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Your Questions Answered

The questions businesses ask us before they start, with the answers we give. Each one comes from a real conversation.

Your Questions About Primal Answered

Have you worked with companies in our industry before?

Primal works with clients in many industries, so the answer is often yes. During discovery, the team shares the relevant work it is allowed to show. Some work is covered by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and cannot be shared, so tell Primal your industry and ask for matching examples.

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How long is the contract, and can we leave if the results fall short?

Agreements usually run for 12 months. Primal and you agree the key performance indicators (KPIs) in writing within 30 days of launch, once there are four weeks of data. If they are not met by the six-month review, you may end the agreement with 30 days' written notice, under our performance guarantee.

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What services does Primal offer?

Primal is a marketing agency where an integrated team covers strategy, search, performance, creative, social and data. In practice that includes SEO, AI visibility, Google and Meta ads, lead generation campaigns, digital public relations (PR), content and website design.

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Where are your offices, and how big is your team?

Primal has offices in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore, with about 150 people, and has operated since 2015. Media buying for Malaysian clients is done in the Kuala Lumpur office.

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What access do you need to our accounts to get started?

Primal needs page and ad account access on each platform it runs, plus Google Analytics for the website. You keep ownership and the admin rights. When access is not possible yet, the work starts from your reports, screenshots and Primal's own tools, and the accounts are connected later.

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What does your package include?

Each package is put together after a review of your market and of the channels your competitors use, so it lists only what your strategy needs. The work can cover research, strategy, search engine optimisation (SEO), ads, content, outreach and reporting.

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How do you report results, and can we see them ourselves?

Yes. You keep ownership of your data, and Primal connects to your Google Analytics, Search Console, Tag Manager and ad accounts. Results come in a dashboard made from that data, or in your own reporting dashboard if you prefer, and a project manager reviews them with you every two weeks.

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How soon can you launch?

Advertising can usually go live within two weeks of the first payment, once the accounts and tracking are connected. A new website can launch in the same window when its scope is small.

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How does your proposal process work, and how long does it take to receive a proposal?

A proposal usually arrives three to five working days after the discovery call, and sooner when your team is available for follow-up questions. Discovery covers your business, goals, competitors and markets. Primal does not send a standard quote before then, because each proposal is a strategy made for your business.

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Is the ad budget included in your fee, or do we pay it on top?

The ad budget is separate from Primal's fee. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend. In Malaysia the ads can run in your own ad accounts, paid on your card, or in Primal's accounts with the media billed through Primal, depending on who pays for the media.

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Which countries and languages can you run campaigns in?

Primal can run campaigns across up to eight markets at once from an integrated team, and has done so for a regional brand. The core markets are Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, with an office in each, and campaigns run in English and in Thai.

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Will we have a dedicated account manager, and who will we work with day to day?

Yes. Each client has an account manager as the main contact. Day to day you talk over chat, such as WhatsApp, Teams or Slack, with a call at least every two weeks and a monthly report, plus a meeting to go through it when you need one. Some enterprise clients meet and receive reports weekly.

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What happens after we sign, and how does onboarding work?

After you sign the agreement, Primal sends an invoice and holds an onboarding workshop between the working team and you to cover anything still missing. The team then sets up the work and gets access to your ad accounts. Your account manager learns your strategy, and the team lists what it needs from you.

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Can our team keep part of the work in-house?

Yes. Many clients keep design, community replies or site changes with their own team. Primal takes the parts you need help with and writes recommendations for the rest, which your team can carry out.

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What results do you guarantee, and what happens if you do not deliver them?

Primal guarantees performance against key performance indicators (KPIs) agreed in writing within 30 days of launch, once there are four weeks of data. If they are not met by the six-month review, you may end the agreement with 30 days' written notice. Typical measures are AI visibility and keywords on page one of Google.

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Do you have case studies we can look at?

Yes. Primal has a library of case studies and sends the ones that match your industry after a call, along with its credentials. Some work is covered by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and cannot be shown.

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How does Primal charge: a monthly retainer, a management fee plus ad spend, or a fixed project fee?

Primal works on a monthly retainer. For ads, that is a management fee plus your ad spend, and the spend can change with your goals and the season. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend, which is billed separately.

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How much do you charge for your services each month?

SEO at Primal runs inside an ElevateSEO program, from RM5,500 a month. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend, which is billed separately. Fees above those minimums depend on the scope of work, the competition in your market and your goals, so Primal quotes after reviewing them.

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How long has Primal been in business, and who are your biggest clients?

Primal is a marketing agency that started in 2015, with offices in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore. An integrated team covers strategy, search, performance, creative, social and data. Primal shares its company credentials with prospective clients on request, so you can check its background before you decide.

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When do we pay, and do you need a deposit before starting?

Primal often asks for payment upfront. Most agreements are a flat monthly or quarterly fee. Shorter agreements carry a set-up fee, and project work, such as a website, takes a deposit. Credit terms can be offered once there is a strong payment history. Ad spend is billed separately from the fee.

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What are the differences between your packages, and can you give us several options to choose from?

Packages differ mainly by scope, which is the number of channels. A starter package runs one channel, such as Meta, and a larger package runs several, such as Google, Meta and Performance Max. Primal usually presents a few options in the proposal, so you can compare scope against budget before choosing.

