Ultimately, the decision to hire an agency for your organization is up to you. But if you’ve just recently begun to think about it, here are a few things to consider:
Types of Marketing Agencies
Marketing agencies come in different forms and sizes, with varying areas of expertise.
Full-service agencies offer a comprehensive range of marketing services, from strategy development and market research to advertising and public relations.
Boutique agencies, on the other hand, often specialize in a specific type of marketing, such as digital or experiential marketing. They often have a smaller team and can provide more personalized attention.
Specialty agencies are even more niche, focusing on a particular industry or type of marketing, such as healthcare or social media marketing. They offer in-depth knowledge and expertise in their area of specialization.
Ultimately, the type of agency you choose will depend on your business needs, budget, and goals.
In-house vs. Freelance vs. Agency
One of the first things you’ll need to consider is whether you should hire someone in-house, a freelancer or an agency to assist you with your marketing.
In-House Marketer Pros
- Deeper knowledge of the business: In-house marketers have a more intimate understanding of the company’s vision, mission, and culture. They are better positioned to create marketing campaigns that align with the brand’s message and values.
- Faster response time: With an in-house marketer, communication is quicker and more direct, enabling a faster response time. The marketing team can work more closely with other departments, which can result in more streamlined processes and better outcomes.
In-House Marketer Cons
- Limited expertise: In-house marketers may have a limited skill set, and they may not have the same level of experience as a marketing agency that works with a variety of clients across different industries.
- Resource constraints: In-house marketers may be overburdened with too many responsibilities, making it challenging to dedicate enough time and resources to develop and execute successful marketing campaigns. If your marketer is also your sales person, your event planner and your social media manager, they may not have the time to plan and execute, key campaigns that drive traffic and sales.
Freelancer Pros
- Cost-effective: Freelancers usually charge lower rates than agencies. They don’t have the overhead costs associated with running an agency, so they can offer more affordable pricing.
- Specialization: Freelancers, when compared to in-house marketers, typically specialize in a specific area of marketing, such as SEO, content marketing, or social media marketing. If you need a specific skill set, hiring a freelancer who specializes in that area can be a cost-effective and efficient solution.
Freelancer Cons
- Limited availability: Freelancers may be working with multiple clients simultaneously, which can limit their availability for your project. This can lead to delays or slower response times.
- Requires direction: If you don’t have a lot of experience in marketing yourself, it may be difficult to work with a freelancer, since you may not know exactly what you want or what to ask for. Freelancers are great if you have a very specific project in mind that you need executed, but they may not be the best choice if you’re looking for marketing support to increase sales, but aren’t sure “where to start”.
Agency Pros
- Wide range of expertise: Marketing agencies have a team of professionals with diverse expertise in various marketing channels and strategies, enabling them to offer a broad range of services and solutions to clients.
- Access to the latest tools and technology: Marketing agencies invest in the latest marketing tools and technology to provide clients with the most up-to-date marketing strategies and techniques.
Agency Cons
- Higher cost: Marketing agencies usually charge higher rates than freelancers, which may make them less affordable for some businesses.
- Communication issues: Communication can be a challenge when working with an agency, since they do not work side-by-side the rest of your team every day
At the end of the day, there are a number of reasons why you might consider hiring an agency. To close this out, below are a few of the reasons some of our clients decided to hire Blaze Digital:
- Turnover in their marketing department: One client kept trying to hire an in-house marketer but at the salary they could afford to pay, it resulted in constant turnover, meaning the owner kept having to train a new person every 12-18 months. With the amount they were spending on that role, they realized they could hire Blaze Digital to execute on the majority of the tasks they wanted the in-house marketer to accomplish.
- Too busy to handle marketing: Another client was so busy running their operation, that their marketing kept falling to the backburner and never got done. When things were slow, they’d have time to dabble in organic social media, email marketing and Google PPC advertising, but when things picked up, it fell by the wayside. By turning some projects over to Blaze Digital, they were able to maintain consistent brand awareness among their key audiences year-round.
- Lacked in-house expertise: A startup client needed a website built but didn’t know which platform would be best or how to even begin. They hired Blaze Digital to build out the site and manage it for them, while they were able to focus on priority tasks like raising money from investors.
Ready to find out if an agency is right for you? Give Blaze Digital a call. As small business owners ourselves, we pride ourselves on offering advice that is right for your organization (even if we aren’t part of the solution). We aren’t after your money, we’re after providing solutions that work for you!