examples of your previous work, do you follow the Google Search Essentials, what results do you expect and in what timeframe, how do you measure your success, and what is your experience in my industry and my city. Our article on judging the best marketing agencies in Chicago goes further.
What should a proposal include?
The channels and why, the searches and areas targeted, the work in the first months, what the monthly report shows, who does the work, what you own, and how the agreement ends.
SEO and Google
What does an SEO company do?
It improves a site and a business’s presence on Google so its pages can show for the searches customers make: technical fixes, useful pages, the Google Business Profile, and real links and mentions. See what to expect from an SEO company Chicago owners can trust.
Can anyone get my business to the top of Google?
No one can promise it. Google says no one can promise a top ranking, that it does not accept payment to rank a site higher, and that owners should beware of anyone claiming a special relationship with Google.
How much does SEO cost in Chicago?
It depends on the work: the state of the site, how many pages need writing, how many services and areas, and how competitive the searches are. Our article on what SEO costs explains each factor.
Is SEO dead now with AI?
Google still publishes its Search Essentials and its guidance on helpful, people-first content, and its spam policies apply to content no matter how it is created. Useful pages that follow those rules are still the work.
Maps and local search
How can we do local SEO?
Keep your Google Business Profile complete and accurate, use your real name and the most specific category, keep your address and add service areas if you travel, and earn honest reviews. Google says local results are mainly based on relevance, distance and popularity, and there is no way to pay for a better local ranking. See local SEO Chicago.
Should I remove my address from Google?
No. Keep your real address. If you also travel to customers, Google lets you enter both your address and your service area.
Can I offer a discount for reviews?
No. Google’s Maps policy bans incentives such as payment, discounts or free goods in exchange for reviews, and the FTC bans incentives tied to a particular sentiment. Ask every customer for an honest review and offer nothing for it.
Ads and social media
How does Google decide where my ad shows?
Through Ad Rank, which Google calculates from several factors including your competition, the context of the search and your ad quality. See Chicago PPC management.
Do influencers have to say they were paid?
Yes. The FTC says paid or free-product connections must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously, and agencies as well as businesses can be liable for deceptive endorsements. See social media marketing Chicago.
Can I buy followers?
No. The FTC’s rule bans buying fake followers, views or likes for a commercial purpose.
Are Local Services Ads the same as Google Ads?
No. Google says Local Services Ads bring leads as phone calls and messages, and you pay only for leads related to your business. Search ads charge per click. Check eligibility for your trade and area in Google’s Local Services Ads sign-up.
Does email marketing have rules?
Yes. CAN-SPAM requires honest headers and subject lines, a valid physical postal address in each message, and a working opt-out honored within 10 business days. The business and the company sending for it may both be liable.
Ownership
Who should own my website and accounts?
You. The domain, hosting, website, Google Business Profile, ad accounts, analytics, social pages and email list should all be in your name, with the agency added as a user.
What if I want to change agencies later?
If every account is in your name, you add the new agency as a user and remove the old one. Ask before you sign what the agency hands over when the agreement ends.