This sounds like one of those age-old dilemmas, doesn’t it? Since both options have their pros and cons, there is not an easy answer or a wrong one. You just have to figure out which one is better for your business, and our guide can help you get an overview of everything you should know about in-house vs. marketing agency, and hopefully, make up your mind.

It Is No Longer a Secret That Investing in Marketing Is Crucial

Long gone are the days when people underestimated the power of good marketing.

Nowadays, everyone knows that if they want their business to excel, they need to implement the right marketing strategy. But what if you don’t know much about it? Should you take a course and try the DIY approach? Hire an agency or form an in-house team?

There are many possibilities, but in the end, it all comes down to these two options, which is why today we bring you their ultimate comparison.

What Is the Main Difference Between In-House and Marketing Agency?

To simplify things, in-house marketing means that you will have to form a team within your company in charge of marketing only.

On the other hand, you can hire a specialized marketing agency as an external team to handle all your marketing. It all comes down to your preferences, needs, and possibilities.

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Professional Agency to Do Your Marketing

We can all agree that this is probably the quickest and most convenient solution, especially if you don’t know much about marketing and can’t bother with building a whole new team. You’re basically getting a team of experts who know what they are doing, and all you need to do is to provide them with the right information. If your brand’s visual identity is on point, you have all the services assembled, and you’re ready to get recognizable, then this is the option you should go for.

Pros of Marketing Agency

• It can be more cost-effective,
• They come with years of experience in the field,
• They use all the tools and software,
• They have a different perspective of your business,
• You’re hiring a team that works well together.

Cons of Marketing Agency

• Things can go a bit slower if they have many other clients,
• Location, they are not in the office next to yours,
• You can’t control everything so easily.

Pros and Cons of Building Your In-House Marketing Team

This road can be more challenging in the beginning, but if you get the right people and everything falls into its place, the results can be equally good. However, this is not suitable for every business, especially smaller ones, so if you can’t afford to hire at least 3 or 4 people, it probably doesn’t pay off. On the other hand, there is the challenge of building a whole new team from scratch, so if you decide to do this, give it some time.

Pros of In-House Marketing

• You can easily control everything on a daily basis,
• You’ll have a team dedicated solely to your brand and business,
• You can easily update tasks and switch priorities,
• They will be able to understand your brand better due to a first-hand experience.

Cons of In-House Marketing

• Costs, since you will have to hire several people,
• The recruitment and training process can last longer than expected,
• Paying for software and various tools,
• Cost of office space and additional equipment.

Which One Pays Off More?

To be honest, both options can pay off, but it all depends on your budget. Don’t expect that you can hire just one person to handle everything. Agencies have different people for SEO, social media, link building, copywriting, blog writing, and so on, so you can’t expect that one person can cover that many different positions.

If you can afford to form an internal team, that can be a good cost-effective solution in the long run. Otherwise, hiring an agency can satisfy all your marketing needs. You will have to pick a person responsible for communication with the agency and be clear about your vision. The monthly fee can vary spending on so many factors, but it can be more affordable than hiring an entire team.

Things to Consider Before You Make a Decision

Not every business is the same, so before you choose the path you want to take, you should consider your goals, priorities, and your budget to find the right fit. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Are you present only online, or is there a brick-and-mortar business also?
• How much are you ready to invest in marketing?
• Who is your target audience?
• Are your services defined?
• Are you present on social media already?
• Does your brand have a logo and a visual identity?
• The size of your business,
• Do research on different agencies and get familiar with the basics of marketing.

The Final Verdict Is up to You

Take all these factors into consideration, put all the numbers on a piece of paper, and don’t rush with making a decision. It is pretty much the same as deciding whether you want to buy or rent a home. If you rent, you can move on easily if you’re not satisfied. If you buy, you’re investing more initially and working on creating some sort of a commitment and long-term relationship, but still, if it doesn’t work, you can always move on. Consult with your workers or business partners, and make the best decision to promote your business.