As a Director of Marketing for a growing business, you’re probably juggling a thousand things at once—strategies, campaigns, ROI calculations, and maybe even the occasional existential crisis (we’ve all been there). One of the biggest decisions on your plate is whether to hire a marketing agency or build an in-house team. Both options have their perks and pitfalls, so let’s break it down with a decision tree—because who doesn’t love a good graphic?

What’s on Your Marketing Plate?

Broad and Specialized Needs?

If you’re looking at a marketing buffet with SEO, content, PPC, social media, and maybe even a sprinkle of influencer magic, an agency might be your best bet. They’ve got a smorgasbord of specialists ready to jump in.

Narrow and Focused?

If your marketing needs are more like a single entrée—let’s say you’re only focusing on content marketing or social media—a small, mighty in-house team could be the way to go. Why hire a whole agency when you can get the job done with a couple of rock stars in-house?

How Fast Do You Need Results?

Need It Yesterday?

If you’re under the gun to deliver results fast (and let’s be honest, when aren’t you?), an agency can hit the ground running. They’ve got the infrastructure, the tools, and the experience to roll out campaigns quicker than you can say “marketing ROI.”

Playing the Long Game?

But if your sights are set on long-term growth and don’t need to see traction for 12-18 months, consider building an in-house team. These folks can be molded to fit your company culture and get deeply embedded in your strategy, leading to sustained growth over time.

What’s the Budget Situation?

Shoestring Budget?

If you’re pinching pennies (or just trying to stretch your marketing dollar), an agency could give you more bang for your buck. They offer a range of services that would cost you a small fortune to replicate in-house.

Got a Decent Budget?

But if you’ve got some budgetary wiggle room, investing in an in-house team could pay off. Sure, the upfront costs are higher—think salaries, benefits, and office snacks—but the control you gain might be worth it.

Can You Handle the HR Side?

Management Pros?

If you’re already a whiz at managing a team (and have the resources to do so), an in-house team might be your dream come true. You can hire, train, and shape them to fit your exact needs.

Leave the Herding to Someone Else?

But if the idea of managing yet another team makes you want to run for the hills, an agency comes with its own built-in management. They handle the nitty-gritty so you can focus on the big picture—or, you know, finally tackle that inbox.

Do You Need Industry-Specific Expertise?

Niche Market?

If your industry is as niche as they come, an agency that specializes in your field might be worth its weight in gold. They’ll bring the expertise and insights that can make a real difference in your campaigns.

General Marketing Know-How?

If you don’t need super-specialized knowledge, an in-house team can do the job just fine. Hire for marketing chops, and industry knowledge can be developed along the way.

How Important Is Brand Consistency?

Brand Is Everything?

If brand consistency is your mantra, an in-house team can be your brand’s best friend. They’ll live and breathe your company culture, ensuring that every piece of content is on-brand.

Brand is Almost Everything?

If you’ve got clear brand guidelines in place, an agency can still be a great option. They’ll adapt to your brand, though they might not live it the way an in-house team would. This can be a good thing if the agency is able to add new dimension to your brand, or it could be bad if the agency strays too far from your brand personality. If you don’t have good brand standards then you might need to work with a branding agency to create them (like Tilted Chair, wink-wink).

Execution vs. Strategy: What’s the Priority?

Just Get It Done?

It’s pretty easy to find and hire a decent designer or marketer to bring in-house. If you’re priority is to get the foundational boxes checked off, then hiring in-house is a good option.

Need The Best?

Typically, the most talented people don’t like to be constrained to one client or task for years and years. They crave variety and challenges. This is why if you are really wanting to deliver the best results, it’s best to hire an agency to deliver that amazing concept or strategy.

The Final Decision: Agency or In-House?

So, what’s the verdict? If you’ve checked more boxes on the left side of our decision tree (broad needs, fast results, tight budget), it might be time to dial up that marketing agency. But if the right side is calling your name (narrow focus, long-term growth, adequate budget), it’s worth investing in an in-house marketing dream team.

Whatever you decide, remember that both paths can lead to marketing success—it’s all about what fits best with your company’s goals, culture, and resources. And hey, if you need to, there’s always the option of doing both. Tilted Chair has many current and past clients with in-house teams where the agency acts as additional brainpower when times call for it. Just remember to keep the coffee flowing and the sense of humor intact. Marketing isn’t for the faint of heart, but with the right team, it can be a whole lot of fun. And as always, if you need help deciding which is best for you we are only a short contact form away:)