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How often do we meet, and how do we stay in touch day to day?

Day to day you talk to your account manager over chat, such as WhatsApp, Teams or Slack. There is a call at least every two weeks, and a monthly report with a meeting to go through it when you need one. Some enterprise clients meet and receive reports weekly.

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What information and materials do you need from us before you start?

Primal needs your goals, the markets and services you want to focus on, your competitors, buyer personas and past marketing results, including monthly lead numbers. If you ran Google Ads before, the search query report helps. There is no fixed format, and an onboarding workshop collects the rest.

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What is the minimum budget, and can we start small and add more later?

Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend, which is billed separately. SEO and AI search at Primal run inside an ElevateSEO program, from RM5,500 a month. You can start with one channel and add more later. Agreements usually run for 12 months, and shorter ones carry a set-up fee.

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Do you use AI tools, and can we use them too?

Primal's team works with INSTINCT®, its internal AI capability, for research, strategy and reporting. It stays internal, so clients get the work it speeds up rather than a login. The work is still done by people, with AI behind them.

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Can you send a price list or a written quote before the strategy stage?

No. Primal does not send a standard price list or quote before the discovery call, because each proposal is a strategy made for your business. SEO at Primal runs inside an ElevateSEO program, from RM5,500 a month, and media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend.

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Can we pay by card, and can you quote and invoice in our own currency?

Primal quotes and invoices in Malaysian ringgit by default, and can quote in Singapore dollars or US dollars on request. You can pay by bank transfer or by card.

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Who will work on our account, how senior are they, and how is the team set up?

Primal sets the team for your account once it has your brief, during strategy development. Larger accounts go to an enterprise team. The wider team covers strategy, search, performance, creative and data, with an account manager as your main contact.

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How is Primal different from other agencies?

Primal puts strategy, search, performance, creative, social and data in an integrated team, with offices in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore. It uses campaign data to decide what to expand, and it offers performance guarantees, with key performance indicators (KPIs) agreed in writing within 30 days of launch.

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How do you take over from our current agency without disrupting our campaigns?

Primal reviews the current set-up, structure and ads first, then keeps what performs and changes what does not. If you own the ad accounts, the history stays with you, which reduces disruption. Any change brings a short learning period, so Primal agrees the handover with you before it starts.

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Will you run ads in our own ad account or in your own?

Either. In Malaysia the ads can run in your own ad accounts, where you pay the platform for the ad spend on your card and pay Primal the management fee, or in Primal's accounts, with the media billed through Primal. It depends on who pays for the media.

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Is there a set-up fee, and which fees are one-off and which are monthly?

Shorter agreements carry a one-off set-up fee, and project work, such as a website, takes a deposit. SEO and media management are flat monthly or quarterly fees, and ad spend is billed separately. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel. Agreements usually run for 12 months.

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Can part of your fee depend on results, such as bonuses or revenue sharing?

Primal's fee is usually a flat monthly or quarterly fee, not a share of revenue. The link to results is the performance guarantee. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are agreed in writing within 30 days of launch and reviewed at six months.

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What are the next steps to get a quote and start working together?

Primal asks a few questions to cover any gaps, then proposes the scope and a quotation. After you review it, Primal sends the agreement, and work starts once you sign.

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Are there extra charges, such as tax or tool fees, on top of the quoted fees?

Malaysian service tax (SST) is added to the quoted fee. Tools and dashboards carry no extra fee, because they are part of the program. Ad spend is billed separately, and the ad platforms add their own tax on it.

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Can you give us a discount, or are your prices negotiable?

Sometimes. Primal sets the scope first, then the fee. Taking more than one service together, or paying several months upfront, can lower the total.

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What measurable targets will you commit to, and how do you track them?

Primal agrees written key performance indicators (KPIs) within 30 days of launch, once four weeks of data set a baseline. They cover keyword rankings, AI visibility, AI and SEO traffic and the enquiries these bring. If they are not met by the six-month review, you may end the agreement with 30 days' written notice.

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How do your fees and budgets change when we advertise in several countries or channels?

Each extra channel or country adds a fee and its own ad budget. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend, which is billed separately. SEO is priced per country, and bundled packages can lower the total.

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How do we give you access to Google Analytics, Google Ads and Google Tag Manager?

You share access in each tool separately. In Google Analytics, open Admin and add Primal's email as a user. For Google Ads, send Primal your account ID and approve the link request that follows. In Google Tag Manager, add the email as a user on the container and check the container ID matches the one Primal sends.

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Is Primal independent, or part of a group with other agencies?

Primal is independent and not owned by a larger agency network.

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How much time and input do you need from our team?

Primal mainly needs your approvals and access. Work starts with an onboarding call and templates for you to fill in, and the first weeks need a few more check-ins. After that, you talk over chat day to day, with a call at least every two weeks and a monthly report.

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What are your working hours, and do you support us at weekends?

Primal works 9am to 6pm on weekdays and does not offer weekend support as standard. Ads are checked every day. If a weekend launch is likely, raise it at onboarding so the team can prepare for it.

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Where do the figures and growth forecasts in your proposals and reports come from, and are they guaranteed?

