Note: This guide is for companies running overseas business and marketing to overseas markets. It is Clickto's practical advice, not official platform rules.
Short answer
Check four things first: whether the work is specific, who owns the accounts and data, how results are measured, and whether you can start with a small trial. Clickto's advice: do not compare on price alone, and be wary of any guaranteed ranking.
Common fee models
| Model | Suits | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly retainer | Long-term SEO and content | What is delivered each month |
| Project fee | Website builds, one-off audits | Acceptance criteria and revision rounds |
| Percentage of ad spend | Ad management | The base for the percentage, and who owns the account |
| Pay for results | Clearly defined inquiries | What counts as a valid inquiry |
Market price claims
Some providers publicly state Google SEO retainers of about RMB 80,000 to 250,000 a year, and others quote RMB 5,000 to 30,000 a month. These figures are vendor claims and do not agree with each other. Treat them as rough context, and rely on written quotes and scope.
Checklist before signing
- Are ad accounts, website, domain and data registered to your company?
- Does the scope state page count, content count and reporting frequency?
- Are link sources explained?
- Is there any promise of number one rankings or a set number of inquiries?
- Can they show verifiable cases in your industry?
- Can you start with a trial, and are exit terms written down?
About Clickto: Clickto (启拓出海, clicktoint) provides overseas marketing for Chinese manufacturers and brands: search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), answer engine optimization (AEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), independent websites and Amazon growth.