What agencies do.
What we don’t.
Hidden prices, long contracts and juniors doing the work. In November 2026 we looked at 72 design, marketing and AI agencies in North East networking groups. This is what we found, and what we do instead.
What we found.
We checked the websites of every design, web, marketing, social, video and AI business we could find in Network B2B, BNI, the North East Chamber and other local groups.
show no price anywhere on their website.
let you try an instant reply on text, WhatsApp, email and a phone call.
Northern’s day rate. Every monthly plan is one, two or three of those days.
Side by side.
Not every agency does all of this. Plenty do some of it. Ask about each one before you sign.
| Question | Some agencies | Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Prices | “Get a quote.” Of the 72 agencies we checked in North East networking groups, 53 show no price at all. | Prices are on the site. £355 a day. Websites £1,500 to £6,500. Instant Reply £445 setup, first month free. |
| Who does the work | A senior person pitches. A junior, a freelancer or an offshore team does the work. | Dave Head pitches it and does it. No hand-off. |
| Contracts | 12-month contracts with long notice periods. | Rolling monthly with 30 days’ notice. The one exception is the £129 Monthly Website, which has a 12-month minimum because there’s nothing to pay up front. |
| Ad fees | A percentage of your ad spend, so they earn more when you spend more. | A fixed fee on the day rate. We gain nothing by telling you to spend more. |
| Your accounts | Ad accounts, domains and sites set up in the agency’s name. Leaving gets awkward. | Your domain, code, content and ad accounts are in your name from day one. |
| Social media | A monthly “social media management” retainer that pays for posts nobody needed. | We make social ads and content that sell. We don’t sell management retainers. |
| Replying to you | Days to reply to an enquiry, and a 30-minute call that turns into a sales pitch. | A free hour with Dave. Try our instant reply demo and you’ll get a reply in under a minute. |
| AI | “AI-powered” on the website, but nothing you can try. | A live demo on your own phone: a text, a WhatsApp, an email and an AI phone call, all within a minute. None of the 72 agencies offers that. |
| Proof | Logos and awards, few numbers. | 80+ case studies with the work shown, and 5.0 from 37 Google reviews. |
Northern wrote this page, so check it for yourself. The 72 figure comes from our own review of agency websites in November 2026. We don’t name them, because the point is the habits, not the people.
When an agency is the better choice.
- You need a team of ten on one account. Northern is one senior person with trusted specialists. A big campaign across TV, PR and events needs a bigger shop.
- You want someone in your office every day. Hire in-house. Our agency or senior lead page compares the costs.
- You only want monthly social media posting. We don’t do management, so a social media manager will suit you better.
Five questions to ask any agency.
- What does it cost, in pounds? If they can’t give a range on the first call, expect surprises.
- Who will do the work? Ask for their name and how long they’ve done it.
- How do I leave? Look for 30 days’ notice, not 12 months.
- Whose name are the accounts in? Your domain, website and ad accounts should be yours.
- Is the ad fee fixed? A percentage of spend rewards them for spending more of your money.
Ask Dave all five.
Book a free hour. You’ll get straight answers and a price, and if we’re not the right fit we’ll say so.
Book a free hour with Dave