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From Retainer Trap to Strategic Reset: How One Practice Reclaimed $20K+ in Wasted Fees and Got More for Less

Here's how one independent dermatology practice uncovered what their $2,500/month marketing retainer wasn’t doing, and how a streamlined, transparent approach saved them over $20,000 a year while delivering better results. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really behind a monthly fee, this one’s worth a read.

Image by micheile henderson

Background


This independently owned cosmetic dermatology practice had been paying a national marketing agency a $2,500/month retainer, a fee that was supposed to include SEO, blog content, Google Business Profile optimization, email marketing, website edits, monthly reporting, and strategy sessions. But despite the hefty price tag, the practice wasn’t seeing results. Conversions were stagnant, reports were vague, and promised deliverables were months (or years) behind schedule.

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The Problem


We conducted a full review of their performance data, site content, and vendor documentation.

 

Here’s what we found:

  • No email marketing was being sent, despite being listed as a core service.

  • Blog posts were nearly nonexistent: just two published in all of 2024.

  • Monthly edits weren’t happening, and the site still referenced discontinued services.

  • The Google Business Profile hadn’t been updated in months.

  • SEO traffic gains were inflated by junk backlinks and non-U.S. visitors.

  • Of the top referring domains, several were low-quality link directories or spam sites, suggesting the agency had been buying backlinks to prop up numbers.

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Meanwhile, actual organic search traffic was declining, and most visitors were coming from direct sources, not Google.

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In short: the $2,500/month retainer wasn’t just bloated, it was misrepresenting impact and masking performance issues.

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The Solution


We worked with the client to exit their vendor contract, then rebuilt their marketing infrastructure from the ground up, for less than a single quarter of their prior spend.

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Website Refresh ($2,000 one-time)

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  • Removed outdated services and replaced old creative with brand-consistent visuals.

  • Migrated hosting to WPX for faster load times, security, and better ad platform compatibility.

  • Re-enabled Elementor editing to give the practice full control of homepage banners and messaging.

  • Inserted legally required disclaimers for model imagery to ensure platform compliance.

  • Fixed broken links and carousel assets to streamline user flow and improve ad-driven conversions.

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Ongoing Content & Reporting ($500/month)

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  • Monthly blog strategy with 2–3 new SEO-optimized posts.

  • Monthly Google Analytics reporting, aligned with programmatic campaign performance.

  • Optional hourly website support with no retainer or hidden fees.

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The Outcome

 

  • Total projected savings of over $20,000 per year compared to the previous agency model.

  • More content, clearer strategy, and measurable ROI, without long-term contracts or mystery deliverables.

  • A compliant, modernized website aligned with both organic search best practices and programmatic media.

  • A marketing setup built for flexibility, not just fees.

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The Takeaway


Not every marketing problem requires a full agency to solve, but every practice deserves clarity on what they’re paying for. By stepping in as a strategic partner, we helped this client reclaim control of their digital presence and direct their budget toward actual growth, not line items that looked good on paper but delivered nothing in practice.

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