As an established digital marketing agency in Sydney, we often speak to clients about the benefits of working with an agency vs setting up an in-house marketing person or team. The landscape is changing so quickly and this “to do or not to do” is a common dilemma facing businesses at present.
Of course, we’re on the pro agency side, and of course, we do have a little bias and we obviously have a bit to gain, but the reality is that it is not just persistent agencies gradually converting Sydney businesses to opt for agencies over in-house; it is the digital landscape itself.
In recent years, the spectrum of digital niches has expanded, so too have the capability and the myriad things required to know in order to most effectively leverage these tools. Like it or not, it is not realistic for one person, even one small team to be able to keep on top of all of this.
Digital marketing agency vs in-house marketers
To ensure we aren’t only taking a single perspective, let’s look at the pros of having an in-house team, and why so many businesses strive to make this work.
Pro in-house
Having an in-house team gives you control. You have the ability to determine their creative limitations and deadlines, and you can easily forecast creative costs because it comes in the form of their salary. They are close by so you can call on them whenever needed, and you know what they are doing at all times. Project updates can be obtained with a quick visit to their desk.
Pro agency
All good things above, and we get the appeal of having an in-house team, but the counter can be broken down into two powerful benefits:
More skills
Agencies have teams with specialised staff across multiple departments. For you, this means access to the best collective minds in all the fields relevant to your project, without having to pay the salaries of 5+ people. Each staff member has a niche and works every day in their field; gaining hands-on, up-to-the-minute practical experience about what is working and what is not, right now. Because they dedicate 100% of their working time to their niche, they are also committed to reading and networking in their area to stay relevant and up to date.
More resources
It’s our business to be above industry standards in our digital marketing capabilities; therefore we invest in the latest technologies and sending our people to the best conferences and workshops to ensure they are highly skilled and delivering the best services to our clients. We have more expansive networks to find mentors, ask questions and keep a finger on the pulse; not only of what’s happening now but what is predicted to happen in the future.
If the above doesn’t get your attention, think about this:
Most in-house marketers are going to have to use an agency for support, anyway. The role the in-house marketer plays, in a world where there are too many niches to be skilled in, is an in-house project manager, rather than the jack or jill of all trades that many businesses hired in the hope of saving on agency costs.
Establishing a trusted relationship with an agency allows you to outsource the hassle. You can tap into a pool of specialists as you need, and you can rest assured that they have up to the second knowledge and experience to deliver you the best results.
If you want to dip your toe in the water and see what benefit a digital agency can give to your business, get in touch with the team at AdVisible for a free digital strategy session.
