If you're thinking about paying an agency to get you higher on Google, here's how that usually compares with Pinlink. Agencies vary a lot, so use this as a checklist of questions to ask, not a verdict on any one firm.
The short version
- An agency can make sense if you want a website, ads and social media handled by one firm and have the budget for it.
- Pinlink does one thing for local trades and businesses: gets you into the top 5 on Google Maps, named by AI assistants, and answers the calls you miss, at a price you can see before you talk to anyone.
Side by side
| Pinlink | Typical local SEO agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Prices | Published: £49 one-off, £249, £349 or £598 a month | Often quoted only after a sales call |
| Minimum term | 6 months, then month to month | Many push a 12-month tie-in |
| Focus | Google Maps top 5, AI naming, reviews and missed calls | Often broader: website SEO, ads, social media |
| Missed calls | The Pinlink Assistant answers, takes details and books the job | Usually not covered |
| Named by AI assistants | A headline part of the Growth plan | Varies. Ask what they do for ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. |
| Reviews | Genuine reviews from real customers only. We never create, buy or gate them. | Varies. Ask how they get reviews. |
| Proof | Proof and progress report every month | Varies |
Questions to ask any agency
- What's the monthly price, and how long is the contract?
- What exactly will you do on my Google profile each month?
- What happens to calls I miss while I'm on a job?
- How will you get me named when someone asks ChatGPT or Gemini for a local trade?
- How do you get reviews? (If the answer involves buying them, walk away.)
- What will your monthly report show me?
And what about Google Ads?
Ads stop the moment you stop paying, and the leads stop with them. Pinlink builds placement you own on Google Maps, plus an assistant that keeps working while you're on the tools.
Common questions
Why does Pinlink have a 6-month minimum?
Because Google rankings take time. Profile fixes show within weeks, and your ranking usually builds into the local top 5 over one to five months. Our 6-month minimum is half the 12-month tie-in many agencies push, and after it your plan continues month to month and you can cancel any time.
Is Pinlink an agency?
We're a small UK team that does one job for local businesses: get you found first on Google Maps and in AI search, and answer the calls you can't take. You can see who does the work on our team page.
Can I see what I'd get before paying?
Yes. The free visibility scan shows where you rank on Google Maps, whether AI assistants name you, and what to fix first. It's free and there's no obligation.
See where you stand first.
Get a free visibility scan. Free, no obligation. Results on WhatsApp, usually the same working day.
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