Cost saving ideas for your business, consider outsourcing marketing?

Outsourced marketing can be a cost-effective option for businesses, especially small, medium and large sized enterprises (SMEs), as it eliminates the need to hire and maintain an in-house marketing team, which can be expensive. Additionally, outsourcing allows businesses to access specialized marketing expertise and technology that they may not be able to afford in-house.

However, the cost of outsourced marketing can vary depending on the scope of work, the size of the project, and the level of expertise required. For example, working with a dedicated outsourced marketing agency may cost less in the long run than hiring multiple freelancers at different rates at different times. 

It's important to note that while outsourced marketing can be cost-effective, the team you hire is extremely important as they will need to have the right experience to understand the business's goals and objectives. Therefore, it's important to carefully evaluate potential partners and agree on clear goals and deliverables upfront to ensure that the outsourced marketing effort is worth the investment.

What to look for in a marketing partner? 

Choosing the right outsourced marketing agency can be a critical decision for your business. Here are some factors to consider when selecting an agency:

1. Industry experience: Look for an agency that has experience working with businesses similar to yours in terms of size, industry, and marketing goals. A marketing agency that understands your industry will be better equipped to develop effective marketing strategies and tactics that resonate with your target audience. However, a talented outsourced marketing team will be capable to deploy their skills and experience across different sectors, size and geographies. 

2. Range of services: Consider the range of services the agency offers and how well they align with your marketing needs. For example, if you need help with SEO and content marketing, look for an agency that specializes in these areas.

3. Team expertise: Look for an agency with a team of experienced professionals with expertise in different areas of marketing, such as SEO, social media, content creation, and graphic design.

4. Portfolio and case studies: Review the agency's portfolio and case studies to get a sense of their style and quality of work. This will help you determine if they are a good fit for your business.

5. Communication and collaboration: Choose an agency that is responsive, communicates clearly, and works collaboratively with you to understand your business goals and objectives.

6. Pricing and budget: Consider the agency's pricing structure and how it aligns with your budget. Be sure to ask for a detailed breakdown of costs and understand what is included in the scope of work. Try to avoid outsourced marketing teams that off the peg packages, as these are not necessarily aligned to your business goals. For a reliable, dedicated outsourced team, then budget between 2,000-13,000 pounds sterling, USD or Euros per month. However, there are no extra  recruitment fees, onboarding, training, retention, equipment fees, so the total cost of ownership is usually better medium to long term. Also, because a dedicated outsourced marketing agency have marketing specialists as well as in-house specialist agency talent and resource, then it is an agile and flexible option to scale your business efficiently. Time dedicated to your account is ultimately the influence on the size of the retainer, but also the experience of the talent being used, so consider this as a factor when trying to negotiate the cost of a retainer.  

7. Reputation and references: Check the agency's reputation and ask for references from past clients. This will help you get a sense of their reliability, quality of work, and level of customer service. Many agencies claim they can operate as an outsourced marketing operation, but have instead evolved from a creative or digital agency background. Secret Source Marketing have built successful marketing in-house teams over the last 20+ years, they currently work alongside internal marketing teams within large organizations globally, as well as fully outsourced marketing teams operating across different sectors.

Ultimately, choosing the right outsourced marketing agency requires careful research and evaluation. Take your time to find the agency that is the best fit for your business's unique needs and goals.

Considering outsourcing your marketing, then book a Discovery Call today