Agency vs freelancer: which one should you choose?

A couple of months ago, I almost churned a client.

The reason?

They thought hiring a freelancer was the move. 

This question also pops up a lot from brand owners I talk to:

“Wouldn’t it be cheaper if I just hire a freelancer?”

Here’s my honest answer: Yes and No.

A lot of brands underestimate what it takes to succeed with Google Ads.

Here’s what you need to understand:

There are 2 types of service.

The first type only requires one main skill (think email marketing or logo design).

For these, hiring a freelancer makes sense because one person can do the job well.

One person, one job, no problem.

But then you’ve got services that need a whole toolbox of skills.

Google Ads fall into that category.

It’s not just about running ads. There’s a lot more under the hood.

You need:

1. A strategist - who has experience and knows what works & what doesn’t.

2. A client/account manager - who keeps everything on track and communicates with you regularly.

3. A technical specialist - who handles the nitty-gritty, technical details.

4. A media buyer - who knows the ins and outs of placing ads effectively.

5. A “feed optimizer” - who ensures your products are displayed in the best possible light.

That’s a ton of work.

I’m not sure about how other agencies operate but at Echelonn, we’ve got a bunch of specialists on each account.

Every piece of the puzzle has an expert behind it.

The goal? To maximize your profit.

And because we’ve got a bigger team, we can handle more clients and bring in more experience across different markets.

We have a big database of what works and what doesn’t across different markets.

And of course, value comes with price.

That’s why we charge much higher than freelancers.

Now here’s the thing:

I know a lot of experienced & competent freelancers in the Google Ads space.

And they can absolutely deliver good results.

But they often lack the time & resources to turn good into great.

I was a freelancer 4 years ago. I’ve also hired many freelancers to become employees of the agency.

And I’ve never seen anyone who’s an expert in every aspect of Google Ads.

Some folks are great media buyers, but they’re average at feed optimization.

Some are great strategists, but they’re not good at technical aspects like coding or attribution.

That’s why if my agency needs a service right now, I won’t work with freelancers.

It made sense when I was pulling in $20-50k/month.

But at this point, I don’t care about cost anymore.

What I care about is the return I get.

You might save some money with a freelancer.

But if you’re someone who cares about ROI and long-term growth, going with an agency is the way to go.

Jackson,

Founder and CEO of Echelonn.

P.S.

If you want a team of experts to turn Google into a profitable & reliable stream of revenue for your brand…

Just like how we did for over 50+ eCom brands…

Click here to book a call with us. 

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