In-house vs agency: Which marketing team is right for you?

When figuring out the best approach for your business, navigating the digital marketing landscape can feel a bit tricky. Often, it boils down to in-house marketing vs agency marketing. Both options have their unique set of pros and cons, but we’re here to help you make that decision.

As an independent marketing agency, we understand what it takes to create data-driven strategies that deliver measurable results. In this blog, we’ll dive into the costs, benefits, and potential challenges of in-house marketing and agencies so that you can make a well-informed choice.

Let’s get into it!

What is in-house marketing?

First things first, it’s essential to get you to grips with what both in-house marketing and agency marketing teams actually are, and what they have to offer.

In-house marketing is managing marketing activities within your own company, and this can be done by employing an in-house team. This team will manage everything from strategic planning, branding, advertising, social media, and even search engine optimisation for your business.

Depending on the size of your business, the role of your marketing team can vary. If you’re a small to medium-sized business, you will probably have a more compact team, possibly made up of:

• A marketing manager
• A content creator
• A social media specialist
• A graphic designer

Larger companies, on the other hand, may have a much more extensive in-house team with specialised roles for various marketing tasks, such as:

• A market researcher
• A public relations specialist
• SEO specialists
• Production assistants
• Data analyst experts
• Web developers

What are the advantages & disadvantages of an in-house marketing team?

To help you make a more rounded decision, let’s have a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages in a bit of detail.

Advantages of an in-house marketing team include:

• Control and consistency – The close association between you and your own marketing team allows you to maintain consistent messaging across your marketing campaigns and ensures your branding remains consistent and authentic.
• A deeper understanding of your brand – No one understands your business as well as your team does. In-house marketers will live and breathe your brand daily, meaning they get a really deep understanding of your brand’s voice, values, and vision.
• Speed and efficiency – Having your own in-house team can lead to faster decision-making and effective strategy implementation. Because everyone is in the same office, communication is probably a lot quicker, especially if you can simply wander over to someone’s desk and ask them a question.
• Seamless integration with other sectors – Similarly, your in-house marketing team can work closely with other departments within your organisation, like sales, customer service, and product development. This results in a better understanding of your company’s marketing needs and changes needed to reflect your business strategy.

On the flip side, here are some disadvantages:

• Limited tools & expertise – While they understand your brand, an in-house team might not always have the skills required for digital marketing. Marketing is an expansive field that encompasses SEO, content creation, data analysis, social media, and much more. If you have a small team, it can be challenging to manage all of these areas effectively.
• Feeling stuck – An in-house team might not be able to bring fresh perspectives that external agencies can offer. Being immersed in the same company culture can sometimes lead to stagnation, which makes it harder to come up with innovative ideas.
• Scalability issues – As you continue to grow your business, you’ll also need to increase the amount of marketing required. This may involve hiring more staff, investing in training and development, and managing company data. All of these tasks take up time and resources.

Even as a leading digital marketing agency in Manchester, we have our own in-house marketing team. Hollie Middleton, our Marketing Executive, tells us about the importance of an in-house marketing agency:

“As part of an internal marketing team myself, there are definitely some advantages to having marketing done by an in-house team. We are talking to the delivery team and hearing directly from the sales team every day about what’s working and what’s not. Having a direct feedback loop means that we can be agile with our output and act quickly with social posts, blogs, the website, etc. Having an in-house team can also mean that a level of consistency is maintained with messaging, visuals, tone of voice and identity.

However, we do have the best of both worlds. The support of the wider agency and being surrounded by experts in each of the core digital marketing services is what really allows the Embryo brand to thrive.”

What is a marketing agency?

Differing from an in-house marketing team, a marketing agency is an external company that businesses will hire to manage their marketing for them. These agencies can come in many shapes and sizes and may specialise in specific areas like social media marketing, performance marketing, creative marketing, and advertising.

