Creative Agency or a Freelancer: Who Should I Hire?

In marketing today, there is one specific question that often comes up:

Should my company hire an agency or a freelancer for our marketing projects?

Of course as a marketing and communications agency, we might automatically answer, “agency,” but the truth is … it depends on your project scope, expected outcome, and deadline. So instead of giving advice on which of the two you should choose, we’re going to discuss some of the factors you should consider and what each looks like with an agency and a freelancer.

• Cost (Note: Whomever you hire, keep in mind that the old adage, “You get what you pay for,” rings true here a well).
  • Freelancer: Because freelancers don’t have the overhead costs of running a business, their rates tend to be cheaper than those of an agency’s.
  • Agency: An agency’s fees may be higher than a freelancer’s, but it may offer package deals when combining two or more services.

• Specialization
  • Freelancer: Most freelancers specialize in one or two areas. This means that for multi-faceted projects, you may have to hire additional freelancers, thus increasing both time and money spent managing the new addition.
  • Agency: Agencies employ a variety of specialists in one place. GEM, for example, has nine departments that work collaboratively under one project manager to ensure all pieces of the project are consistent with the vision and brand identity.

• Time Commitment
  • Freelancer: Many freelancers have flexible schedules, but others may be doing contract work as a second job. This doesn’t mean that they will put less effort into your project or pay less attention to deadlines, but it may be that the time they can spend on it during the week is limited, which will affect turnaround times. In addition, a freelancer may not be reachable at all times during the regular workday. Sickness, travel and heavy workloads can also have an effect on whether a freelancer can meet a deadline.
  • Agency: Depending on an agency’s project load, in a crush, it may be able to work more quickly than a freelancer by finding extra hours and people to devote to the task.

• Revision Turnaround
  • Freelancer: Due to the reasons listed above, the back and forth of the revision process may get drawn out.
  • Agency: Revisions can often be dictated and made immediately.

• Understanding of Big Picture
  • Freelancer: Most freelancers will do their absolute best to capture the vision of the brand they are working with, even though it may be in a limited scope.
  • Agency: When your project goes to an agency, the project manager can see all parts of the puzzle and ensure that they all align with your company’s vision. The agency can also help your company shape and define that vision.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to hiring freelancers and agencies. While we lean toward using an agency, we understand that for small projects with extended deadlines, a freelancer may meet your needs. Of course, every agency and every freelancer is different, and before you choose either, we highly suggest you research portfolios and references.

If you do determine an agency is right for you, we invite you to visit the other pages of the GEM site that may be of use to your understanding of what we do, including our case studies, industry experience, and offerings. So, why wait? Reach out to us today and see what our nine-department, award-winning marketing and communications agency can do for you.

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• Analysis
• Strategy
• Creative Agency
• Freelancer
• Advertising