Almost half of UK B2B businesses are outsourcing their advertising - FACT. As manufacturers prepare for the future, they’re wanting to increase their business efficiency as well as enhance their marketing efforts and leverage their capabilities. This requires expertise from others and makes digital marketing/advertising the subcategory least likely to be handled in-house.
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to considering what’s better for your business. Whether you choose to hire an external digital agency or utilise the experts within your existing team, it’s important to do what works for you and your goals. If you’ve got the budget, you’re wanting to save time and increase your marketing and technology results, then hiring an external agency might be for you.
The best way to decide is to weigh up the positives of hiring an agency. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the difference between external and internal marketing teams as well as the advantages of hiring an external advertising agency.
We’ll cover:
- The difference between an external advertising agency and an in-house team
- Experienced team provided
- Results-driven
- Innovative
- Competitor analysis
- Objectivity
- Your existing team is expanded
The difference between an external advertising agency and an in-house team
When it comes to deciding how to source your expertise and assistance, it’s best to know the difference between an external advertising agency and in-house assistance. External advertising agencies certainly have their place and can provide unrivalled assistance, expertise and industry-specific help. Both can work seamlessly together to drive exceptional results.
External advertising agencies are focused on results, innovation and they're time-saving. Agencies help you remove roadblocks and problems that your team doesn't have the time to facilitate. Agencies will also help you refine all areas of your business whilst you focus on the other important work. Of course, we'll explore the benefits in more detail below.
In-house teams, however, are immersed in the brand's culture and knowledge every single day. This kind of immersion is hard to compete with and creates game-changing results. Whilst an external agency might be able to bring a fresh perspective, it'll take them a while to gain this knowledge and experience.
Whereas in-house teams already have this under their belt. In-house teams know the ins and outs of the business and can prioritise tasks accordingly. They're in a better position to focus their energy on work rather than juggling multiple clients and work.
Experienced team provided
Hiring an agency brings additional expertise and knowledge to your business. To complete the tasks outside of your in-house skillset, it may require team training or additional recruitment. Both of which can be time-consuming and can be costly in the long term. One in three B2B marketers say they can't find someone qualified for the role and 35 percent say they don't have the resources available to handle it internally.
This is where the assistance of an external agency will come in handy. An agency is selected and provided based on your requirements, your goals and the industry you operate in. If you need a job done or problems solved, an agency can get to it - they'll research, apply the tactics, achieve results and then they'll report back.
A good agency will be made up of specific experts covering all areas of expertise - from marketing to technology. The great thing about external agencies is that you'll always be certain to find someone who can help you with your specific requests. Agencies bring collective expertise, audience insight and competitor analysis and work seamlessly with the expertise of your existing team.
Results-driven
Agencies are chief problem solvers - if they’ve been around a while and have a lot of expert experience, they’ll also have experience with problems and previous partnership obstacles. They know how to pivot and create solutions and they're equipped with strategies and tactics to help achieve great outcomes and results.
A good expert agency will also be result-driven. They'll want to produce great outcomes, they'll want to go above and beyond and they'll always be thinking ahead for you. This is because they'll value your partnership and will want to work with you for the long term. Outsourcing an agency can give your company the facelift it needs to achieve all the goals you deserve and desire. No matter what your short-term or long-term targets are, an agency can help you achieve them.
If you're struggling to retain customers, reach new audiences or launch a new promotion working with an external agency could be one of the most cost-effective ways to build your business for maximised longevity.
Agencies also have all the resources and tools you'll need to track the success of your projects and promotions - this will save you money in the long term and will free up time within your existing team. Agencies will remove the confusion, they may provide reports and analytic reviews for you and they'll be keen to show you the successful results and help smooth out any issues and areas of improvement. Agencies can provide the secure future your business deserves.
Innovative
If you're partnering with a good agency, they'll thrive off innovation. They'll be keen to help you achieve incredible results whilst also positioning your business as a thought leader in your industry. They'll have their finger on the pulse and they'll always want to be reactive with their content, capabilities and technology.
Many businesses may choose to outsource expertise because they're looking for new areas to promote their services and require a fresh perspective on things. Agencies are always developing their knowledge on the best practices in marketing, technology and innovation so with the help of an agency you'll definitely be able to grow in a crowded marketplace.
Agencies bring creative energy like no other and that's because they work collectively to achieve the desired outcome. They'll live and breathe innovation to help their clients succeed over time and they’ll have access to the resources they need to generate ideas and gain industry insights. The agencies that are committed to building long term partnerships are the ones to look out for *hint-hint to Red-Fern.
Some resources agencies have access to and can save you money in the long term
- Content research tools
- Competitor intelligence trackers
- SEO optimisers
- Grammar/plagiarism checkers
- Automation tools
- Educational courses
- Website development tools, technology and plug-ins
Each member of an agency will also bring their own take on innovation. Whether that's content marketing or web design, agencies have a team of specialists who need to be innovative in their own role to ensure unique ideas are generated and successful results are achieved time and time again.
Competitor analysis
Understanding a competitor's strengths and weaknesses in relation to yours is essential for helping you refine your strategy. It's an agency's job to stay on top of competitor analysis and identify areas for improvement, innovation and gaps in the market.
Competitor analysis requires dedication, specific tools and resources and it can be time-consuming and confusing. Especially if you don't have the time available to do it properly, it can be difficult to see its value. So with the help of an agency, you'll always have someone to inform you of the latest trends and competitor updates and how these can be applied to your unique strategy for success.
Whilst you're focusing on the growth and sales of your business, the agency can focus on the day-to-day digital marketing and gain ideas of where you can market your services, operations and products. If you're not utilising the power of competitor analysis, now should be the time so you're one step ahead and securing the customers and sales your business truly deserves.
Objectivity
If you work in the business, you'll be living and breathing it every day. You'll know the ins and outs, you'll be aware of what works and you'll be polar-focused on achieving good results. You might be reluctant to try something new or you might feel unsure of diversity.
However, expert agencies can bring a fresh perspective. They can provide valuable insight into areas you may never have considered before and they can provide an objective viewpoint on your existing efforts. They'll provide constructive criticism, give you solutions but they'll also analyse the points you're doing correctly and successfully.
Although it can be hard to let go of the control or give others access to various areas of your business, this objective viewpoint and direction can help your business in the future. See the opportunities, apply unique strategies and prepare your business for a successful future.
Your existing team is expanded
You might already have a marketing team but employing an agency is also a great way to expand your existing expert team. If you're part of a small business or a medium-sized business, it might be difficult to hire a social media specialist, an ad expert or an SEO whizz.
Instead, a more sustainable approach to success is to hire an agency that's made up of experts from all backgrounds. Extending your team can also increase your business efficiency, maximise your resources and help you achieve some incredible results. The more team members, the more visionary outcomes.
There are many advantages of hiring an external advertising agency. It’s important to work with one that’s focused on the growth of your business and its industry. Agencies that are data-driven, budget-friendly and utilise the power of active management will be the best for your success. Do your research and don’t underestimate the power of an external digital agency.
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