Every business, no matter its size, eventually faces a pivotal question: how should we handle our marketing? Do you bring a dedicated marketer in-house, partner with a full-service agency, or take on the challenge yourself? In a recent episode of the Moxie Creative podcast, “Marketing for Your Business: Should You Hire Out or Handle It Yourself?”, our team — social media manager Isabella, account manager Taylor, and new graphic designer Tyler — pulled back the curtain on the real costs, efforts, and results of each approach.
At Moxie Creative, we’ve collectively experienced all sides of this equation, offering a nuanced perspective that can help you make the best decision for your unique business. The episode unpacks the benefits and drawbacks of each path, providing valuable insights for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start strong, stand out, and stay bold.
The In-House Experience: A Deep Dive into Your Brand
Taylor, with nearly a decade of marketing experience, spent her first six years in various in-house roles before transitioning to agency life. Tyler, Moxie’s newest addition, recently joined after five years as a creative manager at a large biotech corporation. Their combined experiences offer a compelling look at the in-house perspective.
Taylor’s Journey: The Solo Marketer’s Challenge Taylor’s early career saw her as a marketing coordinator, then a marketing lead, and eventually a “director of experiences.” While valuable, her in-house roles often meant being “on an island,” responsible for an extensive range of tasks without a dedicated team. “You are really expected to know how to do everything,” Taylor explained, “and really what happens is you know how to do everything but not well.” From designing websites (without formal design training) to managing social media and planning events, she was a jack-of-all-trades, mastering none.
Her biggest takeaway from this experience, now that she’s at an agency, is “there is beauty in a team and there is beauty in not being an expert at everything.” The agency model allows her to specialize in her strengths, while a team of experts handles other areas. This structure ultimately provides clients with “top-notch marketing” at a “pretty reasonable rate” compared to hiring a single in-house person who might be spread too thin.
Tyler’s Transition: From Corporate Niche to Creative Variety Tyler’s experience at a large corporation presented a different picture of in-house marketing. He worked with a “really great professional team” of account managers and copywriters, allowing him to focus solely on graphic design and video creation for a single brand for five years. This deep immersion led to an intimate understanding of the brand’s assets, colors, and scientific processes.
However, the transition to an agency, where he works with “four different brands” in his first week alone, has been a welcome change. While initially a “trial by fire,” it offers the creative variety he craved. The challenge, he notes, is quickly adapting to new brand guidelines and collateral, but it’s precisely what drives him.
The Pros and Cons of In-House Marketing
- Pros:
- Deep Brand Knowledge: An in-house marketer develops an intimate understanding of your business, its culture, and its specific needs.
- Dedicated Focus: They are 100% committed to your brand, allowing for quick responses and internal alignment.
- Control: You have direct oversight of all marketing activities and personnel.
- Cons:
- Limited Expertise: A single in-house marketer often lacks the diverse skill set of an agency team. They may be a generalist rather than a specialist in all areas.
- High Cost: Beyond salary, consider benefits, software, training, and equipment, which can quickly add up.
- Burnout Potential: Being the sole marketing person can lead to overwhelming workloads and limited creative inspiration.
- Echo Chamber Effect: Without external perspectives, in-house teams can sometimes develop blinders, missing external market trends or client perceptions.
The Agency Advantage: Strategic Depth and Diverse Expertise
The Moxie Creative team passionately advocates for the benefits of partnering with an agency, especially for small to medium-sized businesses.
The Power of a Team: Isabella highlighted a crucial distinction: while an in-house person works 40 hours a week for your business, an agency provides the collective expertise of “seven different people” specializing in various marketing disciplines. This means you’re not just getting one person’s skill set, but a coordinated team approach to branding, web design, social media, content creation, and more. This specialized knowledge means “more of your money’s worth.”
Strategic Thinking and Scalability: Agencies bring a strategic mindset to the table. As Isabella put it, “There has to be a strategy behind it.” They don’t just “push out happy Easter posts”; they craft comprehensive plans designed to achieve specific business goals. This includes in-depth market research, competitive analysis, and a long-term vision for growth.
Agencies also offer scalability. Whether you need a one-off campaign, a branding refresh, or ongoing full-service support, agencies can adapt their resources to your evolving needs without the commitment of hiring a full-time employee.
Overcoming the DIY Hurdle: The podcast also addressed the prevalent trend of DIY marketing, particularly for startups. While commendable, it often comes with limitations. Tyler pointed out that DIY logos, while serving an initial purpose, “can be dated super quickly” as the business grows. Isabella echoed this for social media, emphasizing that while some small businesses find DIY success, it often involves “a lot of trial and error” and lacks a cohesive strategy.
“If you don’t have the budget for full social media management, but still want that strong presence,” Isabella suggested, “the best approach is definitely to still work with an agency to kind of get a roadmap.” This could involve strategy consultations, content templates, or editing support – leveraging expert guidance without the full outsourcing cost.
The Pros and Cons of Agency Partnership
- Pros:
- Expert Strategy & Execution: Access to a diverse team of specialists (designers, copywriters, strategists, social media managers) with deep industry knowledge.
- Outside Perspective: Agencies offer fresh eyes, unbiased insights, and a holistic view of your market and customer interactions.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Often more affordable than a comparable in-house team when considering salaries, benefits, software, and training.
- Scalability: Easily adjust services up or down based on business needs and budget.
- Results-Oriented: Agencies are driven by client success and are accountable for delivering measurable outcomes.
- Cons:
- Less Direct Control: You’re working with an external partner, which requires clear communication and trust.
- Onboarding Time: There’s an initial period where the agency needs to learn your business.
- Finding the Right Fit: Not all agencies are created equal, requiring careful vetting to ensure alignment with your goals and values.
The DIY Approach: A Starting Point, Not a Destination
The team acknowledges that DIY marketing has its place, especially in the very early stages of a business. As Taylor mentioned, if time is more abundant than money, DIY can be a necessary initial step. However, it’s crucial to recognize its limitations as your business grows.
When to Transition from DIY: The conversation highlighted key indicators that it’s time to seek professional help:
- Loss of Passion: If you no longer love the marketing aspects you’re handling yourself, it’s impacting the quality of your brand.
- Stagnant Growth: If your business has hit a plateau and you can’t seem to break through, an outside perspective can provide fresh strategies.
- Overwhelmed In-House: If your existing in-house team is struggling to keep up or lacks expertise in certain areas, external support can fill critical gaps.
Isabella eloquently summarized this by stating that “what you get is what you pay for” when it comes to marketing. While budget options exist, true results often require specialized expertise that generic AI tools or low-cost services simply can’t provide. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it will establish a baseline for marketing, but to truly “grow and stand out,” human expertise, strategy, and authenticity remain irreplaceable.
Making the Right Decision for Your Business
Ultimately, the choice between in-house, agency, or DIY depends on your unique business needs, budget, and long-term goals.
- For large corporations, a robust in-house team with specialized roles, sometimes supplemented by external agencies for large campaigns or niche expertise (as in Tyler’s previous role), makes sense.
- For small businesses, starting with DIY might be necessary, but it’s often a stepping stone. As you grow, investing in an agency can provide a scalable, expert solution that far outweighs the limitations and potential costs of a single in-house hire or continued DIY efforts.
The Moxie team’s final advice is clear: focus on what you do best and bring in help whenever you need it. Marketing isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing the right things effectively.
Tune In and Get Inspired
Where are you in your marketing journey? Are you DIYing, considering an in-house hire, or ready to explore agency partnership? What’s one area where your business needs more marketing support?