When considering PPC services for your business, one decision you will have to make on the way is choosing between a PPC 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 drive profitable leads and revenue through paid advertising, their approach, structure, and relationship with clients differ significantly.
- PPC agencies typically consist of multiple people skilled in PPC, account managers, developers, admin staff and directors.
- PPC consultants on the other hand are just the person skilled in PPC, 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
Most PPC agencies operate with a wide-ranging team, incorporating PPC analysts, developers, strategists and creatives.
This structure supports their ability to handle integrated marketing campaigns across various disciplines.
For companies in search of a robust, all-encompassing solution, agencies offer real value.
However, when only one or two core services are needed, such as PPC or SEO, a consultant might be better suited.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
Although agencies can offer competitive pricing, their fees often reflect the costs of running offices, employing managers, and supporting admin teams.
Consultants, on the other hand, operate with leaner setups. Your investment goes directly into their hands-on expertise, not into funding a larger operation.
For budget-conscious businesses, PPC consultants tend to offer better value.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
Owing to their access to a larger pool of professionals, agencies are often the go-to for sizeable PPC campaigns.
They can delegate responsibilities across their team, tackling several aspects at once.
If your business is after that kind of scale, an agency might suit your needs better.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
Agencies, with their multi-person teams, tend to run on streamlined processes to manage workflow across accounts.
This can mean that adapting your account setup or strategy involves multiple steps and takes longer than expected.
Consultants are more agile. They’re able to adapt their work directly to your evolving needs without the red tape.
In a fast-moving digital world, this kind of responsiveness can make a real difference.
If plans change, a consultant can often pivot within hours – something agencies may struggle with due to approval chains and team structures.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
Working with a consultant offers the comfort of a single point of contact – someone who’s with you every step of the way.
This helps avoid the confusion that can come from rotating account managers or high staff turnover in agency settings.
Consultants bring a more direct and personal communication style, as they’re the ones actually delivering the work.
That kind of consistency enhances collaboration and builds stronger rapport over time.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
A consultant’s business depends on their ability to deliver strong results and keep clients happy – making them personally invested in your outcomes.
Agencies, with their broader teams and internal hierarchies, might not offer the same level of personal focus.
Consultants often provide more attentive service as a result.
For example, while an PPC agency may treat you as one of many clients, a consultant sees your success as a reflection of their own.
7. Quality of Work
Winner: Equal
Whether you choose an agency or a consultant, high-quality PPC 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 Interior Design PPC 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 an Interior Design PPC consultant…read more