Aug. 4, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Click Rain.

Every thriving company eventually faces a key business question: Should we market our products and services with an in-house team or an external marketing agency?

Or if we assume that the majority of companies start off marketing themselves, the question becomes: When does it make sense to outsource marketing initiatives?

The answer? It depends. Company size, growth rate, business goals, budget — such factors influence whether in-house or agency marketing (or a mix of the two) will keep business booming.

But one thing is certain: Both options have their unique benefits. In this article, we’ll explore just a handful of each.

Benefits of in-house marketing

A strong in-house marketing team can be a tremendous asset to any company. Here are three top reasons why.

Brand familiarity: In-house marketers benefit from firsthand exposure to their company. They are intimately familiar with the company’s brand, values  and products — as well as the specific demands those products satisfy for a given market.

Effective marketing hinges on just this sort of insider information, which in-house teams know best.

Internal communications: In-house marketing teams can more easily communicate with other company departments such as human resources or business development. This empowers them to plan ahead or even cook up on-the-fly campaigns to meet surprise marketing needs.

Control: Finally, staying in-house means more control over your marketing. From brand standards to media strategy and placement, you call the shots. You execute. You own all the results.

In sum, in-house marketing teams benefit from their unique vantage points within companies. They enjoy privileged insights and connections that help them work nimbly.

Still, sometimes an outside perspective can help identify new opportunities. That’s where an agency could help.

Pros of marketing agencies

A healthy client-agency partnership can work wonders for your company’s growth. Not only do agencies offer an array of capabilities, they also provide consistent new ideas to elevate your marketing and brand.

Perspective: Hiring an agency brings fresh perspective to your marketing. While in-house teams can sometimes struggle with “brand tunnel vision,” agencies offer a more objective outlook — especially when they can support their views with data.

A great agency won’t hijack your brand; they will study your brand and offer innovative ideas to help advance your marketing game.

Skill set: Most agencies offer a roster of professional talent in multiple departments: strategists, designers, videographers, account specialists, etc.

When working with an agency, your business can choose to supplement where your in-house team needs help — or you can hand over the reins altogether. Either way, hiring the right agency means adding expertise to your marketing game.

Brand cohesion: Following the last point, if you utilize an agency with a wide skill set, your brand can gain new clarity and cohesion. That’s what happens when a whole team of marketing professionals goes to work for you.

Finally, it’s worth noting that in-house teams and marketing agencies can, and often do, work in tandem. This doesn’t need to be an either/or decision. To repeat the main point of this article, finding the perfect marketing mix all depends on your particular needs and goals.

Click Rain is a people-first digital agency based in downtown Sioux Falls, with a range of marketing, creative, and website services.

If you’re ready to enhance your digital presence, we can help. Just send us a message.