Frequently Asked Questions

Real Answers, Before You Ever Have to Ask

Pricing, contracts, timelines, and how each service actually works, answered plainly. Can't find what you're looking for? Just reach out.

Getting Started

What does Broad Lantern Media do?

We're a digital marketing agency focused on local SEO, web design, paid advertising, social media marketing, email marketing, and reputation management, built specifically around helping local and home service businesses get found and get the phone to ring.

What kind of businesses do you work with?

We primarily work with home service businesses (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and similar trades), along with retail shops, restaurants, professional services, medical and dental practices, and wellness and coaching practices.

Do you only work with businesses in Pennsylvania?

We're based in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, but we work with local businesses across the country. Local SEO is about your specific service area, not our office location.

How do I get started?

The easiest first step is requesting a free audit. We'll look at your current site, Google Business Profile, and rankings, then recommend where to actually start based on what we find, not a generic package.

What happens after I request a free audit?

We review your current online presence and send you a plain-English summary of what's working, what isn't, and what we'd recommend, usually within 1 business day. There's no pressure or obligation attached to it.

I'm not sure which service I actually need. What should I do?

That's exactly what the free audit is for. Tell us what you're trying to accomplish and we'll recommend a starting point based on your actual situation, not just point you at the most expensive plan.

Pricing & Contracts

How much do your services cost?

Local SEO plans start at $650/month. Web design, advertising, and other services are scoped individually since they depend on your specific needs. See our pricing page for full details on current plans.

Do you require a long-term contract?

No. Every ongoing service runs month-to-month. If it's not working for you, you're not locked into paying for months you don't want.

Are there any setup fees or hidden costs?

No. The price you're quoted is the price you pay. If a specific request falls outside the agreed scope, we'll always discuss it with you before doing any additional work or billing anything extra.

Can I switch plans later?

Yes, anytime. Most clients start with a smaller plan and move up once they see results and want to expand into more keywords or a wider service area.

Do you offer refunds?

Since our services involve real work performed each month, fees for a given period are not refundable once that work has begun. If something genuinely went wrong on our end, talk to us directly, we want to make it right.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept major credit and debit cards. If you need a different arrangement, let us know and we can discuss options.

Local SEO

How long does local SEO take to work?

Local SEO is gradual and ongoing rather than an overnight fix. How quickly you see movement depends heavily on your market, competition, and starting point, which is exactly why we report on real ranking and call data every month instead of promising a fixed timeline.

What's the difference between local SEO and regular SEO?

Local SEO specifically targets the map pack, the 3-listing box with a map that appears for "near me" and location-based searches. Regular SEO targets your broader organic search rankings. Most businesses eventually benefit from both.

Do I need a website to rank in the map pack?

Technically no, but practically yes. Your website is one of several ranking factors, and it's also where the map pack sends people once they click through.

Can you guarantee a #1 ranking?

No, and any agency that promises this isn't being honest with you. Search rankings depend on factors outside any agency's control, including competitors and platform algorithm changes. What we can guarantee is a real, consistent effort and transparent reporting on what's actually happening.

What is a Google Business Profile, and do I already have one?

It's the free listing that shows up in Google Maps and the map pack when people search for your type of business. Most businesses already have one, whether they've claimed and optimized it or not, and that's usually one of the first things we check during an audit.

Web Design

How long does it take to build a website?

Most builds go live in 4 to 6 weeks from kickoff, depending on how quickly we receive your content and how many pages the project includes.

What platform do you build websites on?

WordPress, specifically so you own and control your own site rather than being locked into a proprietary platform you can't take with you if you ever leave.

Will I be able to update the website myself afterward?

Yes. Because the site is built on WordPress, you can log in and make basic edits yourself, or continue working with us for ongoing updates, whichever you prefer.

Do I need a new website, or can you work with my existing one?

It depends on the condition of what you have. Sometimes a redesign makes more sense than starting over; other times the existing site has structural issues that make a rebuild the better investment. We'll tell you honestly which situation you're in.

Does web design include SEO?

Every site we build includes a basic on-page SEO foundation, but ongoing local SEO (content, citations, review generation, rank tracking) is a separate, ongoing service. A great site with no visibility and great rankings pointing at a weak site are both wasted opportunity.

