Marketing on the internet is not as straightforward as it may appear. Creating successful web content is more than just writing something (even if it is well written). 

– There is an art and science to creating a successful website. –

You need to be able to manage your brand across a variety of complex platforms each requiring very specialized skill sets.

It’s uncommon as an in-house marketer to be a master of email marketing, content creation, web design, search engine optimization, digital advertising and so on. It is a lot to ask from any one person.

This is the reason why most in-house marketing teams turn to outside help to complete specialized digital marketing tasks.

 

If you don’t have someone within your team with the skills you need, you have two options to find qualified and talented experts to help you:

1. Hiring a freelancer
2. Hiring a digital agency

What are the differences between the two?

When you hire a freelancer, you are hiring a self-employed individual. When you hire an agency, you are hiring a team.

What are the pros and cons?

There are benefits and setbacks of both options. To find out which is the better option for your company, there are some things you should consider.

 

Freelancers: One individual per contract.

• Often cost less
• Highly specialized
• Direct communication

Freelancers can be great if you are looking for a quick, cheap, and easy hire. It is typically easier to get started with them and they are highly specialized in a specific niche. Unfortunately, like you, they cannot specialize in everything. You will need to hire additional freelancers for every skillset.

Agencies: A group of individuals managed under a single firm.

• More employees per contract
• Higher flexibility in workload and time
• Better coordination
• Transparency
• More resources

Agencies are the best option if you need a team of specialists. Instead of hiring one individual to accomplish your task, you will have several at your disposal (and can leave the administration to your project manager). The higher coordination and flexibility can help you get more done quickly. You do pay for what you get and this higher guaranteed level of competence usually comes at a higher price.

– Which is the right choice for me? Do I need to hire a freelancer or a digital agency? –

Try to determine which traits you want to prioritize to get the quality and service you need to meet your marketing goals.

There is no “better” option when deciding whether to hire a freelancer or agency—both have something special to offer.

You need to examine the advantages and disadvantages of both options in order to find the best fit for your company.

Want to learn more? Find out more about hiring a marketing team.