Customfit.ai, a robust, no-code website personalisation platform for marketers, in its effort to develop a holistic community for marketers, conducted the #Top20IndianDigitalMarketingAgenciesAwards, to recognise some of the leading digital marketing agencies in India. Pulp Strategy recognised as amongst top 20 digital marketing agency in India, a testament to the agency’s efforts in delivering best-in-class work for its clients. In addition to the awards, Customfit.ai also conducted a virtual panel discussion on the topic “Marketing Agency Vs In-house Marketing” with some of the leading experts from the industry, including Ambika Sharma, Founder and MD of Pulp Strategy.
The debate between marketing agencies vs in-house marketing has been around for years. There are pros and cons to both approaches, and the decision of which route to take depends on the specific needs of the business. Let's take a closer look at some of the insights from the discussion.
Key Benefits of Collaborating with Marketing
Access to Expertise and Resources
When you partner with a marketing agency, you gain access to their team of experts and resources. This can be extremely beneficial if you don't have in-house marketing staff or if you want to supplement your existing team. The agency can provide strategic direction and creative ideas that can help take your marketing efforts to the next level.
"The biggest advantage that an agency can get on board is greater experience. If businesses can get the agency to co-own its KPIs and drive them, it’s a win-win situation for both."
Cost-Effective Solutions
Another great benefit of working with a marketing agency is that they can provide cost-effective solutions. The agency can develop an effective marketing plan that fits within your budget. Additionally, they can often negotiate better rates with vendors and media outlets. This can save you a significant amount of money over time.
Increased Efficiency
A marketing agency can also help increase the efficiency of your marketing efforts. They can handle all aspects of your campaign from start to finish, meaning you won't have to worry about managing it yourself. This can free up your time so that you can focus on running your business.
Improved Results
Perhaps the most important benefit of collaborating with a marketing agency is that it can help improve your results. An experienced agency will know how to create an effective campaign that drives results. They will also be able to track your progress and make necessary adjustments along the way to ensure that you are seeing the best possible results.
Apprehensions for Brands about working with a marketing agency
While there are benefits of partnering with marketing agencies to ease the challenges, not all brands or marketers are comfortable collaborating with marketing agencies. There are a few key apprehensions that marketers may have when considering partnering with an agency. One worry may be that they will lose control over their brand or messaging. Another concern could be that working with an agency could be expensive and not provide a good return on investment. Finally, some marketers may fret about the agency not having a good understanding of their business or industry.
However, there’s always a flipside. These concerns can all be mitigated by doing your research and due diligence when selecting an agency partner. Choosing an experienced and reputable firm that you feel confident will understand your business goals and help you cost-effectively achieve them can mitigate these apprehensions and avoid any negative surprises down the road.
Key indicators of when to outsource and when to invest in building a team
There are a few key indicators that can help you decide whether to outsource your marketing to an agency or invest in building an in-house team. The first indicator is the size of your business. If you're a small business, it's likely that you don't have the resources to build and maintain an in-house marketing team. In this case, outsourcing to an agency is a good option. However, if you're a large enterprise, you have the added option of taking greater control over the work that's being done by building an in-house team. You can build a team that's specifically tailored to your needs.
The second indicator is the scope of your marketing needs. If you need help with a wide range of marketing activities, from social media to market research, it's probably more efficient to outsource to an agency that specializes in those services. However, building an in-house team can help you achieve your long-term marketing goals as you can hire, train and develop a long-term relationship with your team members. Another indicator is your budget. If you have a limited budget, outsourcing to an agency can be a more cost-effective option than building an in-house team.
Role of agencies in business growth
Marketing agencies play an important role in business growth. They help businesses to reach new customers, create awareness of their products or services, and build strong relationships with their target audiences. In today's competitive marketplace, businesses need to have a well-planned and executed marketing strategy. Marketing agencies can provide the expertise and resources needed to develop and implement an effective marketing plan.
A good marketing agency will understand your business goals and objectives and will work with you to create a customised marketing strategy that meets your specific needs. They will also have a deep understanding of the latest marketing trends and technologies, and how to use them to your advantage. If you are looking to grow your business, then working with a marketing agency is a wise investment. By partnering with an experienced and reputable agency, you can tap into their knowledge and resources to help you achieve your business goals.
Myths of hiring a marketing agency
There are a lot of myths out there about hiring a marketing agency.
Marketing agencies are expensive.
This is simply not true. There are marketing agencies out there that cater to businesses of all sizes and budgets. You just need to find the right one for you. Plus, when you compare the cost of hiring an agency to the cost of doing your own marketing, you'll quickly see that it's a wise investment.
Marketing agencies only care about making money.
Again, this is not true. A good marketing agency will want to build a long-term relationship with you and your business. They'll want to see you succeed. Yes, they need to make money to stay in business. But, if they only cared about making money, they wouldn't be in business for very long.
Marketing agencies only work with big companies.
Wrong! There are plenty of marketing agencies out there that work with small businesses. In fact, many agencies specialize in working with small businesses. So, don't let the size of your company deter you from reaching out to an agency.
Marketing agencies don't understand my business.
This is probably the biggest myth of all. A good marketing agency will take the time to learn about your business, your products, and your customers. They'll want to understand your goals and objectives. Only then will they be able to develop a marketing strategy that works for you.
“One of the biggest myths is that brands need multiple agencies to make their work simpler, which is just not the case.”
Bottomline
As you can see, there are pros and cons to both in-house marketing and marketing agencies. The best solution for your business depends on your specific needs and circumstances. If you have the budget and the time to manage an in-house team, then that may be the best option for you. However, if you need access to specialist skills or want to benefit from years of experience, then outsourcing to a marketing agency may be a better solution.
