Ad work is easier to quote when the request covers three things: the offer, the audience and the current setup. The offer is what someone gets when they respond. The audience is who you want to reach and where they are in the US. The current setup is what is already running, and what is going wrong with it.
Write those down in the notes box, even roughly. A service partner uses them to work out which channel fits, how much setup is involved and what ongoing management would look like. The quote you receive comes from that partner directly.
What the service partner will want to know
Most first replies ask about these points, so it helps to answer them up front:
- Your monthly ad budget range
- How long you have been advertising, if at all
- Who owns the ad accounts and the website
- Your sales process after an inquiry comes in
- Which past inquiries turned into customers, and which did not
- Industries or claims that need care in ads, such as health, finance or housing
- The person who will sign off on a proposal
Once your request is in
A service partner picks up the request and replies. If your notes were detailed, the reply may include a first outline of the work. If they were brief, expect questions first.
Keep the thread going by email or set up a call, whichever you prefer. When the scope is clear, the partner sends a written proposal. Check that it names who owns the ad accounts, how ad spend is billed, what gets reported and how often, and how much notice is needed to end the arrangement. If any of that is missing, ask for it. You are not committed to anything until you accept the proposal in writing.