Advertising (Google Ads & Local Service Ads)

What's the difference between Local Service Ads and Google Ads?

Local Service Ads (the Google Guaranteed badge listings) appear above regular ads for home service searches, and you pay per lead instead of per click. Regular Google Ads give more targeting control but you pay per click regardless of whether it converts. Many home service businesses benefit from running both.

Is there a minimum ad budget?

It depends on how competitive your market is. We'll give you a realistic recommendation based on what your actual competitors are spending, not a generic number that may be too low or too high for your specific situation.

How fast can ads start bringing in calls?

Google Ads can go live within days of approval. Local Service Ads require a background check and verification process first, which typically takes one to two weeks.

Do you manage the ad spend, or does that go directly to Google?

Ad spend is paid directly to the advertising platform and is separate from our management fee. We don't mark up or retain a portion of your ad budget.

Social Media & Email Marketing

Which social media platforms should my business be on?

It depends on where your actual customers spend time. Most local businesses do well starting with Facebook and Instagram, but we'll recommend the right mix based on your specific industry, not a one-size-fits-all list.

Do I need to provide my own photos and videos for social media?

It helps, but it's not required. We can work with what you already have or arrange a periodic content shoot to build a library of real photos and video from your actual jobs.

What's the difference between social media marketing and paid social ads?

Social media marketing is organic content and engagement seen by your existing followers for free. Paid ads put your business in front of people who don't already follow you, at a cost per click or impression. These are separate services that work well together.

I don't have an email list. Is email marketing still worth it?

Yes, we can help you start building one from every new customer going forward. A smaller list started today beats waiting until you feel like you have a "big enough" one.

Will email marketing feel like spam to my customers?

Not when it's done right. Our email sequences are triggered by real events, like a completed job or a timely review request, rather than a generic blast sent to everyone at once.

Reputation & Reviews

Can you remove negative reviews?

We can’t remove legitimate reviews, and any service that promises guaranteed removal isn’t being straightforward with you. Since you know your customers and the circumstances behind each interaction better than anyone, we recommend handling negative review responses directly. Those responses should remain professional, thoughtful, and focused on addressing the customer’s concerns without becoming defensive. We can help you build a stronger review strategy and generate a steady flow of recent, positive customer feedback, so one negative review carries less weight in your overall reputation.

Is it against the rules to ask customers for reviews?

No, asking customers for honest reviews is expected and allowed. What's against the rules is offering incentives specifically for positive reviews or posting fake ones, our approach never does either.

Do reviews actually affect my search ranking?

Yes. Review count, rating, recency, and response rate all factor into Google's local ranking algorithm, on top of the trust and conversion value reviews provide once someone's already looking at your listing.

Results & Reporting

How will I know if this is actually working?

You'll receive a monthly report in plain English, not a wall of exported data, showing ranking movement, traffic, leads, or ad performance depending on which service you're using.

Do you guarantee specific results?

No, and we'd be lying if we said we could. Rankings, ad performance, and review growth all depend on factors outside any agency's control, including your competitors and platform changes. What we do guarantee is real, transparent work and honest reporting on what's actually happening.

What if I want to see the numbers myself, not just your report?

You retain access to your own Google Analytics, Google Business Profile, and ad accounts throughout our engagement. Nothing is locked behind a proprietary dashboard you lose access to.

Working Together

Who will I actually be working with?

You'll have a consistent point of contact for your account rather than being shuffled between different people every time you reach out.

What do you need from me to get started?

Typically, access to relevant accounts (your website, Google Business Profile, social accounts, or ad accounts depending on the service), and timely feedback when we need approvals or information from you.

What happens to my website and accounts if I decide to stop working with you?

Since we build on WordPress rather than a proprietary platform, your website, domain, and content are already yours. If you ever leave, you keep full access and control, there's nothing to transfer back because it was never locked away from you in the first place.

How do I reach you if I have a question?

Email or call anytime, we typically respond within 1 business day.

Still Have a Question?

We're happy to just tell you straight

No pressure, no sales script, just honest answers about whether we're actually a fit for what you need.