Compare orthopedic marketing proposals against the same practice brief. A lower fee may exclude the work you need, while a longer activity list may leave ownership and acceptance unclear. This worksheet helps practice owners record what each written proposal actually commits to before choosing an agency.
If you have not requested proposals yet, start with the orthopedic marketing RFP template. If you are still deciding between hiring and outsourcing, use the in-house versus agency responsibility worksheet.
Normalize the scope first
Write one line describing the locations, surgeons, priority services and work period being compared. Then mark any proposal that uses a different assumption. Ask for clarification before treating the fees as comparable. Keep media, software, development and optional work separate from the agency fee.
For example, one proposal may include two location pages while another includes a website review with recommendations only. Neither is automatically better. The difference is whether the promised output matches the problem and your team’s implementation capacity.
Copy this comparison worksheet
| Decision item | Agency A | Agency B | Open question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice priority and starting work | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
| Named deliverables and exclusions | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
| Delivery owner and practice inputs | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
| Fees and separate spending | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
| Relevant work evidence | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
| Reporting and acceptance checks | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
| Account control and handover | [response] | [response] | [clarify] |
Use “not stated” when the proposal does not answer an item. Do not fill gaps with assumptions from a sales conversation. Ask the supplier to confirm material answers in the written scope.
Ask what the evidence proves
Request work examples relevant to the proposed task. Ask what the supplier produced, which responsibilities belonged to the client and what the example can substantiate. A well-presented website is evidence of a design output; it is not by itself proof of patient acquisition or the supplier’s role in every part of the project.
Where results are discussed, ask for the period, baseline, measurement definition and limits of attribution. Do not treat traffic, form attempts and attended appointments as interchangeable. Our orthopedic measurement guide explains the definitions to agree with your team.
Make responsibilities and correction clear
Confirm who supplies facts, who approves clinical statements, who publishes and who checks the release. Ask how an error is corrected and which changes require practice approval. When replacing a supplier, use the orthopedic agency handover checklist to review continuity before work moves.
Set your own priorities instead of applying a universal score. A group opening an office may value location coordination differently from a practice improving one service line. Record why the chosen scope fits those priorities and what remains unresolved.
Before approving the engagement
Resolve missing answers, confirm total commitments and agree the first review checkpoint. Keep deliverables and fees in the written agreement. Use the orthopedic agency shortlist guide for broader provider research and the budget guide for cost categories.
Sprout Sage Solutions provides orthopedic marketing services. Request a consultation about your practice’s scope. Share your website, role and priority rather than uploading confidential competitor proposals or patient information to the public form.
