Common questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
Here's how retainers work, what we manage, how we build, and what to expect month to month.
How do you help my site show up in search and AI answers?
We build every page so Google and AI tools can tell who you are, what you do and where you do it. That covers SEO, AEO (showing up in AI answers) and E-E-A-T, Google's checklist for experience, expertise, authority and trust. It's one part of the bigger system we build for you.
What platform do you build on?
WordPress, with a custom-built theme. It's fast, it's SEO-friendly, and most importantly, it's yours. We hand you the keys. You own your site, your content, and your domain outright, so you can take them anywhere, anytime.
Do you work with businesses outside of Raleigh?
Absolutely. We're based in Fuquay-Varina and a lot of our clients are in Raleigh and the Triangle, but we work with businesses everywhere. We're fully set up for remote work. If you're local, we're always happy to meet up for coffee.
What are your pricing and retainer packages?
Pricing depends on what you need and the scope of work. Every project starts with The Build, your custom website. The Partnership adds website care, fresh content, local search, your Google Business Profile, and quarterly strategy meetings. The Whole System adds monthly reporting powered by Recon, plus social, email, paid ads, and reputation work when they fit your business. We talk through your goals and recommend the level that fits. On a retainer, you pay a set amount each month, and we keep your website working, along with the marketing that points people to it.
What's the difference between a retainer and a one-time website project?
A one-time website project is exactly that: you get a site, then you own it and manage it yourself. You're responsible for updates, content, social media, Google Business, email, everything. A Scout retainer is different: you hire us to keep the site working and growing. Every month, we're actively improving your website and the marketing that points back to it, monitoring what's working, and adjusting strategy. Many business owners choose a retainer because they would rather focus on running their business than playing marketer.
How is SEO handled?
It's built into the foundation of everything. From the moment we plan your site structure and write your first headline, SEO decisions are being made. How your site is organized, how it performs on Google, how it shows up in local search, how fast it loads, what content gets written and why. It's all part of the build, not an add-on.
What do you need from me to get started?
Honestly, a conversation. We need to understand your business, your customers, and what you're trying to accomplish. From there, we handle the research, the strategy, and the build. We'll check in along the way so you're never in the dark, but you don't have to do the heavy lifting.
Do I need to commit for a long time?
Scout retainers are month-to-month. You can pause or cancel anytime with 30 days' notice. The real value shows up over months, so we show you what the work is doing along the way, and the choice to stay is always yours.
What happens every month on my retainer?
On The Partnership, we keep your website updated and secure, keep content fresh, watch your local search and Google Business Profile, handle small fixes, and meet with you every quarter to adjust the strategy. On The Whole System, we also run the social, email, and ads that point back to your site when they fit, and you get a monthly report powered by Recon showing what we did, what is working, and what we are planning next.
Can you guarantee my site will rank?
No. Nobody can honestly promise a #1 ranking. Rankings depend on competition, search volume, your content, how long your site has been around, and a dozen other factors we can't control. What we can guarantee is that we'll build your site the right way: fast on every screen, with solid SEO foundations and real content that Google's looking for. Beyond that, it's about consistency and time.
How many revisions are included?
We include rounds of revisions until the site reflects what we discussed and agreed on. Small tweaks are part of the job, and they're included. If the project scope keeps expanding, like adding entirely new sections, we'll talk about adjusting the timeline or budget.
What if I need to transfer my site later?
You can. It's fully yours. Your domain, hosting, WordPress install, and content are all yours. You can move it to another host, hire a different team, hand it off to an in-house team, whatever. We'll help with the transition if you ask. That's part of the value we believe in: you're never locked in.