No. Proposal figures are estimates from your analytics, Primal's past work and research, not promised results. Performance guarantees apply to key performance indicators (KPIs) agreed in writing within 30 days of launch. If they are not met by the six-month review, you may end the agreement with 30 days' written notice.

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If we cannot give you direct access to our analytics, can you work from exports or dashboards?

Yes, Primal can work from exports of your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console reports, or from a dashboard you set up for the team to view. After the call Primal sends a list of the reports and metrics to export. Where no data is shared, the team works from its own tools.

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Which analytics tools do you use to track results, and can you work with ours?

Primal tracks results in Google Analytics and its own search data tools. If your site runs a different analytics tool, the team can work from exports of your reports. Share the name of the tool before the proposal, so Primal can confirm how it fits.

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Can SEO, AI search and paid media be bought together as one package?

Yes, Primal puts SEO, AI search and paid media into one proposal, so the decision maker sees the whole strategy in one place. You can start with ads straight away, or start with both together. Primal talks through both options on the same call.

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Do you offer advice or a review at no cost before we sign?

Yes. The discovery call and the marketing strategy Primal prepares after it are at no charge. A deeper review of your website or social profiles is separate work, agreed after the call.

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Your SEO Questions Answered

How much does SEO cost per month?

SEO at Primal runs inside an ElevateSEO program, from RM5,500 a month. The price rises with competition and the number of topics covered, so a business in a highly competitive market needs a higher tier. Primal confirms the exact monthly fee after discovery.

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Do you handle PR and media engagement?

Yes, as digital PR. Primal earns coverage and links on news and industry sites, and does not run events or press conferences.

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Can you run SEO across several countries, and what does it cost?

Yes. Primal runs SEO across several countries and prices each country as its own package, from RM5,500 a month. Each country's fee depends on the competition in your industry there and on your site's current strength, such as brand searches and authority. A second website is priced separately, and bundled packages can lower the total.

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How does SEO work, and what does the process look like from start to finish?

SEO at Primal starts with fixing the site so it loads quickly and follows Google's ranking practice, then adds content on the pages that earn enquiries. Links and digital public relations run alongside, and blog content follows. Primal reports keyword rankings and AI visibility, and agrees the keyword list with you after onboarding.

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How long does SEO take to show results?

Results usually show within the first six months, when Primal's recommendations are fully put in place. Delays in technical fixes, or in uploading on-site content and blog posts, usually push results beyond six months.

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Who writes the content and chooses the topics, and do we get to approve it?

Primal's writers research and write the content and suggest the topics, and you review and approve each piece before it goes live. You need someone on your side with time to review and add specialist input, especially on topics where regulations change.

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How do you choose which keywords to target, and how do you check they are realistic?

Primal starts from your business priorities, then picks keywords that have search volume and show buying intent, with matching AI prompts to track. The team checks how competitive each keyword is and sends a recommendation after onboarding, and you approve the final list.

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Should we use one domain with a subfolder for each country, or a separate domain for each country?

Primal usually recommends one domain with a subfolder for each country, because links and ranking strength then support one site. A separate domain per country spreads them across several sites, and each needs its own links. Each country subfolder can carry its own category and product pages, targeted at that market's keywords.

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How much does link building cost, and how many links do we get for that?

Links are included in the ElevateSEO program, not priced per link. SEO at Primal runs inside an ElevateSEO program, from RM5,500 a month. A share of the fee pays for links, and Primal does not promise a fixed number each month, because the links available depend on your market and the sites worth a placement.

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Should we keep several websites or combine them under one domain, and how do we do it without losing rankings?

Primal decides site by site, based on where each one needs to rank. When sites merge into one domain, Primal starts with the lowest-traffic site and redirects every old web address to a new one. Google usually takes one to three months to process it. A small site takes a few weeks, and some take six months or more.

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How do you protect our search rankings when we rebrand or change to a new website?

Primal writes a migration map that redirects every old page address to its matching new page, so the site's search authority carries over. We record current keywords and traffic first, to compare after launch. If the brand name changes, a short announcement on the new site tells visitors why.

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How do you find the keywords business buyers use for a new product?

Research starts from the problems buyers describe, not from the product's name. Each phrase is checked for search volume and for the pages that rank on it, and phrases that pull in consumers rather than business buyers are dropped.

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Are more backlinks always better, and how do you judge link quality?

No, more backlinks are not always better, because the relevance of the linking site matters more than the number of links. Primal checks which sites link to your competitors and compares your backlink profile against theirs. A site can be little known and still worth a link if it reaches the right readers and drives value.

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What are your SEO package levels, and how do they differ?

SEO packages differ in scope, with higher levels covering more blog posts, keywords, AI search prompts and target pages on your site. The more service areas and focus areas a business has, the higher the level it usually needs. Primal proposes options after learning your goals, so you can compare what each covers.

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How many leads can SEO bring in, and what results can we expect for our budget?

Primal does not promise a lead number up front. We start from the leads you get now, set a target that fits your budget and market, and agree key performance indicators (KPIs) in writing within 30 days of launch. If they are not met by the six-month review, you may end the agreement with 30 days' written notice.

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What if our own team cannot make the website changes you recommend?

Primal keeps working on content, topic pages and off-site work while your technical changes wait. Technical fixes matter most, though, so changes that never go live limit what Primal can guarantee. Performance guarantees depend on the agreed changes being made.

