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 are often composed of a multi-talented team, bringing together digital marketing technicians, coders, strategic planners and writers.
Their collective know-how is particularly useful for complex digital initiatives.
For firms looking to cover multiple bases with one partner, agencies are an attractive choice.
That said, for more focused projects centred solely on SEO or PPC, the full scope of agency resources may be unnecessary.
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 are often the better choice for large or complex digital marketing work because they can tap into wider internal resources.
Tasks can be distributed across the team, so various campaign activities progress at the same time.
If your project calls for that level of team involvement, an agency may be the most suitable solution.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
With multiple teams to coordinate, agencies often lean on standard operating procedures to keep things running smoothly.
While the individuals you deal with may be flexible, the broader team might take time to adjust to changes in direction.
Consultants offer a more fluid experience. They can shape their work around your needs and change tack as required.
That sort of adaptability is invaluable when digital trends shift rapidly.
If, mid-project, you decide to revise your digital marketing approach, a consultant is generally quicker to implement changes than an agency working through layers of process.
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
Both agencies and consultants can deliver high-quality digital marketing services.
Agencies may have access to more specialists, but this can sometimes lead to work being delegated to junior staff members for upskilling.
Consultants, on the other hand, typically handle all aspects of your digital marketing strategy themselves, ensuring consistency and attention to detail.
Final Score
- Agency: 3
- Consultant: 5
Conclusion
Both Gym 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 Gym digital marketing consultant…read more