Before analyzing other aspects of In-house Marketing vs. Agency Marketing, a basic difference between the two should be understood. In-house marketing is when a company’s internal marketing team works to market its products or business. On the other hand, Agency Marketing is when a company hires a professional external team to market its business.
Now that we know the difference between the two, we must next see that it is a matter of concern for many businesses whether to opt for in-house or agency marketing. One must look at several aspects while deciding on the same. It is a tough call since it greatly impacts the future of the business.
This article tries to make the job easier for you if you are dealing with this problem. This article focuses on several points and factors that one should keep in mind while deciding on them.
You may also like to read 9 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Digital Marketing Company For Your Business
Pros, Cons, and Cost Of Digital Agency Vs In-house Marketing
1. Cost
A major factor that often becomes a deciding factor between the two is the cost. The cost of putting an in-house team on the one hand and an agency on the other varies greatly. In-house teams are generally cost-effective since they are already part of the team. The employee cost for in-house teams is quite low compared to agencies, where they often charge a hefty amount. Though cost-effectiveness is important, it is recommended not to make it the only factor in consideration. Other factors listed below might prove to be equally, if not more, important than cost.
2. Accountability
Many people are often averse to including new members in their team, especially for tasks that require an insider’s view of information. The accountability factor is present in agency marketing, but it is not as satisfying as in in-house marketing. In-house marketing offers complete control and regulation over the work.
3. Ease of doing work
Even if you choose between the two, there might be several factors that may hinder the work. The in-house team has a detailed understanding of the business. Due to already being part of the company, they know the visions, goals, modus operandi, work ethics, etc. of the company. This makes it easier for them to work on marketing the same brand. This can be possible for them with the minimum effort to understand what the company wants. Agency marketing, on the other hand, is difficult to start working with. Agency marketing teams often require proper briefing, research, and efforts to understand the business, its objectives, visions, and expectations from them. This may take a lot of time, and they still might not be able to get it.
4. Accessibility
Reaching the in-house marketing team is much easier as compared to agencies. Since most agencies have their separate workstations, physically reaching them as well as having control and regulation might be a problem. Agencies for marketing often have work ethics that cannot be molded. With in-house marketing, work ethics can be determined as well.
5. Dedication to work
Honestly, how dedicated one is to a particular task can be known only through the output. But if you go by how much time each alternative will be able to devote to your project, then even here, in-house marketing wins the battle. In-house marketing works only for one business at a time, whereas agencies for marketing often work on several projects for several employers simultaneously. It is not necessary, but it might impact the quality of work produced.
6. Experience
The two factors also differ if we go by the level of expertise the working personnel will have. Agency marketing teams are composed of specialized personnel who have in-depth marketing knowledge. They are often experienced and don’t need guidance on how to bring your vision into reality, but they are there to help with the same. In-house marketing fails to bring the precision that an agency offers. This may again affect the result in your favor.
7. Composing teams and dividing work
With an in-house team, you still have a significant workload, including selecting members for the team, allocating work, providing guidelines, giving feedback, regulating work, resolving disputes, etc. This does not make the situation much different from one where you are working in marketing. A marketing agency, on the other hand, keeps you free from all this workload. They already have a curated team, designated roles for people within the team, proper dispute management systems, etc. This makes working with them easier in this regard.
8. Hardware and software expenses
With an in-house team, you may save some money by not hiring professionals, but even an in-house team demands significant investment in terms of hardware setup, infrastructural setup, expenses on software, etc. Agency marketing, on the other hand, saves you from this extra expenditure. Marketing agencies already have a sound hardware setup and other arrangements. The cost of all these is included in the final cost that they charge you. But you are not to bear the brunt alone since they have many more clients who pay for the same. In this way, agency marketing saves you not just from expenditure but even a great deal of hassle.
9. Quality of the Final Output
The discussion always boils down to the final product or output at the end. The output of this whole process is extremely essential since it is the output that matters most in this field. In the field of marketing, an audience will care about how aesthetically pleasing an advertisement is and not about the process of its making. Hence, this is the most important deciding factor of all. In-house marketing, when compared to agency marketing, might not perform equally well. It is because agency marketing has the upper hand with expertise, professionalism, knowledge of the diverse areas of marketing, the trends, what to do, what not to do, strategies to work with the market, etc. In-house marketing often lacks all these. But there might be instances where in-house marketing might still be a better option, even with all the odds.
As admitted earlier, it is difficult to choose between two given options. One should focus on what factors matter the most to them and then compare both alternatives accordingly. The decision may also take time before it gives results. What is needed is to work constantly with patience and make the right choices. In conclusion, while in-house marketing teams offer proximity and internal alignment, partnering with a digital agency like Star Cubix brings invaluable expertise, flexibility, and a broader perspective to your digital marketing efforts. With specialized skills, industry insights, and a dedicated focus on results, agencies can elevate your brand’s online presence, drive innovation, and adapt swiftly to evolving market trends.