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How many articles or blogs do you publish each month?

The number of articles depends on your ElevateSEO program and is set in your proposal. Primal proposes the topics, you approve each piece, and the volume can rise for websites that need more content.

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Does your SEO service also cover AI search, including answer engine optimisation and generative engine optimisation?

Yes. ElevateSEO, Primal's SEO service, covers Google rankings and AI search together, including answer engine optimisation and generative engine optimisation. It covers ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews alongside Google's classic results, weighted to where your category's questions are asked.

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Does our website need to be in the local language to be found in other countries, and how does SEO work across languages?

Yes, people searching in another language find you only if your pages are in that language. Each language needs its own pages and its own keyword research, because people word searches differently. Someone who speaks the language should check the content.

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How many placements do you guarantee from a press release, and is it included in the fee?

Primal does not guarantee a number of placements. A digital press release can be part of an ElevateSEO program, and a distribution partner sends it to news sites, where each publisher decides whether to run it.

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Can you start SEO before we change website platform, and help us switch?

Yes, and starting before the new site goes live works best. Primal works on the current site, prepares the switch and checks the new site after launch, so the rankings already earned carry over.

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Do we need a new website for SEO, or can you work with our existing one?

No. ElevateSEO works with your existing website. Primal reviews the site and your competitors first, then recommends what to improve, including whether a new site would help.

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What kinds of content will you create for us, such as articles and infographics?

Primal writes service and product pages, category pages, blog guides and articles, question-and-answer pages and updates to the pages you already have. Each one is based on keyword research and written in English and Bahasa Malaysia where your buyers search in both. The content sits on your website, not on social media.

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How does SEO differ from one country to another, and do buyers add a location to their searches?

SEO work is similar in each country, but the priorities and the competitors differ, so Primal measures each market against its own competitors. Many buyers add no location to a search, and a plain search can return global firms. So Primal adds locations to the terms it targets, starting with the services that earn the business most.

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What are backlinks, and how do you earn them?

A backlink is a link from another website to yours, and it helps pages rank and appear in AI answers. Primal earns them through digital public relations, by asking sites that mention a brand without linking to add the link, and by buying placements on relevant sites.

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How do we attribute leads to organic search and AI search, and tell organic traffic from paid traffic?

Google Analytics separates organic from paid traffic, and the customer relationship management (CRM) system shows which form leads came from organic search and from AI traffic. Organic search does not reveal the keyword or prompt behind a lead, so leads are reported by channel, not by keyword.

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How long does a website migration take, will traffic drop, and when will we know it worked?

Time depends on the size of the site. Primal sends every old address to its new page with a permanent redirect to avoid a drop, but a short dip is possible. Google usually takes one to three months to process a change of address, and a small site takes a few weeks. Primal checks Google Search Console after launch.

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What work happens in the first two months of an SEO engagement?

In the first two months Primal reviews the whole site and lists the changes needed, then works with your developers to make them while preparing content. Tasks run in parallel so none waits on another. Later health checks catch changes that undo earlier fixes.

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What page changes do you make, such as new content, rewrites, titles, headings and web addresses?

Mostly content changes. Primal rewrites page titles, the descriptions shown in search results, main headings and body copy to carry the target keywords. It edits existing content, adds pages and changes web addresses where needed, starting from your wording. Content rewrites and blog production are part of ElevateSEO.

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What is a domain authority score, how do we improve it, and does it still matter now people use AI search?

Domain rating (DR) is a score from 0 to 100 for the strength of a site's links. It improves with links from relevant, trusted sites, which digital public relations (PR) and link placements on relevant sites provide. It still matters as one signal, because Google's AI results still rely on good SEO.

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Do you place guest posts or sponsored articles on other websites, and can our partners link to us?

Primal's link building earns links through editorial outreach and digital PR, where editors choose what to publish. Paid sponsored articles, called advertorials, are a separate service run through native advertising, and the publisher labels them as sponsored. Partners can also link to you from articles they publish about you.

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Do you manage and optimise our Google Business Profile, and how do we show up on Google Maps?

Yes. Local SEO covers Google Business Profile set-up and upkeep for each branch, location pages, reviews, business listings, local content and links, with reporting per branch. You give access and approve what Primal writes. Google sets the order of map results, so no one can promise a fixed position.

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Have you handled website migrations before?

Yes. Primal prepares website migrations from the start, ideally before work on the new site starts. Each old address is sent to its new page with a permanent redirect, the titles and copy that ranked are carried over or improved, and Google Search Console is checked after launch.

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What is schema markup, and why does our website need it?

Schema markup is code in the background of a page that tells Google and AI search what the page is about. On a product page it labels the product details, so search engines and AI tools understand the page straight away. Visitors do not see it. Without it, those tools must work out the content alone.

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Will Google and AI search rank content written by AI lower?

Not when the content is useful, unique and well edited. Primal's view is that search systems do not penalise writing that helps the reader, but purely AI-generated posts can harm a site, because AI text has recognisable patterns. The difficulty is keeping that quality when publishing at scale.

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Is the content published on our own website or on other websites?

