Performance Marketing: Inhouse vs Outsourcing to Agency

Introduction

Performance marketing is a type of marketing that focuses on driving specific actions or behaviors from potential customers, such as clicks, leads, or sales. It involves using a variety of tactics and channels, such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, affiliate marketing, and social media advertising, to drive these desired actions.

When it comes to performance marketing, there are two main options: managing it in-house or outsourcing it to an agency. In this blog, we will explore the pros and cons of each approach & compare both to help you decide which is best for your business.

Let’s begin!

In-House Performance Marketing

In-house performance marketing involves building a dedicated team of marketing professionals who specialize in performance marketing. This team is responsible for developing and executing performance marketing campaigns, monitoring the results, and making adjustments as necessary. Here are some of the pros and cons of in-house performance marketing:

Pros:

More Control: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you have complete control over the strategy, tactics, and execution. You can make changes quickly and easily, without having to go through a third-party agency. This means you can tailor your approach to your business’s specific needs and goals.

Cost Savings: Hiring an agency to manage your performance marketing can be expensive, especially if you’re a small or medium-sized business. By managing it in-house, you can save money on agency fees and have more control over your budget.

Better Integration: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you can integrate it more closely with other marketing and business initiatives. This can lead to better overall performance and more effective campaigns.

In-House Expertise: If you have an in-house marketing team, they will have a deep understanding of your brand and your customers. This can lead to more effective targeting and messaging, which can ultimately lead to better performance.

More Data Control: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you have complete control over your data. You can collect and analyze data in a way that makes sense for your business, and you can use that data to improve your campaigns over time.

Faster Decision Making: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you can make decisions quickly and efficiently. This can be particularly important in fast-paced industries where timing is critical.

Better Transparency: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you have full visibility into all aspects of your campaigns. This means you can see exactly where your money is going and how your campaigns are performing.

Cons:

Resource Intensive: Managing performance marketing in-house can be resource-intensive, especially if you don’t have a dedicated marketing team. It can be time-consuming and take away from other business priorities.

Limited Expertise: If you don’t have a dedicated marketing team or individuals with expertise in performance marketing, it can be difficult to develop and execute effective campaigns.

Limited Resources: If you’re a small or medium-sized business, you may not have the resources to manage performance marketing in-house effectively.

Limited Industry Knowledge: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you may be limited by your team’s industry knowledge. This can make it difficult to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices.

Limited Capacity: Your in-house team may be limited by their capacity to manage multiple campaigns at once, which can lead to slower progress.

Higher Risk: Managing performance marketing in-house can be riskier than outsourcing to an agency, as there is more pressure on your team to deliver results.

Limited Network: When you manage performance marketing in-house, you may not have access to the same networks and relationships that an agency does. This can limit your reach and impact.

Outsourcing to an Agency

In-house performance marketing involves building a dedicated team of marketing professionals who specialize in performance marketing. This team is responsible for developing and executing performance marketing campaigns, monitoring the results, and making adjustments as necessary. Here are some of the pros and cons of in-house performance marketing:

Pros:

Expertise: Performance marketing agencies have the expertise and experience to develop and implement effective campaigns. They have a team of specialists who can handle all aspects of the campaign, including analytics, creative, and media buying.

Time savings: Outsourcing performance marketing to an agency allows businesses to focus on their core competencies. They can delegate marketing tasks to the agency, freeing up time to focus on other important areas of the business.

Cost savings: Hiring an in-house marketing team can be expensive. Outsourcing to an agency can be a cost-effective solution, as agencies can offer competitive pricing due to their economies of scale.

Access to technology: Performance marketing agencies have access to the latest marketing technology and tools. This allows them to develop and implement campaigns that are more effective than what businesses can achieve on their own.

Scalability: As a business grows, so do its marketing needs. Performance marketing agencies can scale their services up or down as needed, making it easy for businesses to adjust their marketing efforts as their needs change.

Flexibility: Outsourcing to an agency allows businesses to experiment with different marketing strategies without committing to a long-term investment.

Results-driven: Performance marketing agencies are focused on results. They are constantly measuring and optimizing campaigns to ensure they are delivering the best possible ROI for their clients.

Cons:

Lack of Control: When you outsource performance marketing to an agency, you give up a certain level of control over the marketing process. This means you won’t be able to monitor every aspect of the campaign and make real-time changes as needed, which can result in missed opportunities or suboptimal results.

Cost: Outsourcing performance marketing to an agency can be expensive. Agencies typically charge a fee for their services, which can eat into your marketing budget. Additionally, there may be hidden costs, such as fees for ad placements or third-party tools, that you may not be aware of upfront.

Limited Knowledge of Your Business: An agency may not fully understand your business or industry, which can result in ineffective marketing strategies or messaging that doesn’t resonate with your target audience.

Risk of Misaligned Goals: Agencies are typically driven by their own profit margins, which can sometimes lead to misaligned goals between your business and the agency. This can lead to conflicting priorities and an overall lack of focus on what’s best for your business.

Communication Issues: Working with an agency requires regular communication to ensure that goals are being met and strategies are effective. However, communication issues can arise if the agency and your business are not aligned in terms of priorities or expectations.

Data Privacy Concerns: Sharing sensitive data with an agency can raise concerns about data privacy and security. You will need to ensure that the agency has adequate safeguards in place to protect your data.

Limited Transparency: When you outsource performance marketing to an agency, you may not have full visibility into the details of the campaign. This lack of transparency can make it difficult to understand what’s working and what’s not, and may limit your ability to make informed decisions about the campaign.

Wrapping Up

By working with an agency like Zavops, you can free up your internal resources, gain access to industry-leading technology and data analysis tools, and tap into a team of marketing professionals who are dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

Ready to work smarter, not harder? Try Zavops today.