Freelancer vs. Digital Agency: What’s Best for Your Business?

Marketing is the lifeblood of your business. Making the decision to outsource this critical task, therefore, is not something to be taken lightly. One question many small and mid-sized business owners grapple with is whether to go with a freelancer or hire a digital agency.

While having a lot of options is usually a good thing, sometimes too much of a good thing can be downright overwhelming. That is why it is so important that you carefully weigh your options and consider what would work best for you in the long run. What follows is a broad overview of some of the differences between freelancers and digital agencies.

The best freelancers are experienced and have worked at a few agencies before going out on their own. Since their reputation is on the line with every single client, they will likely go above and beyond to provide excellent service. Most of their business comes from word-of-mouth referrals so they know that if you aren’t happy with their work, you won’t pass their name along.

Freelancers also have fewer clients than agencies so they are usually more responsive. If your project is large enough, they may work exclusively with you. Freelancers also are more flexible and willing to work nights and weekends to get things done. They can be more affordable than a digital agency and in most cases charge by the hour.

Working with freelancers has its drawbacks, too. For example, many have a narrow set of skills so if you have a complicated project, you may have to hire more than one which can be time-consuming. Further, some freelancers may be difficult to get in touch with. Without formal a contract that usually comes with digital agencies, you also can run into legal issues if a job is not completed to your satisfaction or not completed at all. If a freelancer takes too long to finish a project you can’t call their boss to complain, either.

Now on to digital agencies. Agencies have a team in place so anything you want or need them to do, chances are they can do it. From social media management to content creation to website management, you won’t have to find someone for each new project.

Getting in touch with someone at an agency is unlikely to be an issue, either. You can count on status updates so you know work is progressing in a timely manner. Have a question? Pick up the phone and call your account manager. 

Many people are under the mistaken impression that freelancers are cheaper than agencies but this is not always the case. Unlike freelancers, agencies also can offer flexible billing options.

Of course, agencies have a downside, as well. You will be paired with a content writer, social media specialist or web designer of their choice, not one handpicked by you. If your business works odd hours, your agency usually won’t respond after hours and if they do, it may cost extra. Finally, since agencies have several clients, they can’t drop everything the minute you need something. 

At LeadGen Compass, we tell our clients that when it comes to deciding between a freelancer or a digital agency the most important consideration should be what you are trying to accomplish. Freelancers work best when they are given specific assignments, for example, four blog posts a month and 20 Facebook posts. They are less effective at providing measurable results. Freelancers may increase traffic to your website, but can they tell you that they generated a certain amount of qualified leads from that  traffic? Probably not. Digital agencies can track specific metrics and if you aren’t getting the results you had hoped for, they can make changes to get you on track. They also will bring new ideas to the table to help propel your marketing to a whole new level.

Finding the right marketing partner takes time and careful consideration but is well worth the effort. After all, your business depends on it. If you are looking for a marketing partner, consider LeadGen Compass.  Give us a call at 402-682-7418 or visit leadgencompass.com to find out more.