Blog posts are published on your own website. Primal writes them, then either sends them for your team to upload to your blog section or uploads them directly if you give access to the site. Link placements on other sites are separate work.

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Will you tell us what content we are missing, and which new pages we need?

Yes. Primal reviews your site against your industry and keyword research, then lists the pages you are missing and the topics where your content is thin, including service and product category pages.

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Can you benchmark our competitors' websites against ours, and what do you need from us to do it?

Yes, Primal benchmarks your website against your competitors' websites. It needs the brand name or the website address of each competitor you have in mind, and either one is enough.

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Why does our website not show up when people search for our services or ask AI tools?

The most common cause is technical. Settings on the site can stop Google and AI crawlers from reading the pages, and a poorly organised site structure makes content hard to find, so good content is never ranked or cited. Primal first checks whether crawlers can reach and read your pages.

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Can a website made with JavaScript rank well, and what has to change?

A website made with JavaScript can rank well when search bots can read its content. The usual fix is server-side rendering, where the server sends finished pages, or a readable version of the content alongside the site. Without that, Google and AI crawlers may miss the content and rank the site lower.

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What is a topic in your SEO package, and how is it different from a keyword?

A topic is a subject area your site should rank for, such as one product category, and it covers many related keywords. For each topic, Primal creates or improves the pages that support it, writes the content and adds the keywords. The number of target pages per topic is flexible.

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What is direct traffic, and how does it grow?

Direct traffic is visits from people who type your web address into a browser and go straight to your site. It grows with brand awareness, so events, a strong team and customers who keep returning all raise it.

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Should we copy a competitor's content strategy?

Study it, but match their topics rather than their volume. A post ranks and gets cited when it answers a buyer's question better than the page already there, with first-hand data or examples, so cover the questions your own buyers ask.

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Which AI platforms do you optimise for and track, such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overviews?

Primal optimises for Google AI Overviews, Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude, and sometimes Perplexity. Work starts on the website, fixing technical issues so Google and AI bots can read and index every page. Elevate, Primal's AI Visibility Tracker, tracks how brands show up in AI answers.

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How do you measure and track our visibility in AI search answers?

ElevateSEO includes its own AI visibility measurement. It tracks how your brand appears in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews for the questions that matter in your category, and which sources those platforms cite. It sits in one report with your rankings and traffic, so you can see how both change as the work goes on.

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How do we get our brand mentioned in AI answers?

Primal gets a brand mentioned in AI answers by placing it on the articles and directories AI models already cite, using digital public relations and link placements. It also makes your own website a source of truth, with every statistic and launch stated clearly. Strong SEO rankings support both.

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How much does AI search optimisation cost?

SEO at Primal runs inside an ElevateSEO program, from RM5,500 a month. The program covers AI search visibility as well as Google rankings, and higher tiers cover more topics, so the fee rises with the scope. Primal sets the tier after reviewing your market and goals.

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What is AI search optimisation, and how is it different from SEO?

AI search optimisation is SEO with extra work, so your brand appears inside answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews as well as in ranked links. Most of the work is the same strong SEO, plus a smaller part specific to AI. Primal runs both inside its ElevateSEO program.

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Where do AI tools get the information they use, and what kind of content do they pick up?

AI tools draw on your own website and on other sites that mention you, such as publishers, forums and videos. ChatGPT keeps its own index, so its sources differ from Google's. They favour clear, informational content, such as tables of product information, that is easy to read and reuse in an answer.

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Is AI search worth investing in now, and should we put more effort into SEO or AI search?

Yes, AI search is worth investing in now, as an extension of SEO rather than a separate effort, because most of the work is the same strong SEO. Many buyers research large purchases in AI tools, so appearing there reaches them early. Primal runs both inside its ElevateSEO program.

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What makes a website ready for AI search, and do blocked AI crawlers or web addresses affect it?

A site ready for AI search lets AI crawlers read it and uses clear web addresses that set context, because ChatGPT reads the address before the page. If crawlers are blocked, the brand can still appear through content on third-party sites that assistants read. The domain name can also affect it.

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How long does AI search optimisation take to show results?

Technical fixes and page changes can show in AI answers within weeks. Mentions for competitive questions usually take several months of content and outreach. The strategy sets targets by month, so you can see progress early.

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How do you choose the AI prompts you track and optimise for?

Primal picks the prompts with you, using customer research, keyword data and research into the questions people ask in your industry. The set is chosen first, then tracked to see whether your brand appears, because every possible prompt cannot be measured.

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Do we still need good SEO and Google rankings to appear in AI search?

Yes, for Google's AI results. Google's AI Overviews rely on good SEO, so pages that rank well are more likely to appear in them. Other AI assistants also draw on sources such as social sites, Wikipedia and external articles, so mentions beyond your own site matter too.

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Do you optimise for AI search, such as ChatGPT?

Yes. Primal covers AI search inside ElevateSEO, alongside strong SEO, and aims to get your brand mentioned and cited in AI answers such as ChatGPT and Google's AI Mode. Elevate, Primal's AI Visibility Tracker, tracks how brands show up in AI answers.

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Is AI search a long-term effort, and what happens after the first few months?

Yes. AI search is a continuing effort because competitors keep working on it, and agreements usually run for 12 months. Visibility can start to show after a few months, and the work carries on after that to hold and widen it.

