18 Signs It’s Time To Find An Agency Partner, Not More In-House Talent

It’s not uncommon for businesses of all sizes to utilize the services of outside agencies thanks to the flexibility, industry knowledge and potential savings they often provide. Many companies that employ full-time marketing teams rely on the specialized expertise and unique perspectives external agency partners bring to complement their internal capabilities. Moreover, outsourcing certain functions to an agency can be more cost-effective and efficient than expanding an in-house team.

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Below, members of Forbes Agency Council share signs that partnering with an agency would benefit a business more than hiring additional in-house talent. Read on to learn how partnering with an outside agency can enhance internal efforts, enabling companies to execute more comprehensive and effective marketing strategies.

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1. Your Needs Surpass Your In-House Capabilities

As a company’s needs surpass the capabilities of individual contributors, it signals the necessity to involve an agency. Agencies offer expertise, cost efficiency, scalability, fresh perspectives and access to advanced tools. Their specialized skills and innovative approaches enable businesses to prioritize core activities while enjoying cost-effective, adaptable marketing solutions. – Denis Sinelnikov, Media Components – Digital Marketing Agency

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2. You Can’t Hire Senior Enough People To Drive Strategy

While it’s nearly impossible to hire senior or experienced people who can help drive strategy and craft messaging, agencies have those capabilities. Tactical execution, if directed, can be done well in-house. In an ever-changing environment, it takes senior-level talent to drive strategy, and that’s hard to hire (and pay) for in-house. – John Davies, Davies Public Affairs

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3. Your Remote In-House Employees Are ‘Mailing It In’

In this ever-changing job market, more and more employees are wanting to work from home and “mail it in.” Agencies don’t ever mail it in. We must sing for our supper every month. We are not protected by labor laws or lengthy contracts. A good agency will give you maximum effort with a much wider skill set at a lower total cost of ownership. – T. Maxwell, eMaximize

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4. You Need Concentrated Domain Knowledge

Agencies offer powerful additions to an in-house team—namely a concentrated dose of domain knowledge, a wide range of successful approaches and a network of connections that bridges the gap from strategy to flawless execution. – Susan Thomas, 10Fold Communications

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5. You Want To Scale Your Business Up Or Down As Needed

Having an external agency on board means that you can scale your business up or down when needed. Paying for an employee’s compulsory sick pay, vacation leave, 401(k) contributions and health insurance can add up. In addition, should the person you employ internally not be as great as their CV presented them, it may be a lengthy process before you can legally terminate them. – Adrian Falk, Believe Advertising & PR

6. It’s Time To Fundraise Or Move To The Next Growth Stage

There’s a certain early growth stage where in-house PR and marketing make sense. But if it’s time to fundraise or move to the next growth stage, level up by partnering with an agency that has connections and expertise that would be difficult to replicate in-house. With that said, a great agency-client partnership requires a strong, day-to-day internal client contact who is a true collaborative partner. – Jodi Amendola, Amendola Communications

7. Your Marketing Needs Outpace Your Bandwidth

A strong sign that a company should partner with an agency is when the marketing needs outpace the bandwidth or expertise of current staff, especially in specialized areas such as digital marketing, PR or data analytics. Agencies bring diverse skill sets and innovation, providing flexibility and scalability that can be pivotal for growth in dynamic markets. – Kenny Tripura, Edkent Media

8. You Don’t Want To Waste Highly Strategic In-House Talent

Companies need a diverse array of marketing expertise, from strategic messaging development to the ability to design and execute campaigns. One full-time employee may be well-versed in one area but not the others. If they are highly strategic, you don’t want to waste their valuable time on tactical execution. Let a team of experts apply the right expertise to each specific job, optimizing performance and resource utilization. – Jill Collins, Audacity Health

9. You Require Diverse Expertise Or Flexible Resources

Agencies offer specialized skills, industry insights and scalability, providing crucial cost-effectiveness and agility in dynamic markets. Also, an in-house person will not have the resources and industry knowledge that an agency will have gained from working in many industries. – David Kley, Web Design and Company

10. Your Business And/Or Competitive Landscape Is Shifting

When a company starts to see shifts in its business and/or is facing changes in its competitive landscape, it’s time to seek agency support. Outside counsel can add perspective and identify gaps between a company’s expectations and its actual performance or reputation in the market. The true value of an agency partnership is the ability to find and implement scalable solutions. – David Racine, Punch PR

11. You’re Consistently Celebrating How Good Your Ideas Are

If you find you are consistently celebrating how good your ideas are, you need an outside perspective to give you a reality check from beyond your organization’s walls to understand the broader culture. Agency partners are an extension of you, but they help push you past what you think is possible or “will get approved.” They’re going to fight for ideas that will bring extra perspective. – Sarah Jenkins, The Romans New York

12. You Really Need To Fill Several Jobs Rolled Into One

Consider whether it’s really just one job you need to fill or several rolled into one. In the case of influencer marketing management, finding someone who’s a pro at content trends, platform quirks, influencer discovery and vetting, negotiation, analytics, compliance and project management is tough. That’s where an agency can come in, offering all these skills in one package, and often more affordably than hiring in-house. – Danielle Wiley, Sway Group

13. You Need Expertise In Many Areas, Tools And Trends

Collaborating with an agency can provide a company with greater flexibility, a wider range of expertise and more cost-effective solutions. While a full-time employee may be knowledgeable in a few areas, an agency can offer expertise in a multitude of areas, allowing a company to utilize new marketing technology tools, respond to trends and leverage different campaign types to enhance its growth. – Elyse Flynn Meyer, Prism Global Marketing Solutions

14. Only An Agency Can Accomplish Your Strategic Goal

Every tool available has an appropriate use—and this is true for service tools, too. First, having a good understanding of business objectives will make it easier to choose the best solution. If the goal of your communications strategy is to accomplish something only an agency can accomplish, then choosing an agency is the right move. Mistakes occur when assumptions about capabilities are made. – Christine Wetzler, Pietryla PR & Marketing

15. You Have Used The Same Marketing Strategy For Years

Advancements in technology mean that marketing teams need to be knowledgeable and leverage the latest trends to keep up. Agencies not only stay on top of these trends, but also know how to utilize them in the best way possible. Chances are your in-house marketer is too busy with day-to-day operations to do the research for new ideas. – Jason Hall, FiveChannels Marketing

16. Your Organization Faces Challenges With Rapid Scaling

Hire an agency when your organization faces challenges with rapid scaling or requires specialized expertise that is not core to its business operations. Partnering with agencies offers cost-effective, scalable solutions tailored to growth needs, allowing companies to focus on core competencies while enhancing their market position and marketing efforts. – Kate Vasylenko, 42DM Corporation

17. You Need Specialized Expertise For A Short-Term Project

One sign a company should partner with an agency is when it needs specialized expertise for a short-term project or lacks the internal resources to keep up with fast-changing marketing trends. Agencies offer a broader range of skills and can hit the ground running, saving businesses time and money on hiring and training. – Marggiori Salas, IORI Digital

18. You Can’t Keep Up With Evolving Technologies

When technology changes rapidly, businesses prioritize their products and services over staying updated on marketing trends. Partnering with an agency to keep up with evolving tools and strategies is more efficient, ensuring higher productivity and greater effectiveness. – Ajay Prasad, GMR Web Team

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