Do you need a marketing employee or a contractor?
As you promote your business more, it feels like all of the responsibilities are adding up.
Design this, copywrite that, market these services, and advertise those products. It feels neverending. You may need a full-time employee, whether that’s an admin or marketer.
But you might just need a little extra help from a marketing agency or contractor.
Why consider a marketing agency for your small business?
Expertise and Experience: Marketing agencies bring a diverse team of specialists with expertise in various areas, from graphic design to content creation and digital marketing. This collective knowledge can provide valuable insights and strategies tailored to your business goals.
Cost-Effectiveness: Hiring a full-time employee entails not only salary but also additional costs such as benefits, training, and overhead expenses. In contrast, working with a marketing agency allows you to access a wide range of services at a fraction of the cost of hiring multiple in-house specialists.
Scalability and Flexibility: Whether you need a one-off project or ongoing support, marketing agencies can scale their services to meet your evolving needs. From seasonal campaigns to sudden spikes in workload, agencies offer flexibility that traditional employees may not provide.
When to consider hiring an agency or employee?
Specialized Projects: If you require expertise in specific areas such as website design, SEO, or social media advertising, a marketing agency can provide specialized skills to execute these projects efficiently.
Limited Budget or Resources: For small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets or resources, hiring a full-time employee for each marketing function may not be feasible. Working with a marketing agency allows you to access a comprehensive suite of services without the overhead costs.
Short-Term Campaigns: If you have short-term marketing campaigns or projects that require a quick turnaround, contracting a marketing agency can provide the necessary resources and agility to meet your deadlines effectively.
What can a marketing agency do for you?
Marketing agencies offer a wide range of services to cater to your business needs, including:
Graphic Design: Creating visually appealing designs for branding, advertisements, and marketing collateral.
Copywriting: Crafting compelling copy for websites, social media posts, email campaigns, and more.
Digital Marketing: Implementing strategies for search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, email marketing, and social media management.
Strategy and Consulting: Providing strategic guidance and consulting services to align your marketing efforts with your business objectives.
Social Media: Managing multiple platforms, creating content, engaging with those who engage with your content, and monitoring trends in your niche.
Examples of what we do:
We create design content for Client M, as needed. They send us the request, we create and bill for time with a 24-hour turnaround.
We create print-ready packaging for Clients Q and B, as needed. No retainer!
We create monthly, strategic social media calendars for Client A, and engage with their audience daily. We also update and maintain their website and offer marketing help with social media ads.
We create a monthly, strategic social media calendar for Client S, stay connected and engage with their followers and clients, maintain and update their website, provide two monthly blogs to boost SEO, and support in production design as needed.
We create any and all design for Client U, and create monthly content strategy for their social media accounts.
These are just a few examples – see all of the work we can help with on our services list!
When to consider a full-time employee?
Sure, we’re biased, but we also want to help as many people as possible, and budgets often don’t allow for a full-time employee. If you’re wondering if it’s time to look at a full-time position, consider:
Competitive salaries. You should expect to pay at least $50,000 annually, depending on the standard in your area, plus benefits like insurance.
Taking time to find the right fit. You’re looking for one person to possess a lot of different skills, and the first few people you interview likely won’t be the best fit.
Financial support. Marketers can only do as much as the finances allow. Paying for advertising, software, and other tools gets pricey, fast, so be prepared!
If you’ve already done the math and feel you can support all of the above, you’re ready to see your business grow!
And, of course, if your business grows and needs help supporting your marketer, we’re here to help them, too.
Conclusion
When it comes to deciding between hiring a contractor or a full-time employee for your design, copywriting, marketing, and advertising needs, there's no one-size-fits-all answer.
However, partnering with a marketing agency offers numerous advantages in terms of expertise, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility.
If you're looking to push your brand to those who need you most, consider booking services with Humble Onion Creative. Our team of experts is ready to collaborate with you to deliver exceptional results and drive your business forward. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help!
