Are you thinking about redesigning your company website, creating company collateral, or restructuring an internal marketing piece? If you don’t have the in-house team to do the work, you may be considering two options: hiring staff or hiring an agency.

It won’t surprise you to know that we highly recommend working with an agency. And while many companies might think that bigger is better, there is much to be said for working with a boutique outfit.

Let’s start with the basics…is hiring an employee or is working with an agency the right move for your business?

The decision to bring on an internal staff hinges on your exact needs, and how extensive those needs are. Some questions to consider:

How much of a need do you have — is it a full time need?

 If you don’t have a full-time, year-round need for a creative team on staff, then it’s an obvious choice to go with an agency. You don’t want your employee sitting idle, or taking on lower-level tasks to fill their day.

Do you have the bandwidth to manage an internal team?

Between HR, management of staff, establishing and maintaining company brand, and incorporating a team into your existing one, hiring internally takes a toll on your time and your money, especially if the new staff member needs training. The cost of finding, training, and paying an employee may put stress on your company budget.

 

So what are the advantages to working with an agency?

An agency becomes part of your team.

When you hire an agency, you are hiring an extension of your existing team. Your success is the creative team’s goal, and they are dedicated to being an invaluable asset. They get to know your business and brand deeply and thoroughly.

Agencies respond quickly.

The turnaround time for agencies is as quick, if not more so, than an in-house team. The agency you hire is dedicated to your project, so they establish deadlines and help you stick to a schedule.

An agency has an objective perspective.

Hiring an outside agency allows for fresh eyes on your business and brand. And while an in-house team may hesitate to speak up about what’s not working, a team of creative experts are all about making it work. You’ll always get an honest appraisal and opinion, and it will come from a non-biased source.

You’re getting high-caliber talent.

Working with an agency is a guarantee of having expertise across the board. You’ll be working with senior creatives who really know their stuff. A downfall to hiring creative teams in-house is that often, the more senior candidates are too expensive for permanent hire.

Size really does matter.

While the larger agencies have their place, a big shop may not be the right fit for you. Consider these points:

• Big agencies tend to work with big companies. If you have a smaller business, there’s a chance that you’re not going to get the attention and close collaboration needed from a large agency.
• Big agencies have a definite hierarchy of talent. There are entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level creatives at large agencies. There’s a chance that you’ll be saddled with the less senior team if your project is smaller than what they normally take on.
• Small agencies are more personal. A lot of larger agencies are going after awards over anything else. And while awards are great, they don’t always come with campaigns that work for the client, or websites that get more clicks. A smaller agency is about the client and the work—not the accolades. When you work with a larger agency, you’re often dealing with an account rep as the liaison between you and the design team. This can lead to longer turnaround on projects, details falling through the cracks, and communication breakdowns. The advantage of a smaller agency is the close collaboration with the creative team, and the flexibility and attentiveness that you receive.
• Small agencies are more stable. When a large agency loses a big client, it has huge repercussions throughout the staff. From layoffs and closings to staff restructuring, there are a lot potential shake-ups. Smaller agencies tend to see less turnover, and their clients tend to stick with them.
• Small agencies are less expensive. When you’re working with a huge agency, you are being billed for every person’s time. You’re also dealing with a lot more people being put on each project. Smaller agencies are working with you on every facet; from project management to design to content to printing…and you’re not going to experience sticker shock.

 

Collaborating with an agency can be a rewarding, exciting experience. Whether you have a one-time project or an ongoing series of jobs, having a team of experts at your fingertips is invaluable. You can be assured that you will receive close attention, beautiful work, and a team that is your brand’s champion.

 

Take a look at some of our favorite collaborations:

Are you curious about working with an agency? Get in touch and schedule a no-obligation phone call; we’d love to chat and see if we’re a good fit for each other.