Should I hire a marketing agency or will a marketing consultant do the same job?

[HelenCope]

I am curious as to whether people feel marketing consultants can fulfil the role of a marketing agency?

 

[KimyChung]

Basically, marketing agencies are more like a strategic advisers and tactical instructors and have all the capability to handle all the advertising processes. While marketing consultants are those who take a look at already existent businesses and analyzing market potential and develops strategies for achieving a larger goal.

 

[fisicx]

I am curious as to whether people feel marketing consultants can fulfil the role of a marketing agency?

Depends on the services required and offered. A single person may not have the resources or skills to market a large and complex project. Equally, a small business may not need or be able to afford an agency.

Many people I know cringe as soon as they hear the word 'consultant' and 'agency' doesn't have a much better reputation

PS: The information on your site is inconsistent and contradictory. Join UKBF as a full member and ask for a website review. It can be quite illuminating.

 

[TheBigMarketer]

It depends. There are pros and cons to both. An agency is naturally more expensive but typically has more resources than a consultant. An agency also won't take on very small amounts of work, or if they do, it wouldn't be cost effective to you.

A consultant will often be cheaper, but finding a good one with reviews and testimonials can be more difficult. The benefit is that consultants can be more flexible and do ad-hoc work.

In either case, the secret to success with either is to create a solid brief and know what outcomes you want. It doesn't have to be a huge complex document, but ensure it's written down to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Once you've briefed in an agency and a consultant on your goals, see which will be better for your outcomes in terms of cost, flexibility and potential, based your business case.

Hope that helps.

 

[WebshopMechanic]

Hi @HelenCope

I would like to offer you a little bit of advice as a 'consultant' (Booo Booo, Off-with-his-head!)

In my opinion, it's worth checking out both options to see which one suits your objective.

• Do you want someone to improve your online visibility?
• Do you need someone to who has technical knowledge to improve your website?
• Do you need management of your marketing campaigns?
• Are you looking for new business opportunities?
• Do you need help stepping-up what you are already doing?
• Do you want someone to do all your marketing for you?

Consultants usually offer strategic advice but some (like me) have a team that I work with. As a smaller concern, consultants also have their name and reputation at stake so they tend to give you more bang for your buck, instead of charging by the hour. Well, I try to anyhow.

Agencies will have the in-house skills to manage marketing campaigns and get them up and running quickly. But, in my experience working with many agencies, you need to keep whipping them into shape and, unless you stamp your feet from time to time, you will end up with the office junior managing your account.

No disrespect to the office junior but when you're paying a £2k a month for 16hrs works, they are not giving you £125 per hour's worth of expertise.

Whichever option you choose, it's important you write a clear brief with the outcome you want to achieve and targets by month. That way, you can monitor performance and turn the screw if things aren't going according to plan.

One other piece of advice. Don't sign up to any minimum term contracts with anyone.

I've lost count of the number of small businesses I've spoken to who have signed up to work with a company for a 6-month minimum contract and then parted ways after the 6 months. Obviously, by then, you'll be a few grand down with nothing to show for it.

The people you work with should always be on their toes and deliver what you need to the best of their ability and to your standards. You are a small business with a limited budget so feet-dragging or lacklustre performance is unacceptable.

Matt

 

[fisicx]

@WebshopMechanic

Do you know what @HelenCope does? Take a look at her profile...

 

[WebshopMechanic]

Ahh, my apologies. I was on my phone and didn't go that far.

That was almost as embarrassing as yesterday when I tried to take some mouldy nectarines back to Sainsburys when I'd bought them from Tesco. Ooops!

Cheers @fisicx

 

[RedEvo]

In either case, the secret to success with either is to create a solid brief and know what outcomes you want.

It's also worth hiring someone to help you figure out what success looks like. Asking someone to create a brief is challenging when they don't know what's possible. Some call this road mapping.

d

 

[ethical PR]

I am curious as to whether people feel marketing consultants can fulfil the role of a marketing agency?

Shouldn't you be telling us this Helen as you are a marketing consultant!!

 

[RedEvo]

Shouldn't you be telling us this Helen as you are a marketing consultant!!

Surely she's allowed to ask others for their view without being called out for it?

d

 

[ethical PR]

Of course she is - but it would have been better to perhaps provide her opinion on the topic and mention she's a marketing consultant then people like @WebshopMechanic wouldn't have got the wrong end of the stick.

Or else it feels a little disingenuous.

 

[RedEvo]

I don't agree. Her approach wasn't leading, she simply wanted opinions. However, I do respect your view

d