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Your Performance Questions Answered

What results can we expect from a given monthly ad budget?

Primal gives a forecast only after it sees your ad account data, so it cannot name a result in advance. With access, it forecasts leads or sessions for a stated monthly budget across Google and Meta. With no paid history, it starts from a cautious estimate based on assumptions.

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How much should we spend on ads each month?

The right monthly ad budget depends on your goals, your number of products and locations, and how many ads can run, so Primal recommends one after discovery. It usually starts with a smaller test budget in one area, then raises or lowers it as results arrive. You approve each amount.

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Who designs the ads and makes the content, and what do we need to supply?

Unless ad design is part of your Primal package, your team supplies the ads. When it is part of the package, Primal's team designs them. In Malaysia, Primal does not run photo or video shoots.

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Which ad channels should we start with?

For companies that sell to other businesses, Primal usually starts with Google, using paid search and organic search together, and adds Meta or LinkedIn where the audience uses them. For consumer brands that want customers quickly, it starts with Meta and Google Search ads. The final mix is agreed after reviewing your goals, market and budget.

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Which ad platforms do you run, such as Google, Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn?

Primal manages Google Search, Shopping, Performance Max, Display and YouTube, Facebook and Instagram through Meta, TikTok, Shopee and Lazada, programmatic and native ads, and ChatGPT ads. The strategy sets which ones fit your buyers and your budget.

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Do you create and post our social media content, or do you only run ads?

In Malaysia, Primal runs paid social ads, not the posts on your own pages. Ads reach chosen audiences without appearing as posts on your page. Social media management runs from Primal's Bangkok office.

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What return do clients usually see, and how do we justify the budget?

Primal does not publish a typical return, because it depends on your history, margins and market. Before launch, Primal reviews past account results and estimates leads from your budget and search demand. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are then agreed in writing within 30 days of launch, once there are four weeks of data.

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How do you split the ad budget between channels, such as Google and Meta?

Primal sets the split from search demand and estimated cost per lead, then adjusts it as results come in. Smaller budgets often go to one channel first, because splitting them too far slows learning. Larger budgets can start on Google and Meta together, with an initial split agreed in the strategy.

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What does the creative package include, how much does it cost, and how do revisions and credits work?

When ad design is part of your package, Primal's team makes static images, carousels and animated graphics, adapted from a few main ideas into each format. Video beyond short edits is quoted separately. The price is set in your proposal.

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How do you keep spam and unqualified leads out of lead forms, and what share is normal?

Primal adds filtering questions to the landing page form, such as the type of enquiry and the timeline, so low-intent visitors drop out before they reach you. Meta traffic goes to the same page, so every lead answers the same questions. Some unqualified leads always remain, so a pre-qualifying step before a consultant calls helps.

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How do you track and prove which leads, calls and orders came from the ads?

Primal tracks form submissions, clicks on a phone number, WhatsApp chat starts and online payments on your web pages, and records the source behind each one. Reporting runs in a dashboard, with analytics installed on your website to show traffic sources. Results are measured mainly in leads, because a closed deal can take months to confirm.

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Can leads sync into our customer relationship management (CRM) system, such as Salesforce?

Yes, Primal can connect landing page forms to a customer relationship management (CRM) system such as Salesforce or HubSpot. For HubSpot, Primal takes the form code from your account and places it on the landing page. For Salesforce, Primal works with whoever manages it to set up the connection.

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How long do paid ads take to show results, and what happens in the first month?

Ads can show as soon as a campaign is approved. In the first month, Primal gets the campaigns stable and checks the tracking. Automated bidding on Google and Meta needs several weeks of conversion data to settle, and a steady cost per lead usually takes a few months of testing. The strategy sets targets by month.

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Can you run ads and landing pages in our local language, and do you know our local market?

Yes. Primal runs ads and landing pages in English and Bahasa Malaysia, with each page in the language of its ad, and you give final sign-off on the wording. Campaigns in Thailand run in Thai. Each market starts with research into competitor ads.

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How do you make the list of target accounts and find the contact details?

Primal finds target companies on LinkedIn, then uses data tools that check several providers in turn, so if one lacks an email address or phone number, the next fills the gap. Primal researches each business with AI before any message goes out, so the message fits the recipient.

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Do you run influencer (key opinion leader) campaigns, and can you include influencers or product sampling in the campaign?

Primal runs influencer campaigns from its Bangkok office. In Malaysia, Primal runs paid ads on videos you already have, including influencer videos.

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How do we pass new leads to our team quickly, and can you help nurture them with automated replies?

Primal connects each lead source to your customer relationship management (CRM) system, so new leads reach your team as they arrive. Automated replies, such as a first message after a form is filled in, can run from your CRM.

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How does audience targeting work, and can we reach people who already know us as well as new people?

Yes, Primal can target both new people and people who already know you. It uses signals that show interest, such as job position, interests, groups and company size, and it can exclude recent buyers for a period you choose. On Meta, specific ads help the platform find the right people.

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How long should a campaign run before we judge the results, and can it run for a shorter time?

Judge a campaign after a few months. Automated bidding on Google and Meta needs several weeks of conversion data to settle, and a steady cost per lead usually takes a few months of testing. A shorter run is possible, but the early weeks mainly show what works. Agreements usually run for 12 months.

