In recent years, small and medium-sized businesses have been bombarded with solutions on how to boost their online presence. Start a blog! Get on Facebook! Geo-target your Twitter Pins! It can all feel overwhelming and, at times, impossible to keep up with.
Fortunately, this demand has led to the development of many competitive content marketing solutions. For every widget-maker in America, there is an agency that specializes in Widget-marketing. Deciding to outsource your content creation is ultimately about weighing the potential costs against benefits–here are a few items to consider when doing so.
1. You Want to Keep Your Integrity
Your service or product is something that you should feel passionate about. Getting caught up in the many facets of content marketing (what type to use, how to generate it, when to employ it) can quickly drain this enthusiasm. When you hire a writer, you eliminate this potential resource “leak.” Conserving your energy for the area you specialize in may be worth more than you think.
2. In-house is Impossible
In a perfect world, everyone would have a dedicated staff member to manage social media, create killer content, produce unique keywords, and make a perfect cup of joe. Unfortunately, most SMBs are running on a shoestring and can’t devote these kinds of resources. But that doesn’t mean that they deserve less of an opportunity to reap the benefits of effective online marketing.
3. You Fear Commitment
Along those same lines, investing thousands of dollars into campaign creation may feel like over commitment. With outsourced services, you can try on different options to decide which is right for you–if you decide that they’re right at all. Try different services, different writers, or different mediums with minimal up-front costs.
4. There’s No Basement in the Alamo
This is one way to describe the endless, fruitless goose chase of executing marketing advice from questionable sources. Everyone (even those who have little or no experience in the area) has a suggestion for you. Every blogger has their Top 5 lists. But without consulting a reputable agency with outsourcing experience, your time and effort could be utterly wasted. Outsourcing agencies have done the research–they know what works.
5. A Writer Writes
The best way to get amazing content is to hire amazing writers. People who are passionate about their craft, experienced in their field, and dedicated to creating quality work. Marketing agencies have taken the guesswork out of this process–they’ve vetted qualified candidates on your behalf.
At the end of the day, outsourcing content is about saving your sanity, your reputation, and your hard-earned revenue. Although it requires a little initial investment on the part of the business, the returns are well-worth the time and effort. Drawing in the best potential leads with quality content are what agencies do–let them do it for you, too.
Helena L is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.