The impact of globalization and increased usage of the network system has benefitted everyone in different ways. One benefit that companies specifically face in terms of business activities is that they can now outsource work and outsourcing resources have increased. You have the option of sending work to freelancers as well as agencies specializing in the service you require. This means you do not have to hire a new resource better suited for the job. If you need a particular level of expertise for a project, you can outsource your work to a freelancer or agency. This will reduce your hiring cost and significantly bring down the managerial workload and cost. Moreover, you can be situated anywhere in the world and still get access to the most skilled people for the task.
Suppose your company outsources work and projects regularly. In that case, you will understand the dilemma when deciding whether a freelancer is better suited for the role or an agency. This freelancer vs agency decision depends on many factors. While freelancers and agencies have their own strengths and weaknesses, this decision will be best made once some context is present. Considering your situation and the project, you must look at different aspects and make an informed decision. To help you better evaluate a more appropriate choice for your company, this blog has underlined everything you need to consider before you decide.
Project Scope
The scope of the project is the first factor you need to consider when deciding whether to take a freelance on board or go with an agency. If your project is small and needs to account for intricate details, then a freelancer might be a better option for you to go ahead with. This is because freelancers usually provide a project with detailed attention. For smaller projects, cutting costs is an important point. Freelancers tend to charge less compared to marketing agencies. However, if the project at hand is large and requires different people with varying skill sets and expertise, then an agency will be better suited to work on it. Agencies usually have a full-fledged team, and all of the individuals in the group specialize in one thing or another. The bigger the scope of your project is, the more people you will need to work on it. If you outsource this to a freelancer, you will likely be delayed when you are handed back the project. Additionally, agencies usually have more experience dealing with big-scale projects, so they know what they do.
Level of Expertise
Freelancers usually have a high level of expertise in their field if you look at it from a freelancer vs agency perspective. They are more up-to-date with the advancements that have been made in the area they focus on and will provide you with the best results in that domain. Agencies, on the other hand, have a wide range of expertise. They do not focus on building up one skill but try to diversify their set of practices. If you want an excellent level of specialization in one particular area, you should outsource work to a freelancer. However, if your project requires more than one specific skill, you should choose an agency to work with.
Time Management and Reliability
If your project is time sensitive and you need to outsource it to someone you know you can rely on, an agency will be a better option. This is because agencies have greater accountability in terms of work. People working on your project will be overlooked by their managers, so you can expect the project to be completed on time. Moreover, they also have more experience and a significant number of resources to ensure there is no delay and that the work is high quality. Freelancers might let external circumstances like an illness or some other commitment affect the quality of work or the time they receive your project. They know there would be no severe consequences if there is a delay or if they prioritize another commitment over your project. Before you make a decision, you should see the reliability of both options. That is not to say agencies will never make an error in this regard. They might have the same issue, so a helpful tip here is to read past client testimonials and see service reviews of freelancers and agencies.
Level of Ease in Communication
A significant factor to consider in freelancer vs agency decision is the ease of communication between the agency and the freelancer. Usually, freelancers are easy to reach and more responsive than agencies. They have a direct communication channel to access the person working on your project efficiently. This allows for immediate feedback and reduces the chances of wrong information delivery. Once you work with an agency, you communicate with the manager or the leadership instead of the team that has taken your project into their hands. This might hinder clear and effective communication regarding expectations and quality demanded. If you have a project that requires you to be consistently in contact with the person working on it, we suggest outsourcing to a freelancer and not an agency. However, if you want more efficiency in communication within the team working for you, then an agency is suited to cater to your needs.
To conclude, both freelancer vs agency options have different strengths and weaknesses. This is why we cannot give you a general answer regarding what you should choose to go with. The best way to go about these two options is to consider all the factors mentioned above. Then consider what a priority is. For example, if you think receiving the project on time is more critical than clear-cut communication, you should hire an agency.
Make sure you accurately assess the scope of your project, gauge the level of expertise required for the successful execution of the project, check time management of potential options, and if communication is a significant factor for you. If you take a holistic approach where you keep these in mind, you will surely reach the right decision.