(And Are They Right for Manufacturers?)
If you’ve been exploring ways to modernize your marketing—but don’t want to hire a full-time marketer or sign a vague retainer—you might’ve come across something called a productized service.
But what does that actually mean?
And more importantly: what does it cost?
Let’s break it down for manufacturing leaders who are tired of mystery pricing and just want clear answers.
What Is a Productized Marketing Service?
A productized service is a pre-packaged, fixed-scope marketing offering with a set deliverable, timeline, and price. No hourly estimates. No long-term contracts. Just a clearly defined project with a predictable cost.
Think of it like ordering from a menu—versus hiring a private chef.
Some common examples:
- A one-time brand messaging overhaul
- A fixed number of blog articles per month
- A quarterly content bundle for sales enablement
- A full website content rewrite based on interviews
- A launch package for a new product or division
Productized services are built for companies that want progress and clarity—not marketing jargon and vague promises.
Why Manufacturers Like Productized Services
Most industrial companies don’t have a full-time marketing team.
Some barely have a website.
They know they need to modernize—but they’re not ready to dive headfirst into a $10K+/month agency retainer.
That’s where productized services shine:
- You know exactly what you’re getting
- You know exactly what it costs
- You don’t have to manage a long relationship or guess about scope
You get a result. You get clarity. You move forward.
What Do Productized Services Cost?
Here’s a breakdown of typical productized marketing services and what manufacturers can expect to pay:
| Service Type | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Brand Messaging Package | $2,500 – $7,500 |
| Buyer’s Guide or Ebook | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Monthly Blog Article Bundle (2–4) | $1,200 – $3,500/month |
| Website Copywriting (5–10 pages) | $3,000 – $10,000 |
| Quarterly Sales Content Kit | $2,000 – $6,000/quarter |
| Video Scripting & Content Strategy | $2,500 – $8,000 |
Prices vary based on complexity, number of deliverables, and whether SME interviews are included. But the common thread is predictability. No hidden fees. No scope creep.
How Is This Different from an Agency or Retainer?
| Model | How It Works | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Productized | Pre-set deliverable, clear scope, fixed price | $1,500–$10,000/project |
| Agency Retainer | Ongoing execution, often fuzzy scope | $5,000–$20,000/month |
| Freelancers | Task-based, variable quality/consistency | $50–$150/hr |
| In-House Hire | Full-time salary, training, benefits required | $70k–$130k/year |
A good productized service offers the expertise of a strategist and the consistency of a contractor, without the management burden of either.
It’s perfect for companies who don’t need “a marketing department”—they just need smart progress.
What to Look For in a Productized Service
Before you sign up for any package, make sure you understand:
-
What’s included (and what’s not)
Ask for a clear list of deliverables. Are interviews included? Are revisions allowed? -
How they learn your business
You don’t want generic content. Ask how they’ll get input from your sales team or subject matter experts. -
How it supports sales
Is this just to fill a blog? Or will this actually help your team close more deals? -
How long it takes
Most productized services range from 2 to 6 weeks per project. If it drags beyond that, it’s not really “productized.” -
Proof it works in manufacturing
Ask for industrial examples. If they only talk about real estate, fashion, or tech startups—they’re probably not a good fit.
When Productized Services Are the Right Fit
This approach works best when:
- You need real marketing progress, not a long-term marriage
- You want clarity, not complexity
- You’ve got sales conversations happening, but no content to support them
- You want to start small and scale later
For many manufacturers, productized services are the missing step between doing nothing… and doing too much.
Want to see how productized services could support your sales team?
Schedule a discovery session with The Right Horse.
We offer simple, clear content packages designed for real-world manufacturers—not marketers.
