In the same way that the internet changed the way people communicate, the way businesses sell products online has transformed the way consumers purchase goods. Thanks to platforms like Shopify, which connects retailers with designers, and BigCommerce, which allows business owners to sell their products directly, consumers have more options than ever before when it comes to the products they want. This shift makes it essential for businesses to understand how to utilize the internet to their advantage.

Since the beginning of 2020, the world has largely gone into lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there are signs that the economy is on the road to recovery, many businesses have not yet adapted to the new way of doing business. To help companies that are still trying to figure out how to integrate digital marketing into their strategy, we’ve compiled a detailed analysis of the various pros and cons of outsourcing digital marketing to an agency vs doing it in-house.

Outsourcing vs In-House

As the name suggests, outsourcing is when a business outsource its marketing activities to a third party (this could be an agency or a freelance marketing consultant). Outsourcing allows a business to take a step back while an agent or consultant handles all the marketing activities (including analytics, content creation, and campaign execution).

The main advantages of outsourcing are:

• You can focus on what you do best and let experts take care of the rest.
• Outsourcing is usually cheaper than hiring in-house.
• You get the benefit of a wider range of skills.
• Marketing is a crucial aspect of any business, and it can be difficult to find someone with the right set of skills.
• Having a strategy in place already makes it easier to manage your inbound marketing efforts.

The disadvantages of outsourcing are:

• You have to trust the experts you’re paying to do a good job.
• It can be difficult to get access to the right resources (such as experienced marketers or data scientists).
• Continual training is required to keep up-to-date with the latest best practices.
• Outsourcing can be time-consuming and cumbersome.
• Marketing becomes less strategic when you outsource certain functions.
• Many businesses don’t have the necessary infrastructure in-place to execute a full-blown marketing campaign (such as a CRM or web analytics system).
• If you go down the agency route, be sure to work with a reputable agency that is experienced in working with global brands.

Considering there are pros and cons to each approach, it’s crucial to assess whether or not outsourcing is the right move for your business. If you decide it is, be sure to work with an experienced global marketing agency that can help you get the most out of your investment.

Why Outsource?

If you’re curious as to why companies outsource their marketing activities, it’s because they benefit from a dedicated and experienced marketing team that can help them to grow their business. Since marketing is such a crucial part of any business, it’s in your best interest to have someone take care of this function for you.

This is why it’s recommended that you hire a marketing agency. Agencies can take care of the day-to-day tasks so that you can concentrate on growing your business. They can help you to develop a marketing strategy, create and optimize marketing materials (such as email campaigns, landing pages, and social media content), and analyze the results of your campaigns. In short, an agency can help you to get the most out of your marketing efforts.

Why go through a digital marketing agency? An experienced agency will already have the required inbound marketing expertise as well as the ability to execute a digital marketing strategy for your business. They can help to set up automated marketing systems so that you can focus on growing your business rather than wasting your time with day-to-day marketing tasks. They can also help to create an environment where you can thrive as a business rather than just exist.

Working with an agency also has the advantage of putting you in touch with a network of experienced professionals that can help you to grow your business. Most agencies have access to a broad range of marketing skills, whether you need an SEO expert, content writer, or digital marketer, they can connect you to the person or team you need to help grow your business.

Outsource Or In-House?

Once you’ve decided whether or not to outsource your marketing activities, the next step is to decide how much you should spend on marketing. Just because you outsource the function does not mean that you have to skimp out on the budget. To put it simply, you need to find the right balance between in-house and outsourcing.

If you decide that in-house marketing is the best route for your business, take into consideration the cost-effectiveness of the solution and how much you can reasonably spend. If you’re worried about the finances, it’s better to outsource so you can focus on growing your business.

On the other hand, if being in-house provides you with additional benefits that outweigh the cost (such as marketing analytics or the ability to run Facebook ads), then by all means, keep the in-house team. Just make sure that you’re aware of the costs that go along with it.

Deciding on a course of action is never easy. In this case, you can benefit greatly from working with a reputable agency that specializes in inbound marketing. They can help you to find the best way to balance the needs of your business with the fiscal constraints you’re facing.