In-House, Freelance, or Agency: Which is Best for Your Content Needs?
Nobody knows your business better than you do.
But consider this…
Can you tell the story of your brand in a way that instantly resonates with potential customers and lets them know your values align with their own?
Are you able to describe your products and services in a way that lets consumers know exactly how their lives will improve after using them?
Can you craft persuasive ad copy that leads to more clicks and conversions? Compelling emails that beg to be opened? Thought-provoking blogs that inform, educate, and position you as an authority in your industry?
If your answer to every question wasn't a resounding yes, you may benefit from a little professional help—especially since high-quality content is a cornerstone of every successful digital marketing strategy. (You can read more about that here.)
So, where do you turn for help?
While this answer will differ for every business according to their unique needs, budget, and priorities, you have three primary options: Hire an in-house employee, hire a freelancer, or hire an agency.
Before we take a look at the pros and cons of each, take a moment to think about what you're looking for in a content creation resource and which attributes are most important to you.
Obviously, cost will be a deciding factor, especially if you have a new startup or run a small business with a limited marketing budget. Turnaround time is also important; how quickly do you need work completed and turned in? Is it important to have someone who can respond promptly to your requests?
You should also consider the level of expertise you expect from your content creator. In addition to superb writing skills, do they have the experience necessary to truly make your brand shine? Do they understand the value of search engine optimization and how high-quality content goes hand in hand with a strong SEO strategy?
Each of these factors and its value to your business will help you determine the best solution for your needs.
In-house Employee
In-house content creators have several benefits. For starters, your business is their primary focus, which means you will not have to compete with other clients for their time and attention. These individuals are also deeply ingrained in your company culture and have likely developed a keen grasp of your brand voice and tone.
The downside, however, is cost. In addition to providing salary and benefits for each individual, you will need to have an established infrastructure in place to recruit, hire, train, and manage your in-house content creators. For smaller businesses with little to no marketing budget, or for solo business owners doing everything on their own, hiring full-time employees may not be a viable option.
Freelance Content Creator
Working with a freelancer is generally a more cost-efficient option for businesses looking to build a robust content library. Whether they bill at an hourly rate or charge a flat fee per project, the cost is typically less than hiring in house. It is also fairly easy to find a freelance content writer with a quick Google search.
Of course, a big disadvantage of working with freelancers is that your business has the potential to become just another number in their client roster. Your content requests will be added to their queue alongside those from a number of other clients, and that means a lot of waiting your turn for your requests to be completed.
In addition, freelancers may be limited in the time and attention they are able to dedicate to learning about your industry, your brand, your target audience, and all the subtle nuances that make your business unique.
Content Creation Agency
Hiring a content creation agency is a great way to get all the benefits of an in-house employee and a freelancer—and at a price that won't drain your entire marketing budget.
First and foremost, agencies have the expertise and experience to not only help you develop a robust content library, but also to utilize the latest tools (including AI and automation) and industry knowledge to increase visibility for your brand and create content that routinely converts (i.e., drives revenue for your business).
With an agency, you gain access to a staff of seasoned marketers who do more than simply write content. They are adept at industry research, brand building, audience targeting, search engine optimization, and all aspects of content creation. Plus, you will often be assigned a dedicated team member to work with your business exclusively and respond quickly to your content requests.
Further, while many freelancers specialize in one area or another—for example social media content or blog content—agencies are typically a one-stop shop for all your content needs. They can also help you build a structured content calendar to ensure you are consistently posting high-quality content in support of your overall marketing strategy.
You run your business, we'll run your content.
Are you currently juggling the everyday demands of running your business while also trying to create a killer content marketing strategy? We can help with that. Split Pace Creative delivers custom content solutions to amplify your brand and accelerate growth—so you can have more time in your day to focus on… well, everything else. Book your free 30-minute consult today.
