Digital Marketing: In-House Team or Outsourced Agency?

Having a strong online presence is a non-negotiable for business success, but it’s so often put in the “too hard” basket when you’re juggling many hats. If you’re ready to get an expert in the driver's seat, are you hiring in-house or outsourcing this? We weigh up both options! 

In-House Digital Marketing Management

The Upside:

Imagine having your own digital marketing crew ready to go at any given moment. In-house teams are quick movers for your marketing, ensuring that content, queries, and issues get addressed at lightning speed. Their close awareness of your brand allows for faster and sometimes more authentic interactions with your audience. When you live and breathe a brand, its values, and its objectives, actions are second nature. 

Brands that require a hefty amount of content can utilise in-house managers to develop this - Think, 3-5 TikTok videos daily, and yes, deeeeefinitely a full-time job. If your strategy is all about gaining awareness through mass creation, this may be the route for you. 

The Downside:

Opting for an in-house digital marketing team requires a hefty investment in time, effort, and budget. You'll need to scout and train the right talent, with no guarantees that they’ll stay on, making your business vulnerable. 

Plus, spreading your team too thin across various projects is a risky business. While agencies have specialised professionals, each honed for specific aspects of your digital strategy, in-house teams, especially smaller ones, might find themselves juggling numerous tasks. This juggling act can sometimes lead to a drop in content quality and sub-optimal results. We’re firm believers that you can’t be great at everything, which is exactly why, as a small agency, we’re specialised in organic social media and email marketing.

Outsourced Digital Marketing Management

The Perks:

Now, picture this: your own digital marketing dream team without the HR hassle. That's the beauty of outsourcing. The most immediate benefit is specialised expertise. These digital marketing specialists put their money where their mouth is to deliver results, and are always in tune with the latest trends and strategies, because they have to be. Their sole focus on digital marketing means they bring a variety of skills and experience to the table.

For smaller businesses, the cost-effectiveness of outsourcing is a game-changer. While larger corporations can handle the overhead costs of an in-house team, if you're a small business looking to turbocharge your online presence, outsourcing can be a cost-effective solution. 

Agencies can adapt quickly to your changing needs, whether you need to scale up during busy seasons or scale down during slower periods.

The Quirks:

Outsourced agencies might not speak your brand's secret language fluently. After all, nobody knows your brand's personality quite like your internal crew. Sometimes, the content might come across as trying too hard, like someone else delivering your punchlines.

And remember, you won't be the agency's one and only - which can be a pro and a con. The con is that communication will take longer than simply yelling across the office. Also to keep in mind, sharing sensitive company information with an external agency may raise concerns about data security and confidentiality, depending on the industry you’re in.

So, what's the verdict?

In the grand scheme of things, choosing between building your own marketing team or hiring a seasoned agency boils down to your organisation's personality, goals and business structure.

If you're all about swift response times, brand intimacy, and retaining control, then in-house management might be your dream structure.

On the flip side, if you crave battle-tested expertise and a more strategic approach to content creation, then outsourcing could be your ticket to digital success.