For decades, retainers were the cornerstone of agency partnerships. The model seemed simple: pay a fixed monthly fee, get a set of deliverables, and trust your agency to do the work. But in reality, it often created more confusion than clarity. Marketing leaders were left questioning: Where is our budget really going?Today, the industry is undergoing a seismic shift. More CMOs, VPs of Marketing, and creative leads are turning to hour-based marketing subscriptions, powered by platforms like Lionshare.app. These models deliver something retainers never could: true transparency, real-time flexibility, and measurable ROI.
Why Retainers Are Fading Out
- Opaque billing: Retainers rarely reveal how hours are distributed across tasks. Leaders see outputs but not the resource cost behind them.
- Rigid scope: Brands are locked into pre-agreed deliverables even when markets shift.
- Slow pivots: Adjusting priorities often means contract renegotiation or waiting until the next cycle.
According to Deloitte, a majority of marketing leaders say their contracts limit agility”
In a marketplace where speed and accountability matter more than ever, the cracks in the retainer model are impossible to ignore.
The Hour-Based Revolution
Hour-based marketing flips the model. Instead of paying for a package of “deliverables,” you buy time that you can direct as needed.
- Complete visibility: See how every hour is logged—whether it’s ad optimization, SEO, creative development, or reporting.
- Flexible allocation: Shift hours between campaigns on demand without waiting for approvals.
- Proof of performance: Directly link hours invested to measurable outcomes, like conversions, cost per lead, or engagement.
This isn’t just a billing method; it’s a new way to run your marketing.
Why Marketing Leaders Love It
Marketing leaders today are under more scrutiny than ever. CFOs demand justification for spend, CEOs want ROI proof, and teams need tools that actually support execution.
Hour-based subscriptions empower leaders to:
- Defend budgets with data. No more vague reports—every hour spent ties back to results.
- Respond to real-time trends. Whether it’s shifting spend into TikTok ads or doubling down on paid search, you can pivot instantly.
- Build stronger agency partnerships. Transparency fosters trust, which creates long-term collaboration instead of transactional relationships.
Savage Global Marketing’s Approach
At Savage Global Marketing, we believe time is the most valuable asset in marketing. That’s why our subscription model is built around transparency from day one.
With Lionshare.app:
- You can log in anytime and see exactly how hours are being used.
- Requests are simplified with multiple-choice Q&A forms to eliminate miscommunication.
- Campaign adjustments can happen midstream—keeping you aligned with performance and ROI.
Clients don’t just see outcomes; they see the process that got them there.
Real-World Shift in Action
One retail client had been locked into a retainer with another agency for years. Despite paying for “creative campaigns,” they rarely saw ROI data. After switching to Savage’s hour-based model:
- They redirected 20% of hours from underperforming social channels into paid search.
- Within 90 days, ROI improved by 28%.
- The CFO finally had a transparent breakdown for board presentations.
That shift wouldn’t have been possible under the old retainer model.
Final Word
The future of agency partnerships is transparent, flexible, and data-driven. Retainers belong to the past. Hour-based marketing subscriptions deliver the clarity and ROI today’s leaders demand.
It’s no longer about asking, “Are we getting value?” With Savage Global Marketing, the answer is always visible, logged, and measurable.
