When developing your marketing department, it can be difficult to have all the technical, strategy and platform skills needed to get the best outcomes from your in-house team. This is where partnering with an agency can save a marketing manager from being a jack of all trades or burning out.
In 2024’s fast-paced digital landscape, staying on top of current trends, new technology, and shifting consumer expectations is a necessity. And leveraging those into your digital marketing strategy is the ticket to success.
“But I don’t have the time, resources or know-how to compete… “
That’s where outsourcing your digital marketing to an agency may be the right direction for your business. We’ll unpack what you should consider, the pros and cons and explore how hiring an agency can optimise a marketing department and strategy.
Why consider hiring a digital marketing agency?
According to Forbes, as of 2023, it is estimated that 4.9 billion people use social media worldwide, with the average user spending time across 6 – 7 platforms every month. This detail alone highlights the importance of having a concrete social media presence and digital marketing experts on your team.
But what about an in-house team? Often, in-house marketing departments face challenges like keeping up with rapidly changing digital marketing trends and platforms, which can prove overwhelming, particularly with limited resources and time constraints. This may prevent the team from fully leveraging new strategies and tools, meaning your business’ marketing may not be performing as well as it could be. Additionally, to keep up with the competition, many businesses require specialised skills in their team, like SEO or Ad specialists, which might be difficult to source internally.
When you hire a digital marketing agency, you’ll have access to a team of experts equipped with the best skills, latest knowledge, and tools to hit the ground running.
When to consider hiring a digital marketing agency?
The next step is to assess whether your business could benefit from a digital marketing agency. If you resonate with any of the following points, it’s a strong indication that partnering with an agency may be the right move to optimise your business’ marketing and thrive.
If you… have a small internal team.
If you…and your team are time-poor.
If you… find your current agency is lacking strategy direction and not delivering results.
If you… are using multiple providers and find there is a disconnect between them all.
If you…have hit a plateau in business and are not sure how to scale.
If you… are struggling to stay up to date with industry knowledge, and find your team playing catch up.
If you… want to be more creative and produce higher-quality, engaging content
If you… are looking for an expert team like Red Herring Digital to become your complete digital arm.
Let’s break it down…
Pros of hiring a digital marketing agency
- Receive access to specialised expertise and the latest industry trends.
- Eliminating continuous training and development of in-house staff will improve cost efficiency. Plus, you’ll have the flexibility to scale services up or down based on your needs.
- Allow your brand to focus on core business activities and strategic planning.
- Have access to a full team of experts without the overhead costs of hiring full-time employees.
- Agencies can offer new insights and innovative strategies gained by working with a variety of clients and industries.
Cons of hiring a digital marketing agency
- Initially they will lack in-depth knowledge of your business. Like new employees, they will not know the ins and outs of your brand. So, It’s important to communicate your business goals and educate your agency on your plans, challenges, and current goals.
- Cost Considerations: Agencies can be expensive, particularly for sole proprietors, small businesses, or start-ups, unless the agency specialises in that area.
- Expectations on what a specific budget can achieve: Work alongside your agency to set realistic expectations of what results can be delivered within your budget. Clear communication is integral to ensure both parties are aligned on what results can be realistically accomplished.
Tips for choosing a digital marketing agency:
Choose an agency with relevant experience within your industry. This will ensure that they understand your market and can target the right audience.
Look for client testimonials and case studies to gauge their success in similar projects. Evaluate their range of services and how they might integrate with your broader goals.
Conduct regular reporting and check-ins to track progress and ensure alignment with your business’ goals and strategies. Ongoing evaluation allows you to assess new strategies and measure return on investment.
A key advantage of an agency is being able to leverage their expertise to educate your in-house staff. Working closely with a talented agency can help your team upskill and provide insight into strategies to optimise your brand over time.
Clear and timely communication is a cornerstone of a successful partnership. By setting expectations, defining deliverables, and maintaining an open line of communication, you can establish a strong working relationship that fosters long-term success.
Over the last 9 years, we’ve scaled hundreds of businesses’ online presence and sales, optimising 6-figure budgets across industries such as professional services, e-commerce and retail, consumer services, education, and more.
Book a complimentary review of your digital marketing to see what we could achieve for your business growth.
