What does a digital marketing retainer actually include?
Short answer
At AtomikEngine, monthly programs run $1,500 to $10,000+ and typically cover technical SEO, GEO for AI search, content production, paid media management on Google and Meta, lifecycle email and SMS, and attribution reporting. Ad spend is separate and paid directly to the platforms.
Updated
How to compare retainers honestly
Ask what is delivered each month in concrete units — pages published, technical fixes shipped, campaigns managed — and what the reporting actually measures. A report of impressions is not a report of revenue.
Confirm whether ad spend is included or separate, who owns the ad accounts, and what the exit terms are.