For whatever gig or project we have, there is always this nagging question as to which option to use for the job – a member of staff (in-source), a freelancer, or a service provider (often called an agency). They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but knowing and harnessing these strengths and weaknesses will help us know which one to hire for a particular job.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Freelancer
Freelancers, as we all know, render services with instant pay without having permanent contracts with the people who hire them. Here are a few pros and cons of hiring a freelancer over an in-source or a service provider:
Affordability
When hiring an in-house employee, you have to pay salary and other additional benefits. Outsourcing to agencies can take its toll too because you are dealing with skilled professionals. So if your company doesn’t have a big budget, you should choose to hire a freelancer.
Independence
Freelancers can work from anywhere at any time. You do not necessarily have to look over their shoulders to see what they are doing. All you need to do is trust that they know what to do. The challenge with this is that sometimes you might need to follow up on what they are doing by being next to them. This is where the in-house staff and the agency have the advantage.
Pros and Cons of Hiring In-House Employee
There are several times when hiring an in-house employee seems to be the right option, mainly if you have a very complex brand or business. Here are the pros and cons:
Involvement
It is true that in-house staff might know the inside details of a task. But we should also bear in mind that agencies we outsource to also take the pain to make sure that their clients are satisfied by putting in more hours at work, which will be at the expense of the agency and not necessarily the company hiring them.
Control
While you might have huge control over the task that in-house staff are doing, it could come at a high cost because services might have to be reviewed if not done right the first time. Outsourcing has the edge here. They have enough to control things within themselves. So there is no extra cost for the company.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Service Provider
We can see an agency as a business or organization that renders services to other businesses or organizations. They often cover lots of expertise and are a sure way to mitigate the risk involved in using freelancers or in-house staff.
Team Spirit
One of the key benefits of having a team is that they can add extra brainpower and understanding to your gig. A freelancer or in-house employee may operate in a silo, but an agency team works together to come up with perfect ideas.
Expertise
Besides having a team of experts, agencies make use of particular marketing strategies and tools to increase your digital presence on different channels. The tools they use include social media analysis software, integrated reporting tools, SEO software, and even subscriptions to stock image websites.
Summary
A freelancer is an excellent option if you don’t have a huge budget, an in-house person is ideal if you have a problematic brand or need in-depth knowledge and industry experience, while a service provider is a decent option for any sector where marketing is not a primary competency of the business.
