Your digital marketing strategy can be what makes or breaks your business. The first step to set it all up is deciding between hiring a professional marketing agency or a freelancer. Both of these options have their advantages and disadvantages, so the “right” choice completely depends on your specific needs and goals.
In this article, we’ll compare the differences between marketing agencies and freelancers so you can make an educated choice that will benefit your business the most.
So, without any further ado, let’s get to the bottom of it!
1. Quality
Marketing agency
Professional marketing agencies have all the latest tools and equipment to make your digital campaign stand out from the competition. You’ll have an entire team of trained professionals working relentlessly to get your brand’s name out there. They have a certain standard of quality that they need to uphold to gain recognition in the ever-evolving market. So, as long as you choose the agency carefully, you’ll get top quality services and a lasting partnership with someone knowledgeable about your industry.
Freelancers
Most freelancers are professionals with strong educational backgrounds, which allows them to deliver high-quality results for your business. However, they have fewer resources at their disposal, so their work is usually slower. Besides, for complex projects, you’ll need to outsource more than just one freelancer, which takes time and effort to do.
Choosing the right person can be a daunting task since you’ll have to filter out hundreds of candidates coming from various sides of the world (it’s a competitive market). Still, when it comes to quality, hiring a talented freelancer can be very well worth it, especially if your project is simple and straightforward.
2. Cost
Marketing agency
Naturally, top marketing agencies will price their services according to their capabilities. You’ll be paying for an entire team of people who can all contribute to your campaign in various ways. There are times when the high price is completely worth it, but that’s not always the case. If you only want some expert help on a small project, we suggest you search for freelancers instead. However, if you want continuous help with your branding and digital marketing strategies, a partnership with a full-blown marketing agency is the best choice available.
Of course, pricing varies from agency to agency, so there’s an option out there for everyone’s budget!
Freelancers
Hiring a freelancer is always a cheaper choice than employing some new in-house workers. However, keep in mind that freelancers can be quite expensive too, depending on their experience and reputation. Still, they’re the best option for those short-term marketing projects you have going on.
Whatever you do, remember to check their portfolio and client testimonials before hiring them. Additionally, remember to look for them on reliable platforms such as Fivver and Upwork to ensure you’re getting the quality you deserve.
3. Flexibility
Marketing agency
The bigger the agency, the less flexible their schedule is. You won’t be their only client, so making multiple last-minute changes to your project might take some time. While most agencies will try their best to give you real-time updates and respond to your requests as quickly as they can, sometimes their response times can be frustratingly slow. Of course, this doesn’t always have to be the case, and the quality you’re getting is worth it.
Freelancer
While freelancers are usually more agile in fulfilling “additional” requests (because they don’t follow a formal structure), it will all depend on their work ethic. Besides, freelancers (especially reputable ones), usually also have many other clients besides you.
Still, as long as you choose the freelancer carefully, you’ll enjoy flexibility, speed, and quality work for a low price.
4. Time
Marketing agency
Marketing agencies such as the Inspira Digital Agency will always be more efficient in respecting those tight deadlines you set at the beginning of your business relationship. They can provide you with a realistic schedule so you know what and when to expect it. Besides, since they have more resources and tech at their disposal, they’ll usually be able to finish the job much faster than a single freelancer.
We suggest you inquire about the schedule right at the beginning of your mutual partnership. It will allow you to organize your tasks and projects productively.
Freelancers
Freelancers can be quite time-efficient, but their speed mostly depends on their work ethics. Also, there’s always the risk of unexpected delays because of the freelancer’s personal circumstances. If they get sick, there’s no one to jump in and do their tasks, for example.
So, if you’re in a rush to get your project finalized, we suggest you search for a marketing agency instead.
5. Purpose
At the end of the day, it all boils down to your business needs and goals. Freelancers are usually better for small tasks and projects requiring some expert help, while marketing agencies seem to be a better choice when you need to build your entire marketing strategy from scratch.
Then, your budget should also be considered. Freelancers are usually a cheaper choice, but they also provide less quality in their work. Make a list of priorities and find what best fits your current budget, goals, and preferences.
Whatever you do, make sure to do your research to ensure both the freelancer and the agency are up to your standards. Don’t choose just anyone! Look at their online reviews and customer testimonials to see whether they’re positively reviewed or not. Lastly, once you get in touch with them, ask a lot of questions before handing them your marketing project.
The bottom line
All in all, choosing whether to hire a digital marketing agency or a freelancer is not an easy task. Both come with their own advantages and disadvantages, and they can both benefit your business as long as you choose correctly. Make sure to consider your needs and goals carefully. Freelancers are a better choice if your project is small and simple, but if you need something bigger, professional agencies should be your go-to choice.