When considering digital marketing services for your business, one decision you will have to make on the way is choosing between a digital marketing agency and consultant (in fact, you most likely clicked on this article to help with that exact decision!).
While both agencies and consultants aim to grow your website’s traffic and revenue, their approach, structure, and relationship with clients differ significantly.
- Digital marketing agencies typically consist of multiple people skilled in different aspects of digital marketing, account managers, developers, admin staff and directors.
- Digital marketing consultants on the other hand are just the person skilled in digital marketing, covering admin duties themselves.
To help you decide between the two, I’ll compare both against seven key factors that are important to businesses deciding between choosing an agency or a consultant:
- Variety of Skills
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Resources
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Personalised Service
- Quality of Work
1. Variety of Skills
Winner: Agency
Digital marketing agencies, by nature, typically have a broad team of experts including digital marketing specialists, developers, account strategists, copywriters and more.
This allows them to collaborate effectively on cross-functional projects.
For brands looking for a single provider to cover a wide array of needs, agencies can be a natural fit.
Nonetheless, when the task at hand is relatively narrow, like SEO or PPC, this broader capacity may not be essential.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
Whilst agencies can pitch competitive prices, those numbers often include the expense of physical offices, administrative staff, and middle management.
Consultants tend to operate independently. That means your money goes directly towards their expertise, not business overheads.
For many, this makes digital marketing consultants the more cost-effective solution.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
Agencies typically have the manpower to take on bigger projects.
They’re able to assign different team members to specific campaign tasks at the same time.
For companies that need a broader resource base, an agency may be the preferred option.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
Agencies often operate using standardised processes, simply because they manage multiple teams and clients.
While the individuals working on your account may be adaptable, making wider changes can take time due to the setup and number of people involved.
Consultants, however, can tailor their approach from the start and adjust quickly if your business shifts direction.
This kind of agility is especially valuable in today’s fast-paced digital world.
Say you need to alter your digital marketing strategy mid-way through a project – a consultant can typically action that quickly, whereas agencies may need more time due to internal approvals and coordination.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
One standout benefit of hiring a consultant is the continuity they offer – you’ll be working with the same person from start to finish.
This removes the hassle of being passed around different team members or adjusting to new faces, which is often the case with agencies.
Consultants provide a more personal touch, offering direct and efficient communication as they’re the ones carrying out the work.
That level of clarity and consistency helps build trust and makes collaboration far smoother.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
Consultants rely on strong results and client satisfaction to sustain their business, so they’re often more personally invested in your success.
They don’t have directors or departments pulling them in different directions – their energy is focused squarely on helping you achieve your goals.
That level of personal accountability can make a big difference.
Whereas agencies may divide their focus, consultants treat each client as a top priority.
7. Quality of Work
Winner: Equal
Whether you choose an agency or a consultant, high-quality digital marketing is achievable with either.
Agencies may have larger teams and broader resources, but this sometimes leads to tasks being assigned to junior staff.
Consultants usually take on the full scope of work themselves, which can lead to greater consistency and attention to detail.
Final Score
- Agency: 3
- Consultant: 5
Conclusion
Both Flooring digital marketing agencies and consultants have their strengths.
While agencies bring extensive resources and a variety of skills, consultants may offer a more cost-effective, adaptable, and personalised approach.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of working with a Flooring digital marketing consultant…read more