PPC & SEO FREELANCER VS AGENCY

If you are considering hiring a freelancer or an agency for your search marketing strategy for SEO and PPC, you need to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of both options.

 

Working with PPC & SEO Freelancer

As a Google Ads specialist and freelancer with past agency experience, I’ll share with you pros and cons of both options. And this is based on my experience over 15 years working as a search marketing specialist.

I admit that a freelancer isn’t the best for everyone. An agency may at times be better option for your business.

So, here’s an honest look at the pros and cons of engaging an agency or freelancer to manage your PPC and SEO campaigns.

Pros

Cost-effective

Working with a PPC or SEO freelancer means you are likely to pay less than hiring an agency. Freelancers generally charge lower rates.

And that’s mainly because they have fewer overhead costs, so can offer competitive pricing, making them an attractive option fir small to medium-sized businesses with limited budgets.

The hourly rate is generally lower so you will pay less for management and even for the setup of your campaigns.

Personalized Attention

Usually you get a lot more personalized attention from a freelancer than an agency.  This means they are more accessible and responsive, which allows you to implement your plans quickly and get quicker results.

Flexibility

A PPC or SEO freelancer can easily adopt to your schedule and will usually be more flexible with their working hours. So, it is not a problem if they are outside the country. And this can be beneficial if your business requires quick turnarounds or has fluctuating needs.

Specialized Expertise

Many freelancers focus on a specific niche, or they will specialize in a particular channel or platform. So, if you find a freelancer that has experience in your field, then you should consider hiring then to set up and manage your PPC or SEO campaigns.

Cons

Limited Resources

Because freelancers often work alone, they may lack the comprehensive resources of an agency. And that could be a disadvantage if you require a wide range of digital skills for effective execution.

Scalability Issues

As your business grows, your requirements may increase too, and a single freelancer may struggle to keep up with your demands. So, a freelancer’s capacity to handle much larger campaigns is limited compared to an agency.

Reliability and Availability

A freelancer like an agency, will have multiple clients and projects, but their availability and reliability can be a problem. If they have personal issues to deal with or become overextended with work, this could impact the continuity and effectiveness of your PPC and SEO campaigns.

Lack of Diverse Perspectives

A freelancer brings a unique perspective, but this is often limited. Without a team to brainstorm and collaborate, you might miss out on diverse ideas and innovate approaches.

Working with a PPC & SEO Agency

Pros

Comprehensive Services

PPC and SEO agencies offer a wide range of services, and they have a diverse team of experts with specializations, providing a holistic approach to your online marketing campaigns.

Scalability

An agency can easily scale its services to meet higher demand. So, they have the resources to manage large and complex campaigns and can easily adjust strategy to meet your changing market conditions.

Strategic Insights

With a team of experts, you are more likely to receive more strategic insights for your PPC and SEO campaigns. They can draw on their collective experience to provide you with well-rounded strategies and adapt to your requirements.

Cons

Higher Costs

A PPC and SEO agency will typically charge much higher fees than a freelancer. Their range of services and team come at a premium, which may be challenging for many small businesses with small marketing budgets.

Less Personalized Attention

One of the main challenges with working with an agency is that you may not get as much personalized attention as from a freelancer. You may have to navigate through account managers and teams, which could slow down communication and decision-making.

Longer Onboarding Process

The onboarding process is longer with an agency than a freelancer. So, it will take longer with the agency to get your campaigns set up and running.

Let’s Get Started

Let’s work together on creating a custom Google Ads campaign to take your company to a higher level of success. Get in touch with me below and let’s get started!
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  • Hi, Mike Ncube is a leading digital marketing consultant who blogs about the best and latest digital insights. He writes about topics such as Google Ads, digital strategy, LinkedIn Ads, Email, SEO, Google Analytics and more. Reach out to him if you have any questions and subscribe to his blog to start learning.

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