Why should a small business hire a marketing agency?
Bill Walls of Intouch Marketing has a great article on the benefits and cost effectiveness of hiring a marketing agency vs. a full time marketer.
In this article Bill touches on several key points a business should take into consideration when deciding what is the best course of action for their business.
Cost benefits
Agency vs. employees
Cost analysis of an agency vs. direct hire
Benefits of a marketing team
Cost Benefits - In this article there are some interesting infographics detailing the cost of marketing teams vs. marketing agencies. This particular article comes from a marketing agency and leans pro agency hiring but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t some very important points being made.
For instance the first and biggest question? “Should I hire a marketer or marketing agency for my business?” This is what Intouch Marketing has this to say…..
“Business owners should consider hiring a marketing agency because:
1. A marketing agency will modernize your strategy
2. A marketing agency will free up time to run your business
3. A marketing agency will help you keep payroll costs down
4. A marketing agency is a sound investment that produces long-term results
All companies need an effective, well thought out and executed marketing plan. While most companies understand the need for a strategic marketing plan, few understand what it is or how to implement one. A marketing agency will work with you to create and implement a successful marketing plan. This will result in lead generation for your business that can then be turned into sales, putting you on a path toward business growth.
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The first point “modernize your strategy” speaks loudly. The rise of the internet and the ever changing landscape of social media has changed the way companies communicate with their customers. People expect real time access to information and there is a lot to keep up with to make sure that information is consistent. Potential customers are making decisions in just a few keystrokes making it more important then ever to make sure your website is easy to find and you are turning that inbound traffic into leads.
What makes up a modern marketing strategy?
Website development and redesign
Graphic design work
SEO/keyword research
Market research
Mobile marketing integration
Brochure development and production
Content development
Targeted email creation
E-newsletters
Social media marketing
Paid advertising
Metrics and data analysis
Print marketing
Public relations work
Special events
Sponsorship
Freeing up time so you can run your business
Many small business owners go with the do it all myself approach. I must say, full disclosure, I am one of those people. Truth is the time spent researching, learning, experimenting and wondering is that right seriously impacts your business. Here again is Bill Walls on the subject -
“The learning curve for anyone with little experience in marketing is staggering and would challenge a busy entrepreneur to create a complete and effective marketing strategy. Even if the owner devoted the time necessary to learn all of these marketing elements, you would have a tapped out business owner with little time to run his or her business.”
The Big Question - Is it worth it?
It may seem that doing it yourself is a money saver. But if you take a closer look you can see that this isn’t the case. Take a look at the cost comparison below. You can also look at the infographic HERE which plots out the services, costs and benefits of an agency vs. employee. The costs differences are astounding.
In the end it is a decision that can be hard to make for a lot of business owners but look at the benefits you get.
Expertise with your market niche
Experience in executing marketing plans
Money savings by hiring to your specific needs
No employee training required
Your marketing plan is executed immediately, the employee may need time to ramp up while the marketing firm is ready from the get-go
Avoid HR nightmares
No additional overhead
Tax deductions, not tax liability
Efficiency for short term and urgent projects
In the end the question is ‘What am I costing myself in time’ when trying to do everything yourself.