Date: 2026-08-08 Decided by: Michael Status: Active
Decision
Lore adopts the JOLT-shaped offer structure, scaled to its market:
- LORE FOUNDATION, $4,995 one-time (30-day install): story vault onboarding, keyword universe + strategy (Emma-style sheet), technical SEO fix sprint with before/after report, GEO layer install (schema, llms.txt, FAQ structures, RSS, GSC verified + baselined), one custom link-magnet tool page, first cluster of 8 articles through the full review gate, AI citation baseline.
- LORE ENGINE, $2,495/mo (the hero tier, recurring): content at research-supported cadence (~12-20 articles/mo, sold as coverage of the approved map, NEVER as an article count), full link engine (expert quotes, mention reclamation, update pitches, podcast sourcing), monthly technical optimization cycle, monthly report (citations won, links earned with provenance, GSC movement).
- LORE VIDEO upsell, +$1,495/mo: produced video per article batch (client on camera or HeyGen clone), YouTube posting, Shorts cutdowns, article embeds.
Reddit offer unchanged: custom-priced, partner-dependent, on top.
Gating rule (Michael, 2026-08-08)
Foundation is STRONGLY recommended and the default path; sales copy pushes it hard. Bypass allowed case by case for clients with an already-strong SEO/GEO motion, who may start directly on Engine at $2,495. When bypassing, Engine month one includes a compressed context-library build (the anti-AI-slop layer is never skippable, only the fix sprint / tool / baseline artifacts are).
Pricing logic (for future repricing conversations)
- Foundation $4,995 covers the real build cost, filters unserious buyers, and is defensible vs unlimitedcontent.com's $2,200/mo because it includes applied tech fixes, a custom tool, and a citation baseline they never deliver.
- Engine $2,495 replaces the $1,995 white-label-era retainer; the raise is carried by in-house links + technical (formerly 50% of revenue went to the white-label).
- Engine + Video = $3,990/mo, deliberately just under JOLT Studio $3,995 to avoid price collision between the agencies.
- Existing white-label-era clients grandfather at $1,995 until migration; Foundation waived as the migration incentive.
Where it lives
- architecture.md (offer section updated same day)
- Pricing page copy draft: ~/lore-content/pricing-page-copy.md (Lore site TBD)