Should you hire marketing staff or freelancers?

Every business needs a workforce to drive the company forward. Without dedicated and talented staff, you will find it impossible to expand your horizons.

As an entrepreneur, trying to fulfil every function is impossible and your business will suffer.

Finding the right team to match your business needs, however, can be difficult. This blog aims to shed some light on whether or not it is better to go with a team of freelancers or permanent marketing staff.

No matter what the nature of your business, hiring new staff is something you’ll have to face at some point.

Business is all about marketing and converting valuable leads into sales. For success, you have to have proper marketing strategies in place. There are advantages and disadvantages that affect the quest for finding the right help. The benefits have to be suited to your business and meet the business goals in the end.

While hiring staff is critical for your business, most entrepreneurs find themselves wondering if they should hire staff or just outsource work to freelancers. Each one has its own pros and cons.

This post will help narrow down some of the main staffing concerns you may have when hiring your team. We hope that you will be able to make the best choice for your business based on this insightful post.

As your business grows and evolves, you might land up recruiting several, if not all, of these options.

Your hiring options

First of all, let’s have a look the differences between freelancers, in-house staff members and outsourced marketing agencies before weighing the pros and cons of each.

Freelancers

Freelancers work in their own time to accommodate all their clients and this may or may not include weekends, public holidays and or overtime. Working in their own time may not be suitable to your business, especially when there are stringent project deadlines.

Freelancers might seem expensive for their craft, but prices will vary from one freelancer to the next depending on their qualifications, level of experience and quality of referrals.

They are usually great at what they do, creative and can produce well-written content from only a few pointers or from their own research.

Communication difficulties can arise, especially given the fact that they work remotely and you’re not always able to speak face to face.

Finding the right freelancer to do the job is very important. Hiring a freelancer is a great way to get your marketing done without having to commit to paying a monthly salary.

In-house staff

As your company grows, you will find that you need to hire in-house staff to handle new functions and responsibilities.

Your staff must embody your business and brand and stick to employment regulations and company policies. Unlike Freelancers, your staff function 100% for your business alone.

If they lack the skills needed for the job, they can receive company training and can improve as they learn. Salaries are negotiable but ultimately as a business owner, you’re still able to have the final say and can measure their salary based on the business budget.

You can find staff to work in-house who are already skilled and don’t need to be trained for the marketing position. This will save the business time and money when thinking of the long-term goals. Businesses can choose to employ in-house staff on a casual or permanent basis.

Marketing agencies

Marketing agencies are highly skilled and industry-focused. They have the ability to execute marketing plans successfully with positive results. They have access to more resources and are thus extremely beneficial to businesses.

Their skills and ability to market your business comes at a higher price, but this is worthwhile.

Marketing agencies understand data and analytics, and they can use these to better understand the needs of your business. Communication between clients and the team is seamless because this is what these professionals live for.

Pros and Cons of each staff type

Now that we’ve explained some of the roles that each type of marketing staff member can fill, let’s drill down to some of the pros and cons of each, to help you assess which option or options would best serve your growing business.

Freelancers

Freelancers can be very reliable but unfortunately, there are also those who have shown this to be a risky option. Deadlines are important and so are being able to create strong online content that is not only shareable but also able to convert potential leads into sales. Not all freelancers are able to deliver in this manner, but you need to hire the ones that can.

Pros

Freelancers are dedicated
They can meet deadlines
They are constantly looking to learn and improve their skills
They are available for meetings whether in person or via Skype (video conference means)
It’s easy to find freelancers and in these days many people work for themselves
They are time flexible and not restricted to a 9-5 basis as opposed to office staff
Their rates can be customized to benefit themselves and their client
Their rates are more affordable than marketing agencies

Cons

Freelancers can be more expensive than permanent, in-house staff
They may not always have the same commitment to your brand or business
Freelancers juggle multiple clients’ work and may not have the same focus for all.
If they overcommit to assignments, they miss deadlines

Hiring in-house staff

In-house staff is always a good idea as they eventually become your permanent workforce and you can really nurture their potential. It’s great to have a strong team to rely on.

Pros

You can decide on the salary
You can train them and perfect their skills
You can expect great performance from dedicated staff members
Loyal staff members are dedicated to the company’s needs
Your staff can boost your business with great customer service

Cons

They are limited to a set amount of working hours per week or month
Finding the right combination of skills, qualifications and attitude can be challenging
Once hired, they may not demonstrate the drive and enthusiasm you expect
They may not have the right qualifications for the job
Training can be extremely expensive

Hiring a marketing agency

Marketing agencies are a great option for businesses on the rise. Agencies are specialised to help your business grow.

Marketing agencies are knowledgeable and do more than create good content. They specialise in creating strategies that convert. Marketing agencies have individuals who are rooted in various niches and know their industry like the back of their hand. With their in-depth industry knowledge, they apply it to the business and make it work.

Pros

They are professional and have considerable expertise
They keep abreast with the latest online marketing methods and trends
They dedicate their time to you and your business giving you a tailor-made experience
Marketing agencies often satisfy their clients with better quality in the long run because of their experience and knowledge

Cons

Marketing agencies can be expensive especially full-service agencies
There are chances that some agencies can lack experience based on niche preference
They also have several client accounts which splits their attention

The Takeaway

Growing your business is not only exciting, it is the key to long-term success.

As you consider your needs in the present, also think of where you want your company to be in the long-term. Consider both the risks and the rewards as you weigh what type of staffing arrangement suits your company.

Running your own business requires careful planning but being too cautious does not always pay off. You need to get the right team together to ensure your future success.

Hiring staff to help you market your business is a great investment. You might decide to start with one or two freelancers, and as you experience success, move onto in-house staff.

If you have the budget for it, you might decide to go straight to a marketing agency because that is where the best skills, resources and experience lie.

Costs have to be considered but remember that we often get what we pay for. If someone is too cheap, the chances are high that their work will be of equal quality.