When to Hire Outsourced Marketing vs. In-House Marketing

One of the initial steps in developing a marketing strategy for your business is determining whether to pursue in-house vs outsourced marketing. This can be a challenging decision for many. An in-house marketing professional can be incredibly valuable if effectively managed, but this choice demands significant investment in both time and money. Additionally, they must possess the right attitude, skillset, and experience.

On the other hand, opting for outsourced marketing, such as hiring an agency or consultant, might involve a higher upfront cost. However, it provides access to a diverse team of specialists who bring their own established processes and expertise. Ultimately, choosing the best approach for your company is a personal decision, but it’s important to weigh several factors in the in-house vs outsourced marketing debate.

Why Small Businesses Benefit the Most from Outsourcing Marketing Efforts

Small businesses are often strapped for cash, time, and resources. Marketing your small business is no different – most don’t have the budget to hire someone with enough experience in marketing their particular product or service. That is why it makes sense to outsource this job to a marketing agency that knows what they are doing.

Often for less than the cost of a full-time employee, outsourcing allows you access to several levels of support and experience, all at once. Hiring an agency engages various specialists who each focus on their different strengths, depending on your specific needs. Those include marketing strategy, SEO, SEM, content creation, graphic design, web development, technical support, social media, and more.

This ensures that all of your avenues are covered, even if you only have one part-time person in-house working on your marketing efforts. For a small business, it can be priceless (and very reassuring!) to have this coordinated team effort focused on your marketing.

In-house vs Outsourced Marketing: What to Choose?

Both in-house and outsourced marketing options have benefits, but each also has points to ponder:

Affordability

Hiring an agency or consultant may help you save money over the long term. However, there may be more of an upfront cost when hiring outside the organization. In-house candidates with experience will expect top dollar.

Time

Small businesses are quick-moving. Time is always of the essence. If a team handles other clients as well, it’s possible for work to be queued for a period. In-house marketers trying to handle the entire workload may have both time and budgetary constraints to consider.

Talent

When selecting an agency or outsourced marketing partner for your business’s marketing efforts, ask specific questions about their knowledge of your particular field. Don’t forget to ask about their experience working on projects similar to yours. If you hire an in-house person instead, look closely at their skillset – what is their comfort and experience level? Someone with a great resumé who struggles when applying their knowledge to your company’s specific needs may not be a great fit.

Marketing Expertise

Agencies must show continuing results to their clients. This means they must be extremely well-versed in marketing. Most agencies have the staff to focus on all aspects – branding, web design and development, SEO, SEM, social media, etc. Whereas, an in-house person might hold only one piece of the puzzle.

Flexibility

Outsourced marketing agencies are often more willing to work with you on adjustments to your marketing strategy. They also offer new and fresh ideas and perspectives, tools, and resources for your company to use. An in-house marketer may have a limited scope of experience, thereby limiting what they can do.

Control Over the Process

When you choose in-house marketing, you have full control over the strategies, day-to-day operations, and direction of your marketing campaigns. This allows for immediate adjustments and close collaboration between departments, ensuring that your brand’s voice is consistent. On the other hand, outsourcing marketing means relinquishing some control to an external agency or consultant. While this can free up time and resources, it may also create communication gaps or delays in implementing urgent changes. Deciding how much control you’re willing to sacrifice is essential when weighing the pros and cons.

Long-Term Sustainability

In-house marketing teams may offer greater sustainability for businesses with long-term goals. Building an internal team allows you to train and develop marketers who can grow with your company, providing a stable, long-term solution. Outsourcing, while beneficial for short-term projects or gaining specialized expertise, may not be as sustainable in the long run. Changing agencies or freelancers may disrupt consistency and brand familiarity. Consider whether your marketing needs are short-term or if investing in a long-term internal team would offer better brand alignment.

Outsource Your Marketing with Bright Pink Agency and Let Us Help Your Business Flourish!

Bright Pink Agency has a team of talented, experienced marketers to help your company reach its growth potential. Our marketing experts can take care of any or all aspects of your marketing. We specialize in branding, website design and development, UX/UI, marketing strategy, content creation, SEO, social media outreach/management, email marketing, and more!

We’ve helped hundreds of clients, including franchisors and franchisees, nonprofits, and other businesses establish or build thriving online presences; with both the tools and expertise, we can certainly do the same for you. Check out all of our services, and reach out today to see how we can best serve your business.