AEO Services Packages: What's Included and What's Extra

AEO agency packages vary significantly in what's included versus what costs extra. Understanding the standard package structure helps buyers compare offerings accurately and avoid unexpected costs. This guide decodes typical AEO package components so you know exactly what you're purchasing.

Standard AEO Package Tiers

Most agencies structure AEO services into three or four tiers with escalating deliverables and pricing.

Common tier structure:

Tier	Monthly Range	Primary Audience
Starter/Basic	$2,000-$5,000	SMBs, single-domain focus
Growth/Standard	$5,000-$10,000	Growing companies, multi-platform
Enterprise/Premium	$10,000-$20,000+	Large organizations, complex needs

Each tier includes specific deliverables, with some components standard across all tiers and others exclusive to higher packages.

What's Typically Included in Every Package

Certain deliverables appear in virtually all AEO packages regardless of tier.

Standard inclusions:

Deliverable	What You Get	Frequency
AI Visibility Audit	Baseline assessment across platforms	One-time (at start)
Strategy Document	Prioritized optimization roadmap	One-time + updates
Basic Reporting	Citation tracking summary	Monthly
Email Support	Questions answered via email	Ongoing
Account Management	Dedicated contact person	Ongoing

These fundamentals establish the baseline. Any package missing these basics should raise concerns about service quality.

Tier-Specific Inclusions

Higher tiers add deliverables that lower packages exclude.

Starter Tier Typically Includes

Content optimization:

3-5 pages optimized monthly
Basic schema markup for optimized pages
Heading and structure recommendations

Technical:

robots.txt AI crawler configuration
Basic technical audit findings

Reporting:

Monthly summary report
1-2 platform coverage

Growth Tier Adds

Content optimization:

6-10 pages monthly
FAQ schema implementation
HowTo schema for procedural content
Content briefs for new pages

Technical:

Comprehensive schema audit
Site-wide technical recommendations
XML sitemap optimization

Reporting:

Bi-weekly reporting
3-4 platform coverage
Competitive tracking (2-3 competitors)

Support:

Monthly strategy calls
Slack or Teams channel access

Enterprise Tier Adds

Content optimization:

15+ pages monthly
Custom schema types
Full content calendar planning
Expert author positioning strategy

Technical:

Complete technical implementation
Advanced structured data testing
Performance optimization

Reporting:

Weekly reporting with analysis
All major platform coverage
Comprehensive competitive intelligence

Support:

Weekly strategy calls
Dedicated team (not shared resources)
Priority response times

Common Add-Ons (Not Included)

Certain services frequently appear as add-ons across all tiers—even enterprise packages.

Content creation: Most packages cover optimization of existing content. New content creation typically costs extra.

Add-On	Typical Cost
Blog posts (1,000+ words)	$300-$800 per article
Landing pages	$500-$1,500 per page
FAQ content creation	$150-$400 per FAQ set
Video script optimization	$200-$500 per script

Advanced technical work:

Custom API integrations: $1,000-$5,000+ (project-based)
CMS migration support: $2,000-$10,000 (project-based)
Multi-site implementations: Per-site pricing additions

Expanded scope:

Additional domains: $500-$2,000+ monthly per domain
International markets: 25-50% increase per market
E-commerce product optimization: Per-SKU or category pricing

Strategic services:

Competitive deep-dives: $1,500-$5,000 per analysis
PR/third-party mention campaigns: $3,000-$10,000+ monthly
Executive positioning: $2,000-$5,000+ monthly

Hidden Costs to Watch For

Some costs appear after contract signing. Ask specifically about these.

Setup fees: Many agencies charge one-time setup fees ($1,000-$5,000) covering initial audit and onboarding. Sometimes waived for longer contracts.

Tool costs: Some packages require you to purchase separate tool subscriptions. Clarify whether tools are included or additional.

Overage charges: Packages often cap deliverables. Additional pages or requests beyond cap incur per-item charges.

Minimum commitments: Many require 6-12 month minimums. Early termination fees can reach 2-3 months of service costs.

Revision limits: Content revisions may be limited. Excessive rounds cost extra.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

Clarify package specifics with these questions:

Scope questions:

Exactly how many pages are included monthly?
What happens if I need more pages optimized?
Which AI platforms do you track and report on?

Cost questions:

Are there setup or onboarding fees?
What tool subscriptions are required beyond the retainer?
What are overage rates for exceeding package limits?

Support questions:

How many strategy calls are included?
What's the typical response time for support requests?
Who specifically works on my account (seniors or juniors)?

Contract questions:

What's the minimum commitment period?
What's the cancellation process and any fees?
Are there annual rate increases built in?

Reading Between Package Lines

Agency packages sometimes obscure value differences. Look for these signals.

Positive indicators:

Clear deliverable quantities (not vague "optimization services")
Named platforms included in tracking
Specific meeting cadence committed
Transparent add-on pricing

Warning signs:

"Unlimited" claims (nothing is truly unlimited)
No clear distinction between tiers
Deliverables described only in general terms
Resistance to itemizing what's included

Key Takeaways

Navigate AEO package structures effectively:

Basic components (audit, strategy, reporting, support) should appear in every tier
Tier differences primarily involve volume (pages optimized) and depth (platform coverage, support access)
Content creation is almost always extra—packages cover optimization, not creation
Ask about hidden costs including setup fees, tool costs, overages, and minimums
Get specifics in writing before signing—vague package descriptions lead to disappointment

Understanding package structures prevents surprises and ensures you're comparing equivalent offerings when evaluating AEO agencies.

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Matt Pru