So you need help with your digital marketing, and you can’t decide between choosing a freelance marketing service or an agency, so what do you do? We’ve researched the pros and cons of both and given you a precis to make your decision a little easier. 

A freelancer is an independent marketing consultant whose skills and experience may come from having worked for a large company or an agency previously and has subsequently decided to offer their intellectual capital or IP independently to a range of clients. 

A digital agency on the other hand is a bigger team of marketing professionals. Because an agency has a hierarchical structure the staff don’t get to choose their clients as a freelancer would.  

The freelance marketing service and the digital agency both have the same aim, which is to convert your target audience into customers, retain your current customer base, improve sales and revenue, and grow your business and brand.  

Freelance marketing service pros and cons: 

Pros: 

• They are professionals who have most likely worked in a few companies prior to becoming a freelancer and have a broad understanding of marketing and specific industries. 
• It’s in the best interests of the freelance marketing service to deliver, they’re unlikely to disappoint because they rely on word of mouth to attain new customers. 

• They generally have fewer projects on the go so may be able to give priority to your needs, or drop everything in an emergency to assist you. 
• They don’t suffer from office politics and disruptions from other staff! 
• You pay per project or per hour and because every hour is valuable to them, they tend to be far more productive than office workers. 
• You do not have to worry about salary or benefits, and you can get work done on an as-needed basis. 

Cons: 

• Sometimes a freelancer’s expertise is to niche and you might need to find a few of them to ensure all your requirements are met. 
• Freelancers don’t always have the help of a team around and may need to reach out to other specialists for specific advice and guidance. 
• Freelance marketing services sometimes juggle many projects and have limited availability. 

Digital agency pros and cons: 

Pros: 

• Agencies are and always have been marketing specialists. 
• Agencies comprise a group of experienced marketers with a vast range of skills. 

• You always know where you stand timewise and how your package/contract works. 
• As the list of clients grows, the team grows, ensuring the capacity to take on more and more projects. 
• Work is evenly distributed so no-one should drop the ball. 

Cons: 

• As a client and as a freelancer you don’t get to pick who you work with. 
• An agency cares about its reputation of course, but not all staff will be held accountable in the same way. 
• An agency might give bigger clients more attention. 
• Staff might only be available during traditional working hours. 
• An agency has much larger overheads so are inclined to charge hefty rates. 

Now that we’ve given you a better understanding of what each service provider can do, are you ready to choose? There are no hard and fast rules, you could use a combination of the two, or you can even hire an in-house marketer. Whatever you decide make sure you’ve done your research and understand what you’re signing up for. Good luck!