It’s not always easy to differentiate the job requirements for freelancing and outsourcing. Nevertheless, by understanding your business’ needs, you can know which one of the two options is the most suitable.
If you are already looking to outsource, you must have a fair idea of what your goal is, if not, don’t worry, in this article, we’ll help you weigh your options.
Pros and Cons of working with a freelancer or digital production agency
Before you embark on any new marketing strategy, you should weigh the pros and cons of using freelancers or delivering work to an agency. When studying your options, you should consider how to find the right balance between quality, expertise, flexibility, speed, and value.
Management and involvement
Working with a freelancer can work for short-term projects that don’t require much back-and-forth. Before going for this option, you might want to consider that you need to dedicate time to get them on the same page, and may need to supervise their work as they slip into the dynamic of your team. Remember, they work in their own time which can make managing tricky.
Conversely, a digital production partner will:
- Assign a team permanently to assist your agency.
- Assign a project manager, there is no need for you to take on this role.
- Agencies have tested processes in place to take care of your needs.
Skills and speed
Depending on the project you may need a determined set of skills and experience. Most experienced freelancers can provide quick access to an established set of skills, since they usually have an area of specialization. Because they work by themselves, the completion of some tasks could take longer, though. This can work if your campaign needs are very delimited and not pressed for time.
On the other hand, a digital production agency can provide a team of multi skilled individuals to work on your campaigns. When your needs involve activities that span across multiple departments, they are best left to a partner agency. Plus, having a whole team of people at your disposal, provides the benefit of time saving since tasks can be distributed and completed in less time.
The tools on the belt
Freelancers have access to resources to facilitate their processes, although again, they can be particular to their area of expertise. This is not a problem when your agency has systems and software to complement the work of a freelancer.
However, an outsourced team has all the resources it needs to meet the strategic goals of a client's campaigns as it often handles large, complex projects. Outsourcing agencies tend to invest in training personnel to use powerful technologies.
Communication and flexibility
Because of the nature of their work, freelancers are usually great at communication, they can’t afford to lose time with misinterpretation. Working with an agency also allows for constant communication to see how things are working and if modifications are necessary.
It can be easier for an agency to accommodate your needs at any given time, whereas for a freelancer, it will depend on the workload they have taken on. You need to make sure your final choice is flexible enough to take on requirements with little notice, should the need arise.
Quality
This is certainly something you expect from whoever you delegate to, and both freelancers and digital outsourcing agencies can generate high-quality results. An outsourced agency can also provide the additional benefit of data-based work, resulting in more efficient solutions. The key is to make the right decision based on your needs and their offer.
Bear in mind that freelancers can take on different projects at a time, which could dilute their efforts and result in digital products that don’t meet your expectations. This means you would need to set aside time to find a reliable individual.
What’s the right choice?
The decision between outsourcing your content or freelancing will ultimately depend on your company’s situation and goals. If your agency can manage most of the workload, and you find you need little assistance and have plenty of time, perhaps a freelancer can be a good addition to your team.
On the other hand, agency collaboration presents many options and viable solutions customizable to your strategic goals and project specifics. Working through outsourcing can create a cost effective campaign with the industry-expertise needed to deliver results. Outsourcing can help improve your agency’s productivity making it grow in the long term.
One of the many great options for outsourcing is WAM, the digital production studio that can cater to your campaign needs. Our team is well-equipped and ready to take on whatever challenges your campaign presents.
Take a closer look at outsourcing and all it can do for you and your team in our comprehensive guide to outsourcing.
Take a closer look at outsourcing and all it can do for you and your team in our comprehensive guide to outsourcing.
