What should an AI visibility agency cost?

Diagnostic-stage engagements typically run $2,500 to $3,500 for a fixed two-week audit. Ongoing build engagements run $5,000 to $10,000 per month. Content for regulated verticals like fintech carries a 20 to 30 percent premium for compliance review.

How long until AI visibility work shows results?

First ranking signals typically appear in 60 to 90 days, non-brand movement in 90 to 180 days, and pipeline contribution in 6 to 9 months. PayQuicker grew organic clicks from 85 to 330 and AI-referred traffic from 15 to 257 over 18 months of sustained work.

Is an AI visibility agency different from an SEO agency?

Yes, in target and in method. An SEO agency optimizes for rankings on a results page. An AI visibility agency optimizes for inclusion in AI-generated answers, where selection is binary, and citation behavior differs by engine.

Can we run this evaluation without hiring anyone?

Yes. The checklist and scorecard are designed for self-service. The AI Visibility Diagnostic exists for teams that want the visibility gap documented before they shortlist anyone.

How to Evaluate an AI Visibility Agency: The Fintech Buyer's Checklist

Evaluating an AI visibility agency comes down to six questions covering proof, staffing, methodology, evidence, and measurement, scored the way procurement teams score proposals rather than the way marketing teams read portfolios.

The Advice Is Better Than the Evidence

We pulled the sources Google's AI Overview cites for the core agency-evaluation queries on August 3, 2026. Zero of those sources are specific to fintech. Zero mention AEO, GEO, citations, or any AI visibility criterion at all.

Six Questions Every Agency Should Be Able to Answer

1. Named case studies with verifiable numbers. 2. What the AI engines say about the agency. 3. Who actually does the work. 4. A readable methodology before you buy. 5. Evidence supporting the approach. 6. What will be reported and how often.

The RFP Checklist

Pass/fail minimum qualifications: a named case study in a regulated vertical, a written methodology, named key personnel, and references who will be contacted. Then proof, method requirements, and commercial terms.

How to Score the Answers

Demonstrated results 30 points, methodology and measurement 25, staffing 15, evidence of efficacy 10, the agency's own AI visibility 10, cost and commercial terms 10. Cost receives the smallest weight intentionally.

The One-Page Scorecard

Eight rows, one per evaluation question, one column per agency. Print it. Use it in the interviews. Multiply by the weights for a single comparable number, or use the unweighted version most buyers find sufficient.