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What does a lead usually cost, and what return on ad spend is typical in our industry?

Lead costs depend on what a customer is worth to your business. Primal starts from that value, then sets a target cost per lead (CPL) and return on ad spend (ROAS) from your own past results. The typical cost differs by industry, platform and offer.

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Should lead generation ads use an in-platform form or send people to our website or a landing page?

Primal usually sends ad traffic to a landing page designed to convert, because a website gives people more information and the leads tend to be better quality than from an in-platform form. It still tests both, since some audiences prefer a short form.

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Can you track store visits, bookings and in-store purchases that come from online ads and search?

Yes, when Primal has your store data. If you share your in-store transaction data, or Primal can install software in your point-of-sale (POS) system, Primal links in-store purchases back to the ads.

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Do you shoot and edit videos, reels and user-generated content, or only make ad creative?

Primal's team writes and edits ad videos and can use footage you already have. In Malaysia, Primal does not run photo or video shoots, so new footage comes from your team or a production partner.

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What is the minimum ad budget you work with?

Primal does not publish a minimum ad budget, because it depends on the markets and channels you cover. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend, which is billed separately. A smaller budget can work in fewer markets, though it gives less data to show whether a channel works.

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Can we review our budget as we go, and reduce it or change the split once we reach our targets?

Yes. The ad budget and the split between channels, such as Google and Meta, can be raised, lowered or shifted, and a quarterly review is possible. On Google Search you pay only when someone clicks, so a lower budget means fewer clicks.

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Are you responsible for turning leads into customers, or do you only handle marketing?

Primal runs the marketing that produces leads, and your own team follows up and closes them. Primal does advise on speed, for example a person contacting each new enquiry within five to ten minutes and qualifying it with BANT (budget, authority, need and timing).

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Do you run remarketing to people who visited our website, enquired or are existing customers?

Yes. Primal places Google's tag on your website to create an audience of past visitors, then raises bids when they search a term you target, so your ads show more often to them. It can also run ads to people who enquired but did not take the next step, and to existing customers, such as for a referral offer.

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Can ads be targeted by where people are, or by income?

Yes. Ads can target people by where they are right now, from a whole country down to a suburb or a specific area on the map, on both Meta and Google. Primal can also use your customer data from a customer relationship management (CRM) system to pick the areas to focus on.

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How often do you check and optimise our campaigns, and how do you improve them when the first version does not work?

Primal checks ads every day, and changes follow the data. The pace of changes depends on ad spend, because more spend gives more data. Enterprise clients get an update every week.

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Do you cover the whole funnel, from awareness to conversion?

Yes. Primal makes advertising for each stage between first hearing of a brand and buying, from awareness through consideration to conversion. A brand campaign can lead into conversion advertising. How the budget splits across the stages depends on your goals.

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Do ad costs and budgets change by season and by industry?

Yes. Ad costs rise in busy retail seasons such as December, because more advertisers compete for the same audiences, and the month after is not always cheaper. Costs also differ by industry, since a market with fewer advertisers has less competition. Primal sets the budget with the season and the industry in mind.

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Is Google Ads included in the package, and should we add it?

Google Ads is included only when it is in the agreed scope. Primal quotes each channel separately and sizes its recommendation to your budget. With a larger budget, Primal recommends adding Google Ads and can quote for it on request.

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Should we run ads on our own brand name, and how much should we spend on it?

Yes, at a small, capped budget. Primal sets up brand terms as their own campaign, with the main brand name first and product names after if needed. When the brand already ranks first in organic search, Primal keeps that spend low and puts most of the budget into reaching new customers.

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Is it worth bidding on competitor brand names?

Sometimes. Primal tests competitor terms and turns them off when performance is poor. Some people who search for one company also want quotes from others, so leads do come through. Bidding on a competitor's name puts you directly against them on that keyword, and the click usually costs more than it costs them.

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Can you tailor the creative and messaging to different audience groups and their pain points?

Yes. Primal's team works with yours to research what competitors say in the market and what people care about. It then suggests the angles and ad types that fit each audience group and its pain points, and customises the creative to your sector.

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How many creative concepts should we test, and does more creative raise return on ad spend?

Not by itself. Return on ad spend (ROAS) depends on three things, the website's key pages, the ads and the account structure. Ideally winning ads stay running untouched while new ones are tested. The number of concepts and the budget split depend on the test the team designs.

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Can closed deals be fed back to Google so it finds more buyers like them?

Yes. Closed deals from your customer relationship management (CRM) system can be sent back to Google Ads as offline conversions, by a direct connection or a regular upload. The campaigns then learn which leads became customers and bid for more people like them.

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Your Social Media Questions Answered

Do TikTok ads convert, and what can you do for us on TikTok, including TikTok Live?

Yes. Primal runs TikTok ads for reach, leads and TikTok Shop orders, with short videos made for the platform and tested against each other. Whether they convert depends on your product. They suit products that can be shown in a short video, such as food, beauty, fashion and online stores.

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How do you use custom and lookalike audiences, and can our customer data sync with ad audiences?

Primal uploads your customer list to Meta, excludes those people from the campaign and targets new people who behave like them, which is a lookalike audience. Lookalike audiences suit the stage between awareness and consideration. Running without a customer list works, but a list would likely improve performance.

