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 diversity allows agencies to handle projects requiring multiple skill sets across teams.
For businesses needing a wide range of services, an agency can provide a one-stop solution.
However, this breadth of skills may not always be necessary for projects requiring only 1-2 skill sets (e.g. SEO/PPC).
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
Agencies can offer competitive pricing, but those figures usually account for office rentals, managerial salaries, and administrative costs.
Most consultants work without such overheads. Your money is directed at their know-how rather than the infrastructure behind the scenes.
digital marketing consultants are frequently the more cost-efficient route.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
Agencies tend to be a strong option for large projects, simply because they have more people to draw upon.
They’re able to spread tasks across a team, which can speed up delivery and manage multiple campaign strands.
If your business requires this level of resource, an agency might be the better route.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
Because agencies juggle multiple people and projects, they often depend on pre-set processes to keep everything on track.
This structure can sometimes delay updates or changes to your campaign setup.
Consultants, on the other hand, are nimble. They tailor their approach and can pivot as your priorities shift.
In a dynamic digital space, that kind of adaptability is a real strength.
For example, if you need to shift gears halfway through a campaign, a consultant can typically act straight away, while agencies may need more time to get everyone aligned.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
One key benefit of working with a consultant is the simplicity of having a single, steady point of contact.
This removes the typical agency experience of juggling different team members or onboarding new account managers.
Consultants offer direct access and communication with the person doing the work, not someone relaying messages.
That directness leads to better collaboration and a more efficient working relationship.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
Digital marketing consultants are personally invested in your success because their livelihood depends directly on their results and client satisfaction.
Unlike agencies, which often report to directors or larger management teams, consultants focus solely on your needs.
This personal attention often translates into better service and more dedication.
For example, while an digital marketing 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
You can get excellent digital marketing 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 Wholesale 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 Wholesale digital marketing consultant…read more