It’s a common question that businesses face: should we keep our marketing in-house or outsource to an agency?
While there are pros and cons to both options, the answer isn’t always clear-cut. It depends on a number of factors, including the size of your business, your marketing goals, and your budget.
For those of you undecided, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of things you should consider if you’re trying to decide whether or not to outsource your marketing.
1. How much time do you have?
If you’re like most business owners, you wear a lot of hats. You might be responsible for sales, customer service, accounting, and yes – marketing.
And while you might be good at all of those things, chances are you’re not an expert in each and every one. So when it comes to marketing, you might not have the time to invest in learning everything there is to know.
This is where an agency can be helpful. A good agency will have a team of experts who can handle all aspects of your marketing, from strategy to execution.
2. What are your marketing goals?
Are you trying to increase brand awareness? Drive more traffic to your website? Or generate more leads and sales?
Your answer will help you determine whether or not outsourcing is the right move. If your goals are relatively simple, you might be able to accomplish them with a small in-house team. But if your goals are more complex, an agency will be better equipped to help you achieve them.
3. What’s your budget?
This is often the deciding factor for businesses when it comes to outsourcing their marketing. If you have a limited budget, you might think that you wouldn’t be able to afford an agency — and in some cases, you might be right.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that an agency can be a worthwhile investment. A good agency will not only help you reach your marketing goals, but they’ll often help you reach those faster and more efficiently than you would on your own.
Additionally, for the cost of one employee, you’ll often get an entire team of experts.
4. Do you have the internal resources?
Even if you have the budget to hire an agency, that doesn’t mean you should. If you already have a team in place with the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve your marketing goals, there’s no need to outsource.
In fact, doing so would be a waste of money.
On the other hand, if you don’t have the internal resources to get the job done, an agency can be a lifesaver.
5. What’s your relationship with risk?
Every business owner knows that there’s always some level of risk involved when it comes to marketing. You might try a new campaign that flops, or you might invest in a new product that doesn’t sell.
For some business owners, this level of risk is acceptable. But for others, it’s simply too much. If you’re someone who prefers to play it safe, outsourcing your marketing might be the best option.
An agency can help you mitigate risk by testing new ideas and campaigns before rolling them out to your entire audience.
6. What’s your company culture?
Your company culture is the set of values, beliefs, and behaviors that make up your organization. It’s what makes your business unique.
And when it comes to marketing, your company culture should be taken into consideration.
For example, if you have a more traditional company culture, an agency that’s creative and outside-the-box might not be the best fit. On the other hand, if you’re a startup with a young, hip team, a more traditional agency might not be the right choice.
The bottom line
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to outsourcing your marketing. The decision ultimately comes down to what’s best for your business.
If you’re still on the fence, we suggest taking the time to evaluate your needs and goals. Once you have a better understanding of what you’re looking for, you’ll be in a better position to make a decision.
If you have any questions or need help getting started, feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to chat with you about your specific situation and needs.
