Should you be hiring a digital agency?

If you’re running a business in the 21st century, then you probably already know that digital marketing is one of the most effective ways to raise brand awareness, attract leads and boost revenue. 81% of people search online for a product or service, so you’re missing out on a hell of a lot of leads if your business doesn’t have a visible online presence!

Thankfully, hiring a digital agency can bring your business growth to new heights. Whether you’re focusing on SEO, social media, PPC advertising or email marketing, these digital maestros will deliver smart strategies to reach your target audience and maximise your ROI.

But is this service a necessity if, say, Chris from upstairs knows his way around Google My Business? And just how much of your marketing activity should be outsourced?

Fret not. We’re here to help you decide whether marketing support from external experts is the right solution for your business. Below, we’ll compare key considerations like costs and control as we explore the likelihood of being able to build an effective in-house digital marketing team.

Let’s weigh up your options!

So, Which Tasks Can Be Handled In-House?

Any of the above, provided you’ve got a team of employees with the time and talent to take it on successfully. Just remember to set realistic goals – that means not counting on some sort of lone superhero to deliver it all with flying colours.

Costs

For small-to-midsize companies, building an internal marketing department is a significant investment. As well as staff salaries, you’ll face additional expenses like recruitment fees, taxes, superannuations, training and software.

Using a marketing agency could be a lot more cost-effective than maintaining an in-house marketing team. That’s because the level of services (and therefore, pricing) can be tailored to your specific needs. Why pay a full-time SEO specialist an average salary of $60,000 when you could hire a digital marketing agency with a team of specialists for as low as half of that? You get the jist.

But let’s work out the best option for your business based on its unique requirements and real expenses. Take a few minutes to compare your costs of hiring a digital agency versus going in-house with our handy calculator!

Marketing Tools

Bear in mind that if you build an internal marketing department, you’ll also have to purchase all sorts of digital marketing tools and train your team in their use (which can take a long, long time). Such software ranges from SEO platforms like SEMrush to graphic design programs like Adobe Photoshop.

If you hire a digital agency, your business needn’t stress over researching, buying or navigating niche and expensive software. They should have access to all of the latest tools already, paying for each one and knowing how to get the most out of it for your marketing strategy. Nice one!

Control

We totally get it. Handing over some of your business’s most important tasks to an external agency can be pretty scary, especially if you feel more comfortable having complete control over your comms and campaigns.

But sharing your marketing responsibilities can take a huge weight off your shoulders, allowing you to focus your valuable energy on primary business operations. Although an agency requires your sign-off on various decisions, giving them a certain level of freedom to work their magic will reduce approval bottlenecks and help your brand achieve even stronger results!

Just make sure to hire a transparent, reliable agency that you can really trust.

Expertise

While in-house marketing teams can design and implement numerous types of digital strategies, agencies generally possess more resources and skills to bolster their outcomes. And what’s not to like about achieving a higher ROI from your marketing activities?

This is possible because a digital agency usually comes with expertise and capabilities that internal teams can’t compete with, especially within a small-to-midsize business. From the ability to access beta features on various platforms to the support of industry-leading specialists, an agency has the capacity to bring your marketing activity to a whole new level.

Scalability

On a related note, an agency can scale to your business with ease. Thanks to a greater number of team members with expert skill sets – think everyone from web designers and copywriters to SEO specialists and PPC pros – your business can make the most of various digital channels, from paid search to social media.

In contrast, upscaling marketing activities with an in-house team can be challenging and time consuming. You’ll either have to spend time hiring more staff or cut down on other important tasks. What’s more, losing an employee might not only harm marketing efforts but also add stressful workloads to remaining team members, creating a vicious cycle of low performance and high turnover rates. Not fun.

Ease Of Communication

There’s a lot to be said for popping over to your colleague’s desk when you have a quick question or need urgent support on a certain task. And with an internal marketing team at your service, you can do just that. No waiting around, leaving voicemails or chasing emails.

Chances are, your digital agency won’t be located in the same office building as your business (you’ve struck gold if it is!). That’s why you need to work with an accommodating agency that has responsive account managers and seamless communication processes. If partnering with an agency in another time zone, make sure it has plenty of experience in supporting this type of client relationship!

Brand & Industry Knowledge

Of course, no one knows your business like you do. An internal marketing team will really understand your brand and its industry, a fundamental foundation for all marketing decisions.

However, if you hire an ace digital agency to promote your business, they’ll get to know it like the back of their hand! That means going the extra mile to familiarise themselves with your brand, competitors, and audience, developing an effective marketing strategy as if it were their very own company.

Number Of Clients

While an in-house marketing team can dedicate 100% of their time and efforts to your business, an agency will cater to numerous clients and their marketing goals.

That said, choose your agency wisely and you’ll feel like you’re the only business on their books! A professional account manager will ensure you receive the highest level of service possible, delivering on time every time with a friendly smile. So if you’re feeling a bit neglected, it might be time to upgrade your agency rather than make the move in-house.

Find Your Happy Medium With Redback Solutions!

Hopefully, the above information has made your digital marketing decision slightly less daunting. Chances are, you’ll get the most value for your money if you couple the support of a winning digital marketing agency like Redback with an internal team who handles any general tasks that don’t require our specialist management. At the end of the day, it’s all about discovering the right blend for your business!

On board with hiring a digital agency? We’ve been recognised among the top digital marketing agencies in Australia by multiple industry publications (such as DesignRush) and we’d love to organise a call to learn more about your business and discuss your digital marketing needs.