BatesMeron Inspiration Information Storytelling

IN-HOUSE, AGENCY OR HYBRID?

Esmeralda Hopwood

Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin

It can be hard for a business to thrive on their own, especially in their branding and marketing efforts.

Whether you’re trying to boost your online presence, increase sales or revamp your look, there comes a time in every company’s journey when they must choose:

Do I hire an in-house team or a creative agency?

The answer isn’t always straightforward, so let’s start with the basics.

IN-HOUSE VS AGENCY, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Before we break down the whys or why nots for each, we should define what we’re talking about.

In-house teams work within your company and are made up of your employees, resources and assets.

An agency is an outside party comprised of a team of creatives—including designers, copywriters, content specialists, project managers and more.

SO, WHICH IS RIGHT FOR ME?

So, one is internal, and one is external, but which one is right for me?

An In-House Team Benefits From:

Flexibility
An in-house creative can be nimble and pick up one-off projects as they come.

Control & Consistency
You have more direct oversight and influence on your team’s work.

Cultural Fit
You have direct control over everyone you hire and can integrate them into your company culture.

But There Are Disadvantages as Well:

Higher Cost and Risk
You will need to cover salaries, benefits and training costs to keep an in-house team. You also run the risk of investing the time and resources on a team with no guarantee of success.

Limited Expertise
Your team may not have the same level of training or access to tools as a dedicated agency that often works with multiple clients and projects at once.

Less Scalability
You may not be able to match your team’s workload and skill set to your business’s changing needs and may find yourself constantly having to hire or lay off employees.

Ok, So What Are the Advantages of an Agency?

Access to a Wide Range of Skills
An agency comprises of various creatives with expertise spanning multiple industries. This provides you with a wide pool of professionals with a wealth of experience and knowledge which can lead to more comprehensive, effective marketing strategies.

Fresh Perspectives
Since agencies are external, they can offer outside, unbiased perspectives to inform your marketing and branding strategies. This fresh perspective can highlight gaps in your approach and help provide creative solutions.

A Consistent Focus on the Creative
Agencies are completely focused on marketing, branding or whatever specific facet of creativity they specialize in. They can put all their efforts into one initiative that an in-house team might not have the bandwidth to take on.

More Flexibility and Scalability
By hiring an agency, your business has the flexibility to adjust your scope of services without the need to hire or lay off your own employees. An agency is flexible enough to provide solutions for budgets big or small.

It Can’t Be All Sunshine and Rainbows, What Are the Cons?

Detailed Project Briefings are Needed
To help manage client expectations, clear communication of goals is required. You are responsible for making sure the agency you hire has a detailed brief of all your needs to be set up for success.

Less Control Overall
When hiring an agency, you are hiring experts in their field and need to trust them to do what they do best. This can be daunting for some businesses, especially those who are used to overseeing every aspect of work.

Communication Can Be Slow
Agencies have the added benefit of having dedicated project managers for each project. However, processes must be followed to keep things clear and documented, which can ultimately slow down your process.

WHAT ABOUT A HYBRID APPROACH?

Wait, I don’t have to choose?

No! You may already have someone who works in-house but you would like to support them as your business needs grow. Your in-house marketing team can handle the everyday marketing needs, but you can also hire an agency to handle tasks that require greater expertise. This is called a hybrid approach.

What are the benefits of a hybrid approach?

Combining your in-house marketing with a third-party agency can help your business grow by supplementing your in-house team with agency specialists, maximizing your impact.

Hybrid Benefits Include:

In-House Collaboration with an Agency Makes for a Better Strategy Overall
You’ll have the advantage of your in-house expert collaborating with an agency’s creative professionals to develop new and innovative strategies that will make your business stand out.

You Don’t Have to Compromise on Speed and Communication

Your in-house team can stay flexible and handle the daily workload, while your agency can concentrate on broader campaigns and initiatives.

Your business can benefit from the best of both worlds by opting for a hybrid to facilitate a more collaborative marketing approach. Whether you are seeking to hire a team of marketing and branding experts or need support for your existing team, BatesMeron is ready to help.