If your company is growing at a fast pace, chances are you’ve needed to, or will need to, outsource some of your projects and tasks. On-boarding and training can make it too difficult to grow your in-house team at the same rate as your client base — not to mention the overhead costs associated with bringing a new person on.
When you decide to outsource some of your marketing needs, you have the option of working with a freelancer or an agency. The best choice for your situation depends on many factors, but to facilitate your decision, here are some of the pros and cons associated with each one:
Freelance marketers are similar to those in other professions. They’re individuals that work remotely and typically focus on one area of marketing.
Specific Area:
If you just have one area of your marketing that you need someone to manage, then a freelancer is a great option. Freelancers typically specialize in one area and stick to that area, so you don’t end up paying for services that you don’t need.
Short-Term Projects:
A freelancer is a smart option if you don’t want to commit to a long-term contract or just have one small project that needs to be completed. Freelancers embrace quick turnover and switching from client to client, so they’ll be happy to take on one of these shorter-term projects.
E.g.: You’re setting up your website and you need a designer to create the graphics you want to include on your homepage.
Limited Availability:
Freelancers work individually and with several clients at a time, often making it difficult to reach them. They’re the only possible point of contact, so you may have to wait a while to get a response if you're catching them at a busy time.
Performance dependent on workload:
Because freelancers work with multiple clients at the same time, deadlines and projects can often clash and make planning difficult. Because they work on their own, they don’t have any team members to help them in times of need. So, when your freelancer is very busy, the quality of their work can suffer.
Transparency:
This isn’t a jab at all freelancers or freelancer talent marketplaces, but I’ve had a significant amount of people complain to me about the transparency of some freelancers. An individual will put out really good work at first, guarantee a contract, then delegate future work to a friend/colleague with lesser abilities.
Marketing agencies vary in size and specialties. The agencies we’ll allude to in this post are all big and diversified enough to support all areas of inbound marketing.
Tools and processes:
Working with an agency means you’ll encounter higher quality resources and structured processes. Many marketing agencies are fully-trained to use software, like HubSpot, that have incredible analysis, reporting, contact management, and outreach capabilities.
Agencies also have established processes and expertise to go along with the tools they use. This can provide you the peace of mind that comes with a clear idea of what the implementation and evaluation stages will look like. Project deadlines and progress will be easier to predict, so you can stay organized.
Team Synchronization:
If you’re looking for help in multiple areas of your marketing, we highly suggest you use a marketing agency. Hiring multiple freelancers is simply inefficient.
Not only is it cheaper to hire an agency, rather than multiple freelancers, but you’ll also be assured that the whole team will be in sync. You won’t have to take on the burden of being the medium of communication between multiple freelancers. Plus, team synchrony is the best way to maintain a consistent image and message.
To get an idea of what our team looks like, click here!
Transparency and availability:
Tools like HubSpot and agency-wide processes create a more transparent overall experience. Progress and activity can easily be shared and tracked, since you should have access and notifications connected to the tools your agency is using.
Also, because teams consist of multiple members with established communication channels, you can count on someone getting back to you much quicker than with a freelancer.
Beware: This isn’t always the case and you should clarify with any agency you’re considering working with. I’ve had multiple clients tell me they’ve worked with agencies in the past that don’t like their clients to track their progress or see anything except the final product.
Cost:
If you’re working on a very small budget or only need a couple of tasks managed, an agency isn’t the right decision for you. You may end up paying for resources or services that you don’t need.
Exception: Exchange rate. Globalization and the advancement of technology have made working with international companies easier than ever. A favorable exchange rate can stretch your budget and get you much more than you could locally.
Schedule a free call to go through our pricing sheet
Communicator is not always the creator:
One of the possible disadvantages of working with an agency is that the person you’re in communication with isn’t the person who’s actually creating your content.
Sometimes it’s possible to talk to the designer or copywriter, but most agencies are structured so that you have the main contact that then echoes the information to the rest of the team. Clarify with your agency if you have the possibility of connecting with individuals responsable for content creation.
Both freelancers and agencies are great options for outsourcing your marketing, depending on your needs.
But, as we’ve seen, not all freelancers or agencies are built the same. At the end of the day, it’s best to do your due diligence, and if possible, a trial period before you’re ready to partner with a freelancer or agency. Once you find the right fit for your company, you will have trusted resource to help you grow and better define your working processes.
Still wondering what the best move is for your company? Book a free 30-minute strategy call and we’ll be happy to assist you with your decision.