When sales are down, businesses start looking for ways to increase leads. This often means getting marketing help. However, many business owners do not have the skills or the resources to invest in a proper in-house marketing team.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get marketing help where you need it. Let’s take a closer look at the options available.
DIY Marketing
Learning the basics of marketing has become easier for business owners in recent times, with many excellent resources made available online. For instance, Google offers a number of free courses on digital marketing.
The problem is, you need to focus on your business too. Taking time to learn marketing can be great if you can set aside the rest of your business for a while.
Pros
- You will have complete control over your marketing campaigns.
- You will save money, since there’s no need to pay for outside help.
- You will gain more marketing knowledge and understand your customers better.
Cons
- Your marketing campaigns may not be as effective. You will most likely make rookie mistakes and spend more than you need.
- B2B marketing may require a different approach, since your target audience doesn’t typically think like regular customers.
- As a business owner, you may have a biased view of your products or services. This can make it difficult to create accurate and persuasive marketing materials.
If you’re in desperate need of marketing help, going the DIY route is likely not going to be a good choice. While many businesses find success doing all of their marketing on their own, if you have no experience or time to learn, this can be a risky choice.
Fortunately, there are a few other options available to business owners today, if you know where to look. Let’s look at some of the other options.
Getting Marketing Help With Freelancers
Another option to consider is hiring freelancers. It can be an excellent way to get quality marketing assistance without breaking the bank.
When searching for a freelancer, make sure to look at their reviews and previous work to get an idea of their skill level. Once you’ve found a few good candidates, give each one a paid project before making your decision.
It’s important to note that freelancers usually charge on a per-project basis, so you’ll need to have a clear understanding of what tasks need to be completed and how much time it will realistically take. This will help avoid any misunderstandings down the road.
Pros
- You can get expert assistance at a reasonable price.
- You have more control over the project since you’re working with someone one-on-one.
- You can build a long-term relationship with a freelancer if you’re happy with their work.
- Freelancers are often more flexible and willing to adjust their plans to better suit your needs.
Cons
- It can take more time than you think to find and manage a freelancer you can trust.
- You’ll need to be very clear about what you need to avoid misunderstandings and delays.
- There’s always a risk that the freelancer will back out or disappear halfway through the project.
- Costs can add up in the long run.
If you’re short on time, you likely don’t have the time to sort through freelancers. That means that you can either take a chance on the first few you come across, or you can spend time really vetting each freelancer you consider.
Let’s look at some other options you might have.
Direct Hires
If you have clear needs for specific talents, you can choose to hire directly. There are a few ways to go about this. Online job boards and local college job boards are good options.
Another option is to use a staffing agency that specializes in finding marketing talent. It’s a great way to save time (but not money) as they’ll do all the legwork for you.
Pros
- You have more control over the work getting done.
- You can find candidates with the specific skills and experience.
- Direct hires are usually more invested in your company and work.
Cons
- It can be time-consuming to review resumes and interview candidates.
- You’ll need to invest time in training direct hires on your company’s culture and processes.
- There’s always a risk that the direct hire will leave after a short period of time.
If you don’t have time to spend on learning marketing yourself, you likely don’t have time to spend interviewing candidates and training them. Hiring processes can take months. Maybe you can find someone you already know who will fit into your business well.
Let’s look at the final and best option for business owners who need marketing help ASAP.
Hiring a Marketing Agency
The best way for business owners today to get good marketing help is to hire a professional agency.
Agencies are composed of experts who understand the latest trends and know how to execute successful campaigns. They can handle everything from social media to email marketing and will develop strategies tailored to your business goals.
Finding an effective agency is worth the investment, as you’ll see a significant return on your spend. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your marketing is in good hands.
Pros
- Your marketing will be handled by a team of professionals.
- You can focus on running your business while someone else worries about marketing it.
- You will have an outside and unbiased perspective on your business.
- You can have peace of mind knowing that your marketing is getting done while you focus on other things.
Cons
- It can be costly, depending on the agency.
- You may not always have the same people working on your campaigns.
- Not all agencies can measure performance if they are only assigned part of your marketing work.
Despite the cons, marketing agencies are well worth the cost of hiring them. Putting your marketing into the hands of professionals guarantees that it will be done right the first time, saving you money in the long run.
An investment in marketing now will ideally pay off tenfold once the marketing is released – after all, the job of good marketing is to bring in customers and increase revenue.
At Pollock Marketing Group, we have experts that work in all aspects of marketing, from marketing strategy to developing and executing campaigns.
We understand that not all businesses have the time or resources to invest in an in-house marketing team, which is why we offer affordable services that deliver results. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you grow your business.