Helping Small and Medium Businesses Achieve Their Full Marketing Potential | Digital Marketing Expert
Should eCommerce Businesses Hire Marketing Staff Internally or Outsource To An Agency?
Running an eCommerce business is like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. Blindfolded. On a tightrope. You’ve got logistics, stock, customer service, returns, payment gateways, and of course, marketing. Because, what’s the point of a beautiful website and a world-saving product if nobody knows it exists?
So, the question inevitably arises: Should you bring in an in-house marketing team or hand over the reins to an agency?
Join us as we take a good look at both sides.
The Case for Hiring In-House
There’s a certain romanticism to having your own team. Picture this: Monday morning meetings over coffee, your marketing exec bouncing ideas across the table, enthusiasm buzzing through the office like a charged-up Tesla.
1. They 'get' your brand (hopefully)
Internal staff live and breathe your business. They sit inside your group chats, overhear the company banter, understand your tone of voice and why ‘quirky but not cheesy’ is exactly how your brand should sound. This can result in more consistent, aligned messaging across all channels.
2. Faster communication
If you need a graphic for tomorrow’s flash sale, it’s often quicker to shout across the room than to go through three layers of agency account management. Internal staff can act fast (and take your slightly vague ‘make it pop more’ feedback in stride).
3. More control
With an internal team, you can steer the ship closely – set KPIs, change direction quickly, and test out ideas on a whim. They’re accountable to you and you alone.
4. Long-term growth
There’s value in growing people who grow with your business. A junior marketing exec can become your marketing manager one day. That kind of loyalty and brand fluency isn’t built overnight — and often not outsourced.
But (and there’s always a ‘but’) — hiring internally comes with a few caveats…
The Catch?
- It’s expensive. Salaries, pensions, training, software licenses, coffee runs… the list adds up.
- Jack-of-all-trades syndrome. That new hire might be excellent at Instagram, but what about PPC? SEO? Email automation? Web Dev? Suddenly, your one marketing person is wearing more hats than a Royal Ascot crowd.
- Hiring is hard. Finding the right people who are both talented and a cultural fit is like looking for a black hoodie in a blackout. Good marketers are in high demand.
The Case for Outsourcing to an Agency
Now, let’s imagine the agency route. You’ve got a team of specialists. They’ve worked across multiple industries. They eat campaign reports for breakfast and probably dream in spreadsheets. There’s an undeniable appeal to letting the experts handle it all.
1. Instant expertise
Agencies come fully baked. They know what works, what doesn’t, and they’ve got the tools and talent to hit the ground running.
2. Cost-effective (surprisingly)
Wait — aren’t agencies expensive? Not always. While their monthly retainer might seem steep at first glance, you’re getting an entire team for the price of one salary. That often includes web developers, copywriters, social media managers, SEO specialists, and a dedicated account manager.
3. Access to the latest tech
Good agencies invest in cutting-edge tools and software that might be too costly or complex for a smaller in-house team to manage.
4. Scalability
Agencies are designed to flex with your business. If you suddenly want to launch in three new markets next quarter, they can scale your campaigns up without breaking a sweat — or your budget.
The Flip Side?
- You’re one of many. Agencies have other clients (shocking, I know), which means you might not always be priority number one.
- Less control. While a good agency should feel like an extension of your team, you’re still not there in the room with them. Decisions take longer. Miscommunication happens.
- Initial onboarding. It can take a bit of time (and patience) for an agency to truly understand your tone, audience, and quirks. You’ll need to work on the relationship just like any other partnership.
How is the Good Marketer’s Not Like Other Agencies?
The proof is in the pudding, and ours just tastes better than everyone else’s — sorry, but it’s true.
Our approach to eCommerce marketing is the best of both worlds: a hybrid of in-house and outsourced marketing. Yes, technically, we’re an agency, but we’re not a bunch of ragtag marketers who say things like, ‘Let’s play it by ear.‘ Strategies are bespoke, KPIs are measured, communication lines are open, and your brand is given the love it deserves.
You may be among many, but our team will ensure you always feel numero uno, just as you should. And when it comes to initial onboarding, we’re nothing short of pros. We have meticulously crafted our approach to ensure we truly understand you, your goals, and your vision. We don’t just become an extension of your team; we become your team, celebrating every victory along the way – even the small ones.
So, What's the Answer?
Here’s the truth: It all comes down to your business stage, budget, and capacity.
If you're early-stage:
An agency might be your best bet. You’ll get high-level strategy and execution without the overhead of multiple hires. It’s a good way to test channels and scale quickly while keeping your internal team lean.
If you're scaling fast:
A hybrid approach often works wonders. Keep one or two key marketing players in-house — someone to manage the brand and oversee day-to-day strategy — but outsource the rest to a trusted eCommerce marketing agency.
If you're well-established:
Bringing more in-house can give you greater control, especially if you’re investing heavily in long-term campaigns and brand building. But even then, outsourcing specialist areas (like technical SEO, advanced analytics, or paid social media) can keep your team focused and effective.
It's Not Either/Or
Here’s where plenty of eCommerce brands trip up: they treat outsourcing like cheating. In reality, the best results often come from a blended team — internal staff handling day-to-day tone and brand building, with an agency providing specialist execution, analytics and scale.
You don’t have to choose a side. Just choose what makes sense right now. And if that changes six months down the line? That’s fine, too.
After all, running an eCommerce business is less about finding the perfect solution and more about knowing when to pivot, adapt, and keep juggling, even if the flaming swords get a little close now and then.If you’re in the market for a team of marketing specialists, contact us today to find out what a tailored approach can do for your eCommerce business.