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How will Primal run our Facebook and Instagram ads?

Primal's media team sets up and runs the campaigns. Each campaign has one objective, such as leads or purchases, and each ad set runs several ads with different creative. Primal makes the ads when ad design is part of your package. Otherwise your team supplies them.

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Your Websites Questions Answered

Do you make or redesign websites, and is that included in the SEO fee or charged separately?

Yes, Primal designs and develops websites. A redesign is priced as a separate project with milestones, not inside the monthly SEO fee. Primal reviews your current site first and replaces it only when its structure cannot support SEO. Website migration during an ElevateSEO program is included in the retainer.

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Do we need a dedicated landing page for our ads, and one for each service?

Yes, each service you advertise should have its own landing page, and Primal sends ad traffic there rather than to your main website. A single page with no other links gives visitors what they need and one action, such as a WhatsApp button. That usually converts better for lead generation.

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Can the landing page sit on our own domain or subdomain, and how is it hosted and secured?

Yes. The page can sit on a subdomain of your website, which Primal hosts, or on a separate domain. Your web agency can also host it on your own system, after a check by Primal's technical team.

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Is a landing page included, does it cost extra, and can we change its design?

A landing page is charged, and the price is set in your proposal. Primal sometimes includes one at no charge in a lead generation campaign, and a page given at no charge stays with Primal. Primal designs the page from your brand guidelines and assets, and you can ask for changes.

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Which website platform is best for SEO: WordPress, Shopify, Webflow or Elementor?

WordPress typically performs a little better than Webflow for SEO, though the right platform depends on what the site must do, such as running a web application. Primal's developers know both. On any platform, including Shopify, Primal tests that search engines can read the text inside widgets and scripts.

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What does your conversion rate optimisation service include, and how is it priced?

Conversion rate optimisation (CRO) covers a tracking review, funnel analysis, heatmaps and session recordings, A/B tests, and changes to forms, checkouts and landing pages. The strategy sets which parts come first, and Primal prices it in a proposal once it knows your site.

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Can you advise on calls to action, product collections and site navigation?

Yes. Primal can add conversion rate optimisation (CRO) to the scope, which covers site navigation, how collections are organised, page layout and the design of buttons that drive clicks. For calls to action, Primal starts from what the audience cares about, such as a newsletter sign-up for people who want regular updates.

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Is a website cheaper when it is made with AI?

Yes. AI cuts the hours a website takes, so a site now costs a fraction of what the same site cost a few years ago, at the same quality or better. The fee pays for the expertise that tells the AI what to make, which is also what keeps the work fast.

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Your Strategy Questions Answered

Should we start with organic search, paid ads or both, and can SEO eventually replace paid ads?

Start with both if the budget allows. Paid ads bring enquiries quickly but stop when the spend stops, while SEO takes longer and keeps working. SEO does not usually replace ads, because Primal's clients mostly keep investing in both for as long as each earns a return on investment (ROI).

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Should we start with brand awareness ads or with ads that bring in customers, and how do you split the budget between them?

When you need enquiries or orders, Primal puts most of the budget into conversion ads, because results decide whether a campaign continues. A brand that few people know may start with awareness ads, then add conversion ads once people recognise it. The split depends on your goal and is set in the strategy.

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Is our budget enough to get results, and what could you do with it?

Whether a budget is enough depends on your goal and market, so Primal proposes options at different levels. At the lowest level Primal advises and your team does most of the work, and higher levels add more work for Primal. Media management starts from RM3,980 a month per channel, plus your ad spend, which is billed separately.

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How do you research our competitors, their traffic and their ad spend?

Primal uses paid competitor research tools to estimate competitors' traffic and what they buy, and treats ad spend figures as modelled estimates, never exact. Forecasts rest on your own history, so access to your Google Analytics and ad accounts gives the most reliable numbers.

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How would you approach our business, set up our campaigns and reach our target audience?

Primal starts with view-only access to your Google Ads account, reviews what has been done and compares it with similar brands. It then returns with a media strategy. Targeting follows buyer personas and their digital habits, and the strategy is set to fit each of your objectives.

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Should we sell on marketplaces such as Lazada and Shopee, or on our own website?

Primal recommends aiming for your own website to win the orders over time, because marketplaces take a commission on each one. Marketplaces still make sense for products shoppers already buy there, such as skincare. A brand can also run awareness campaigns on its own. The right mix depends on your products and your retailers.

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Which service should we start with first, and should we begin with one channel?

If you already have a working website, Primal recommends starting with Google Ads and SEO together. Ads can bring enquiries sooner, while SEO takes months to grow. If the website is being redone, that comes first. Strong results usually come from several channels working together, so one channel is only a starting point.

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Should we advertise in several countries at once, or put more budget into fewer or larger markets?

Fewer markets, in Primal's view. Spreading one budget across many countries leaves too little in each, so a smaller set of countries usually has more effect. Markets with higher ad costs need a bigger budget, and a market that performs well can be given more.

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Do you review our accounts first, and how long does the review take?

Yes. Primal reviews your ad accounts and analytics at the start of the work, as soon as you give access, and uses the findings to set the strategy.

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