ROCKHAMPTON AGENCY COMPARISON
MICHAEL EVANS MEDIA vs LAD SOCIAL.
Two Rockhampton-based marketing agencies. Different positioning, different price models, different ideal clients. Here's honestly where each one wins and where each one falls short — so you can pick the right fit instead of the loudest pitch.
Up front
We don't have inside information on LAD Social's pricing, contracts or team. The comparison below is based strictly on what's publicly observable from their website and ours. If you spot anything inaccurate, let us know and we'll fix it.
SIDE BY SIDE
THE OBSERVABLE DIFFERENCES.
| Dimension | Michael Evans Media | LAD Social |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | $299 / $599 / $1,299 per month — public | Quote-on-request |
| Contract length | Month-to-month, 30 days notice | Project-based + ongoing retainers |
| Primary location | Rockhampton (sole office) | Rockhampton |
| Team structure | Solo operator (Michael, direct) | Multi-person agency team |
| Time in market | Newer brand (est. 2024) | Longer-established |
| Direct access to senior operator | Always — Michael handles every account | Account manager model typical |
| Service breadth | Social, web, ads, SEO — full digital stack | Branding, video, social — production-led |
| Real client metrics in case studies | Public — DM counts, ad spend, lead numbers | Logo wall + portfolio reels |
| Free playbook / calculators / audits | Yes, all public | Not advertised on site |
| Production polish (video / brand work) | Solid, not flashy | High production quality, visible reels |
WHEN LAD IS THE BETTER PICK
GO WITH LAD IF...
- →You're commissioning a brand-led campaign — video production, professional photoshoot, full visual rebrand — and you want a team set up for production volume.
- →You prefer the agency-team experience — multiple people on your account, different specialists for different deliverables — and you're willing to work with account managers rather than directly with the founder.
- →You value time in market and a longer track record over flexibility, and you'd rather pay for an established agency than work with a newer operator regardless of approach.
- →Your project budget is large enough that the difference between $599/mo and a custom enterprise quote is rounding error.
WHEN WE'RE THE BETTER PICK
GO WITH MICHAEL EVANS MEDIA IF...
- →You want to know the price before you book a call. We publish ours: $299, $599 or $1,299 per month with custom options openly priced.
- →Your priority is performance — leads, DMs, bookings, measurable ad ROAS — rather than visual polish for its own sake. We lead with Meta and Google ads and write content that feeds them.
- →You want to deal directly with the senior person doing the work, not an account manager. Every email and deliverable comes from Michael personally.
- →You want month-to-month flexibility with 30 days' notice rather than longer-term retainers, project commitments or scope-creep risk.
- →You're running a small business — typically 1 to 20 staff, $200k to $5m in revenue — and you want senior-level marketing thinking at small-business pricing.
QUESTIONS WE GET
FAQs.
Is LAD Social a bad agency? Why are you comparing yourself to them?
LAD Social isn't a bad agency — they're a legitimate Rockhampton operator with strong production work and a real local presence. This page exists because business owners genuinely compare us, and they deserve a clear breakdown rather than each agency only talking about themselves. We'll point out where LAD is the better fit just as readily as where we are.
When is LAD Social the better choice?
If you want a high-production-value brand campaign — a serious video shoot, a visual rebrand, glossy social reels — and you've got the budget for that level of work, you're probably better off with an agency team that's set up for production volume. We don't compete on that. Our wheelhouse is performance marketing and direct-response — Meta Ads, Google Ads, content that drives bookings. Different lane.
When is Michael Evans Media the better choice?
If you want public pricing so you don't have to sit through a sales pitch to find out if you can afford it. If you want to deal directly with the person doing the work, not an account manager. If your priority is performance numbers (leads, DMs, bookings) over visual polish. If you want month-to-month flexibility instead of bigger commitments. Those are our wedges.
How do you actually know what LAD Social charges?
We don't — and we don't claim to. Their pricing isn't public. What we can verify is what you can: visit their website and check whether you can find a price tag without booking a call. That's the comparison this page is making.
What if I want to talk to both before deciding?
Smart move. Get quotes from both. Ask each: 1) What's your published pricing? 2) Will I deal with a senior operator or an account manager? 3) Is there a lock-in contract? 4) Can I see real client metrics, not just brand reels? The answers will narrow your shortlist quickly. We're not threatened by you talking to LAD or anyone else.
Do you have any relationship with LAD Social?
No formal relationship — we're independent agencies. We respect what they do; we just operate differently. Rockhampton is small enough that everyone in marketing knows everyone else, and we'd rather have an honest comparison page than pretend the other agencies don't exist.
READY FOR A REAL CONVERSATION?
Free 30-minute call. We'll look at where your business is now, where you want it, and tell you honestly whether we're the right fit — or whether someone else is.