There’s no doubt about it–the ‘gig economy’ is taking over the world. Some economists claim that by 2027, the majority of workers in the US will be freelance, hawking their skills off to those who need them. But just in the same way that freelancers are taking over entire industries, small web development and marketing agencies may eventually take the place of mega corporations that dominated the latter part of the 20th century.
When it comes to hiring specialists to help out with your managed WordPress hosting, web design and marketing of your website, there are plenty of options available to your business. Each option has its own pros and cons, so which is a right fit for your business: an agency or a freelancer?
Agencies
Pros
- Agencies are usually more established than freelancers, therefore have more connections to help bring down costs or network for your business.
- They have more resources at their disposal, teams of specialists that can take on a variety of tasks in a quick time frame.
- Agencies account for every single minute of time, so you only pay for the services that you need.
Cons
- Although you only pay for what you need, you’re also paying for the agency’s overhead.
- Because there are so many lines of communication at an agency, you might have difficulty getting in contact with someone who can get you exactly what you want.
- Agencies often have many projects going on at once, so they might not be able to offer your project the attention it deserves.
Freelance
Pros
- Freelancers are specialists. They excel in the area they work in, and can often provide quicker quality work than an agency.
- Freelancers want to get your project done quickly so they can move on to their next bit of work. They can tackle tight deadlines with ease.
- Freelancers are often cheaper in the short term, but…
Cons
- Because they’re specialists, you might end up having to hire multiple freelancers to finish one project.
- Managing a team of freelancers can be a time-sucker. With an agency, you don’t have to worry about managing multiple projects and schedules, they should do that for you.
- Because they have more robust resources, agencies may be more proactive in helping you meet your long term goals by offering additional services.
Which Is Right for You?
There’s no doubt that both agencies and freelancers have their pros and cons. It’s important to weigh all your options before making this important decision. Whichever one you choose depends on your company’s specific situation and needs, so take the time to find the right solution for you.
Amanda Nadhir
Amanda serves as the Head of Sales and Enablement for Pressable. She's worked in the tech space for well over a decade and has spent the majority of that time building/training/leading teams. She loves travel and adventure and when she's not working, you can find her spending time with her family, lounging pool/beach-side, playing tennis, working out, and meeting people/making friends all along the way!
