Hiring an External Agency Beats Building an In-House Team for Marketing Technology – and Here’s Why

In my years in the marketing technology industry, I've witnessed a common struggle: should companies manage their digital needs internally, or hire an external agency? Many large corporations assume they can handle everything in-house, believing their budget allows for their own developers, project managers, and marketing specialists.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s consider General Motors or Ford. Their expertise is in automotive manufacturing, not in developing marketing technology. While they do have internal teams for certain digital tasks, they still lean heavily on external agencies to get the job done right.

Expecting your in-house team to compete with a specialized marketing technology agency is like asking a fashion designer to model, market, and brand their product—all while designing. It’s unrealistic and inefficient. Even the world’s largest companies hire external experts for their websites and marketing strategies because their strength lies in their core business, not in digital marketing.

When I sit down with potential clients who insist on keeping their marketing technology in-house, I see them clinging too tightly to control. They don’t realize that letting go could elevate their business. By entrusting this work to professionals who live and breathe marketing technology, companies can focus on what they do best.

Moreover, from a financial perspective, hiring an agency is often more cost-effective than maintaining a smaller internal team. With an agency, you gain access to a vast pool of talent and expertise without the hefty payroll costs.

Your internal team might be capable, but the scale, expertise, and cost-efficiency of an external agency will always deliver greater value. Recognizing this and making the right choice can propel your company to new heights—not just in marketing, but across all areas of your business.

In conclusion, external agencies can provide you with a better ROI by offering Marketing Technology as a Value-Added Service (VAS) for your company. So, take a step back, let the experts handle your digital needs, and watch your business soar.