Outsourced Marketing vs. In-House: Which Is Right for Your Business?

You know you need help with marketing, but the big question is: do you hire a full-time employee or outsource to an agency? At first glance, bringing someone in-house might seem like the obvious choice, but once you add up the true costs and hiring headaches, outsourced marketing often comes out on top. In this blog, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of both options and exploring how outsourcing to an agency like Bubbly Creative can save time, money, and stress for growing business owners. 

The Benefits of Outsourcing to an Agency

Outsourcing your marketing to an agency means you’re not just hiring one person; you’re getting a full team of experts. This means a custom-to-you strategy, design, content, social media, ads, and more, all handled by people who live and breathe marketing; instead of one person juggling it all. Outsourcing also presents more flexibility, allowing you to scale services up and down depending on your business needs. 

When you work with the Bubbly Creative team, we’re always staying up to date on the latest trends, tools, and platforms, so you don’t have to. We use this information in combination with analytics and results to see what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your custom strategy accordingly. In short, outsourcing brings you more efficiency, creativity, and consistency, all in one!

The Hidden Costs of a Full-Time Hire

When it comes to the true cost of a full-time hire, a salary is just a piece of the puzzle. First, think of hiring costs – job postings, HR hours, and interviews all take up valuable time and money. Once you find the right match, even the most experienced hires need onboarding, training, and time to ramp up their work. Employee benefits are an additional cost to factor in, including health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and more. It’s also important to consider the ongoing investment of a full-time employee with raises, professional development, turnover risk, and more. 

The reality of it all is that a $60k+ salary can quickly become 30-40% more when you factor in benefits and overhead. And this is for one person!

One Person vs. A Whole Team

A single marketing hire is usually great at a few things, maybe social media and copywriting, or design and branding, but a full-scale, cohesive marketing strategy takes a village. Think SEO, paid ads, content strategy, analytics, and more – it’s nearly impossible for one person to do it all and do it well.

Outsourcing to an agency like Bubbly Creative, gets you a full team of specialists who bring depth in every area. We have experience with a range of industries and clients, bringing fresh ideas and tested strategies to the table. Our built-in collaboration means your marketing is never relying on just one person’s bandwidth. 

When an In-House Hire Makes Sense

To be fair, there are times when an in-house marketing hire is the right choice. Larger companies with big budgets or organizations who need someone on-site every day may benefit from a dedicated in-house employee. When it comes to small and mid-sized businesses, though, outsourcing tends to give you more expertise, more creativity, and more results for less cost, time, and stress. 

The moral of the story is that hiring in-house can work, but outsourcing to an agency like Bubbly Creative often makes more sense for growing businesses. You save money, avoid the headaches of HR and training, and have a strategic partnership with an entire team of creatives who can keep your brand consistent and your marketing results strong. 


Ready to explore what outsourced marketing could look like for your business? Let’s chat!

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FAQs: Outsourced Marketing