Unlike an in-house team that will operate directly within your company, a digital marketing agency, like us here at Embryo, will work independently but in close relationship with your company, thanks to our pro-active client services team. They take the time to truly understand your brand, objectives, and target audience, and implement a tailored marketing strategy on your behalf.

Digital marketing agencies have teams of specialists across various fields, including:

• Content creation
• Web development
• Social media marketing
• PPC
• And plenty more!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a marketing agency?

Here at Embryo, our agency has an abundance of advantages to offer. However, we know that we won’t be a good fit with every single client. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using a marketing agency rather than your own in-house team.

Advantages include:

• Access to a wide range of expertise – When you hire a full-service agency, you’re hiring not just one person but a team of specialists. From expertise in SEO to project management, you’re getting effective marketing strategies from leading experts.
• Cost-effective solutions – While investing in an agency may seem like a large upfront cost, it’s often more cost-effective in the long run. You don’t have to worry about paying salaries, benefits, or training. You can also have access to reduced rates for media buying, software, and other marketing tools.
• Fresh perspectives – Using an external agency means you’re getting fresh, unbiased perspectives. They can challenge your existing assumptions and bring new ideas to the table, based on previous success stories. This can help to identify current gaps in your strategy.

Some disadvantages of marketing agencies include:

• Miscommunication – Agencies often juggle multiple clients and projects simultaneously, and messages can get lost in translation. Additionally, agencies may not have the same level of brand familiarity as an in-house team, which could lead to marketing initiatives that don’t quite align with your goals.
• You have less control – When working with an agency, you’re handing over a degree of control over your marketing strategy. Trust plays a big part in this, as they are the ones who will be executing your strategy. If you love to be in control, having a lack of it may make daily operations unsettling.
• Cost considerations – Because agencies juggle multiple clients, there is a chance that your company might not always get the attention it deserves or you would like, especially during busy periods. It’s important that your chosen agency can prioritise your needs effectively.

In-house vs agency: Key differences at a glance

Below, we’ve put together a side-by-side comparison so that you can evaluate in-house vs agencies in a quick and efficient way.

How do I choose between in-house marketing and a marketing agency?

Making the decision between in-house marketing and hiring a marketing agency is an important decision that can significantly impact your business. Remember, it’s a personal preference. However, we’ve got a few considerations that can guide you into making the right choice:

Assessing your business needs and goals – Think about what it is that you actually want your business to achieve. Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate more leads, or improve your social media presence? Identifying these goals will help you determine whether you need an in-house team that deeply understands your brand and can focus solely on your business.

Analysing your budget – Budget is one of the most crucial factors in this decision. An in-house team might seem cost-effective in the short term, but remember to factor in overhead costs like salaries, benefits, and resources. While you could potentially require a higher upfront investment, an agency could save you money in the long run by eliminating these overhead costs.

Evaluate your existing team skills and capacity – Have a look at your existing team. Do you think your current employees have the necessary marketing skills? If not, are you willing to invest in training or hiring new staff? If you’ve already got a capable in-house team, they may need additional resources or training. However, if you feel like your current team is already stretched and has too much work to do, an agency might be another option.

Be flexible – Remember, the business world is constantly changing, and your marketing strategy needs to be able to adapt. If your specific industry is fast-paced, then the flexibility offered by a marketing agency could be invaluable. If you prefer having complete control over your marketing strategy and changes are infrequent, then an in-house team could serve you better.

To see if an agency is for you, have a read of our blog: Top 5 Reasons to Work With a Digital Marketing Agency in 2025.

Ready to pick an innovative marketing agency that delivers persistent wins? Choose Embryo

Hopefully, this blog has taught you the difference between in-house marketing vs agency marketing. Remember, one isn’t necessarily inherently better than the other… It’s about finding the perfect fit for your business’s unique needs, goals, and resources.

While we don’t want to be biased, our expert digital marketing agency team are always on hand to transform your digital presence. With seasoned experts in SEO, an award-winning PPC team, and dedicated content marketers, we know exactly what it takes to get you ahead of the competition and stay there!

Who are Embryo?

Contact us