Every agency will tell you it's the right fit for your firm. Here's what actually matters before you sign anything.
01 · Proof you can click
Real law firm experience, not just a claim
Law firm marketing is not the same as marketing most small businesses. Search intent splits between urgent "near me now" queries and long research cycles for things like estate planning, Bar advertising rules limit what ad copy and landing pages can say, and success is measured in signed cases, not just leads. An agency that has actually done this work should be able to show you real practice area landing pages and explain how it tracks cost per signed case, not just cost per click.
02 · Get it in writing
Pricing you can see before the first call
Ask any agency you're considering for its exact fee structure in writing. Some agencies charge a rising percentage of every dollar you spend on ads, so your bill grows even when the work doesn't improve. SearchPod publishes its pricing: Google Ads management is 10% of your monthly ad budget with a $600 per month minimum, SEO is $50 per page per month with a 10 page minimum, and websites are one time packages starting at $1,500. Your ad budget goes to Google in full, with no markup.
See full pricing
03 · Read before you sign
Month to month terms, not a long contract
Your firm already carries enough retainer agreements. A marketing contract that locks you in for six or twelve months protects the agency more than it protects you. Ask whether you can leave with 30 days notice and keep everything that was built. Every SearchPod plan is month to month with a 30 day guarantee: if the first 30 days don't show real work and results, that month is free.
04 · Numbers, not noise
Reporting tied to signed cases, not clicks
A click or a form fill is not a client. Ask to see a sample report before you sign anything, and check whether it shows consultations booked and cases signed, or only impressions and "engagement." If an agency can't connect its numbers to your intake pipeline in plain language, it can't tell you whether the marketing is actually working.
05 · Who holds the keys
You keep your accounts, your data, and your website
Some agencies build your Google Ads account, your Google Business Profile, and your website under logins only they control. If you ever leave, you leave with nothing. Ask upfront whose name is on the ad account, the domain, and the code before you sign anything. Every account and every line of code SearchPod builds stays in your firm's name from day one.