Outsourcing – it’s basically like handing your baby over to a stranger, right?
Wrong.
Have you ever thought about all the really important aspects of a company people will outsource without a second thought? Cleaning, catering, I.T. – all of these things are crucial building blocks to your business, but you wouldn’t hire someone whose sole purpose was troubleshooting once-a-month computer disasters or to make lunch.
Let’s face it, even recruitment is often outsourced. People actually let a complete stranger decide who would be the best fit for their company.
Creative, on the other hand…
Everyone knows how to post to Facebook or send a tweet. Alan’s girlfriend does graphic design, so he’s totally capable of designing that packaging. Ellie’s degree had a computer science module, so she can build you a new website. With all these new gadgets on your iPhone, why would you pay for a photographer?
The problem with Alan (apart from the fact his girlfriend left him two weeks ago) is that he’s not had the beneficial experience of designing packaging for hundreds of SMEs before he does it for you. He doesn’t know how to take a brief that turns your vague ideas into a brilliant end product, which is exactly what you didn’t realize you wanted.
Even if you’re forward thinking and you hire a creative with some expertise, are you really solving the problem? Have you met one person who can copy-write, design, film, photograph, web develop, manage social media, and constantly come up with new and exciting creative concepts? An agency can do all of those things, and do them an awful lot faster than one person could manage.
The benefits of outsourcing creative are huge. Rather than reducing your control – it can increase it! You have the opportunity to give a brief to people who are practiced at taking a brief and reading between the lines, and then delivering something awesome.
And then there are the other benefits:
– You don’t have to hire and train a new employee, who might move on at any point. You have a partner who understands your business, your tastes, and your quirks.
– You are working with people whose job it is to know what is current and fresh – whether it’s a new app, a plugin for your website or a new technique to make your graphics look incredible.
– You aren’t paying for access to expensive software, which is not only costly, but also difficult to learn to use.
– You have access to a huge skillset.
– You have access to the creative input and fresh outlook of 10-20 people.
– Agencies pride themselves on consistently strong creative output, and fully committed to providing the best possible end product