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
PPC agencies typically bring a varied skill set to the table, with teams made up of specialists in PPC, web development, content and strategic planning.
This makes them well-equipped to execute campaigns requiring collaboration across different disciplines.
For clients seeking an all-round digital partner, an agency setup can be ideal.
However, not every project warrants such a wide-ranging team, particularly if the focus is only on PPC or SEO.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
Although agencies can offer competitive pricing, but that usually includes the burden of office rent, team managers, and administrative support.
Consultants work differently. There’s no organisational padding – just direct access to their professional insight.
Consultants are often the wiser financial choice in PPC.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
With multiple professionals on hand, agencies are usually better equipped for large-scale PPC efforts.
They can divide tasks among team members, allowing different elements of your campaign to progress in parallel.
For businesses needing a broader team effort, working with an agency might be more practical.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
Agencies typically follow structured systems, which help coordinate large teams but can slow things down when changes are needed.
Even if your main contact is responsive, broader adjustments can take time to flow through.
Consultants offer a more bespoke service and can respond to changes without delay.
In fast-moving digital markets, that flexibility can be crucial.
Let’s say you want to tweak your PPC focus mid-campaign – a consultant can often do so quickly, while an agency might need to run it through internal processes.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
One of the clear benefits of choosing a consultant is consistency – you’ll deal with the same person throughout your project.
Unlike agencies, where staff changes and account handovers are more common, consultants provide stability.
You’re in touch with the individual doing the actual work, not a middleman.
That makes communication simpler and helps to build a more genuine working relationship.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
With PPC consultants, you often get a deeper level of commitment – their business thrives on results and happy clients.
Agencies, by contrast, typically work within larger structures where client focus can be diluted by internal priorities.
Consultants, working independently, are driven to deliver great outcomes.
For them, your success directly reflects on their own – which often leads to a more dedicated partnership.
7. Quality of Work
Winner: Equal
You can get excellent PPC support from both agencies and independent consultants.
Agencies often involve a range of specialists, but that sometimes means the work is distributed to junior staff for training.
Consultants tend to manage every detail themselves, resulting in a more consistent and focused execution.
Final Score
- Agency: 3
- Consultant: 5
Conclusion
Both Museum 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 a Museum PPC consultant…read more