Hiring a Freelancer vs. a Digital Marketing Agency

Thanks to an ever-growing need for marketing in business, companies are forced to consider not only what type of marketing is best suited for their needs, but also, who is doing that marketing. 

Keeping up

The marketing game is getting more and more complicated, with technology making marketing easier in some ways and more difficult in others. The evolution of technology has allowed venders to reach more people, faster, with the ability to target specific audiences. Keeping up with constantly changing social media, understanding analytics and maintaining fresh marketing strategies, seems like it takes a village. 

Which is better for me?

Is it better for your business to connect with a media company to handle your marketing, or to hire a freelancer? As with most things: That depends.

Breaking down what kind of marketing your company needs now, and having a plan for where you want that marketing to take you, is a good place to start. If you are a smaller organization, just beginning to dip your toe into marketing your business, it’s wise to consider what a freelancer can provide. And, in that case, you are in luck!

There is some great talent out there

With so many highly qualified people looking for remote work, there is quite a large talent pool to work with. Many skilled marketers are pushing back against traditional office jobs, in lieu of remote work. Working-from-home allows freelancers more control in everything from when they work, to where they work. And that freedom is highly valued. 

No overhead

Hiring a freelancer to manage your marketing can provide many benefits, and perhaps the most important benefit is cost. In most cases, you can pay a freelancer nearly half of what you would pay an agency. In fact, there are hundreds of sites that allow you to put out a bid on a project to secure the best price from a freelancer. The cost is lower, as you aren’t paying the overhead: Things like health insurance, vacation days and office space. In fact, you never have to worry about a freelancer asking for time off. There is also typically no contract involved in working with a freelancer. If it isn’t working out, you can opt-out at any time.

More is More

But what if you have a lot of marketing-plates spinning at once, and one person just won’t cut it? In this case, you may want to consider a marketing company. When working with a professional marketing company, concerns like, “Can I trust them with my website?” and, “If I have small changes to my website, am I going to incur a lot of fees?” are highly reduced. 

When working with an agency, you can generally expect a higher level of professionalism and most likely, reliability. If you find your website has an issue six months down the road, you know where to find the agency to rectify the problem. 

Dedication

An agency will provide a team that is dedicated to your project. That team should consist of individuals with specific skills relevant to your marketing needs. Rather than you searching for a content writer, a web builder and SEO specialist, the agency assembles the right team for you. The agency follows up on deadlines and work quality, which leaves you the time to focus on running your business. This team, unlike many freelancers, has one job. You can have confidence that their attention is being given to you and your marketing needs, rather than being spread across multiple clients, with different levels of urgency. 

A Perfect Fit

Taking the time to find out what good marketing can do for your business, needs to be at the top of your to-do list. Deciding if an agency, or freelancer, is better to do that work, is another important decision. These decisions, just like good marketing, can be tailored to fit you and your business, exactly as you need.