Hiring a digital marketing agency vis-à-vis hiring in-house is one of the questions many companies have had to grapple with for a very long time. The two approaches to marketing have both merits and demerits. For instance, in-house marketing is expensive and does not bring in the professional aspect, as is when working with a digital agency. Read to discover the comparison between Agency Vs. Hiring in House.
Besides, hiring a digital agency enables the company’s employees to focus on the core of their business, which improves productivity. Here is a point-to-point analysis of the two options.
Understanding Your Business Needs
Before diving into the details, it’s crucial to assess your company’s specific marketing needs. Do you require a broad range of digital services like SEO, content marketing, PPC advertising, and social media management? Or are your needs more niche? Having a clear understanding of your goals will provide direction and make the decision between agency or in-house much clearer.
1. Cost Working Digital Marketing Agency
The total cost of hiring a full-time marketer is high if we consider the monthly salary that must be paid. Besides, a full house employee will need some working space, use utilities, and is entitled to allowances, including a paid leave. It is expensive compared to hiring a digital marketing agency contracted to run the marketing activities for a certain period.
Also, you must provide the full-time marketer with the tools and the resources they need to mount the campaign. This is not the case when you hire a digital marketing agency. Such agencies have their own resources and equipment needed for the campaigns.
2. Experience and skills: Agency Vs. Hiring in House
In-house marketing relies on a few individuals who may not have the latest information in the marketing field. But when you engage a digital marketing firm, you will have access to a pool of talent cheaply and gain from well-researched and experience gathered from working with a range of companies.
It allows them to discover innovative ideas that help them take their marketing activities a notch higher. Also, a digital marketing agency employs professionals from a range of disciplines. They are better to mount a successful campaign than an in-house employee who is a monthly salary.
3. Benefit from Specialization
Marketing agencies have a team of employees specializing in different aspects of marketing. Some specialize in SEO, Facebook ads, and Google ads, while others carry out social media marketing. But when you hire in-house, you are likely to end up with one person doing all the tasks by themselves.
They handle all the marketing aspects, and so they may not enjoy the benefits of specialization. Besides, they are likely not to be thorough in whatever they do. For instance, they may not know what to include in websites to provide an exceptional user experience. Neither will they know how to optimize a site to enhance voice search.
Challenges of Working With a Digital Marketing Agency
- Less Direct Control One potential downside of working with an agency is the lack of direct control over day-to-day activities. While agencies report on performance and keep you updated, they are not physically present in your office, which means you may not have the same level of oversight as you would with an in-house team. Communication can sometimes be delayed, and you may need to go through multiple layers to get feedback or changes made. This can be a challenge if you prefer hands-on management.
- Not Always a Perfect Fit Even though agencies bring expertise and resources, finding one that aligns perfectly with your brand, vision, and culture can be a challenge. Some agencies may take time to fully understand your company’s unique needs or industry, leading to a longer learning curve. Moreover, some agencies may not provide the same level of dedication as an in-house team because they are managing multiple clients. As a result, your brand may not always be a priority.
Challenges of Hiring In-House
- Higher Costs Hiring a full-time in-house marketing team can be expensive. Beyond salaries, additional costs are associated with employee benefits, office space, taxes, and software tools. Moreover, the hiring process can be time-consuming and costly, especially if you’re looking for highly specialized roles. Small businesses may struggle to afford a comprehensive in-house team with expertise across multiple digital marketing channels.
- Limited Skill Sets One of the biggest drawbacks of an in-house team is the potential for skill gaps. A single person or small team may not have the expertise to handle every aspect of digital marketing—from SEO and PPC to content creation and web development. You may have to outsource certain tasks to freelancers or agencies anyway, defeating the purpose of building an in-house team.
- Training and Development The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving, and ongoing training is necessary to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. This means you’ll need to invest in your team’s development regularly to ensure they stay ahead of the curve. Without proper training, your marketing efforts could fall behind competitors who are leveraging the latest industry innovations.
Which Option Is Right for Your Business? Agency Vs. Hiring in House
Deciding between a digital marketing agency and an in-house team ultimately depends on your specific business needs, budget, and long-term goals.
- If you’re looking for specialized expertise, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, a digital marketing agency may be the better choice.
- If you prefer complete control, deeper brand integration, and flexibility, building an in-house team might be more suitable.
Some businesses even opt for a hybrid approach, where they hire an in-house team for daily operations and work with an agency for specific projects or campaigns. This allows for the best of both worlds.
Control Working Digital Marketing Agency
It isn’t easy to control a digital marketing agency the way you could do to an in-house marketing team. Besides, an in-house team knows your products well and understands the values the company upholds.
At this point, the benefits of hiring a digital marketing firm are more compared to having an in-house team. But if your values and ethos are what matters to you, hiring in-house marketing employees could be the best option for you.