DIY vs. Hiring Professionals: What’s Best for Your eCommerce Marketing Strategy?

Digital marketplace is a lively stage of possibilities and cutthroat competition, especially for eCommerce. So, the spotlight is undeniably on the performance of your marketing strategy.

If you own an eCommerce business, you might’ve already met with this question of intricate answers: Should you do the marketing side of your business yourself or hire professionals to do it for you?

In case it hasn’t already popped up in your head, think about it now. Because coming to a conclusion for this question is just as hard as escaping the spiderweb.

So, onto DIY vs. hiring professionals in eCommerce marketing. Why should you stay any longer here? Well, marketing is an important part of any business and if you don’t know what’s best for yours, you might as well face the loss.

So, let’s get right into it.

Advantages of DIY eCommerce Marketing

Cost-effectiveness

Let's talk about the sweet sound of saving a few extra bucks – because, who doesn't love that?

One of the undeniable perks of doing the marketing of your eCommerce business yourself is the cost-effectiveness it brings to the table.

When you choose to do it yourself, you're essentially cutting out the middleman, which translates to direct savings. No hefty agency fees, no consultant invoices – just you, your laptop, and a determined spirit to conquer the digital competition.

Hands-on control and flexibility

When you opt for the DIY approach, you're also gaining hands-on control and the flexibility to navigate the ever-changing tides of eCommerce.

With hands-on control, you can adapt your strategy on the fly, responding to trends, customer feedback, and those unexpected plot twists that the digital world loves to throw your way.

You're the decision-maker, the trendsetter, and the risk-taker, all rolled into one. You don’t have to wait for approvals or wait for a second opinion.

Disadvantages of DIY eCommerce Marketing

Time-consuming

Alright, let's address the elephant in the digital room – doing eCommerce marketing yourself can be a bit time-consuming.

Crafting compelling content, diving into analytics, and staying on top of the latest trends – it's a time commitment that requires your undivided attention. While it's empowering to be in control, the clock keeps ticking, and time becomes a precious resource.

Learning curve and expertise required

While the DIY approach puts you in the driver's seat, it also expects you to wear multiple hats – the content creator, the social media guru, the SEO wizard, and more. It's like being the one-person band of eCommerce, and the learning curve can feel like a rollercoaster ride with unexpected twists and turns.

Sure, there are online resources, guides, and tutorials aplenty, but acquiring expertise takes time too. SEO algorithms, social media algorithms, algorithm algorithms – it's enough to make your head spin.

You can, of course, take command of the marketing part without any expertise. But that would mean you’re just gambling, right?

Advantages of Hiring Professionals for eCommerce Marketing

Expertise and experience

Professionals are marketing maestros who have been around the block – they've seen trends come and go, faced algorithm changes with a fearless grin, and crafted success stories for businesses like yours.

So they know the game. And you can be sure you’re not gambling anymore because these professionals will work for you by employing their years of marketing experience.

Time-saving for business owners

Imagine a world where you can focus on what you do best – running your business – without juggling the demands of a complex marketing strategy. Hiring professionals isn't just about expertise; it's about gifting yourself the most precious resource of all – time.

As an eCommerce owner, doing everything together and yourself will get overwhelming at some point. That will slowly force you to lose interest in what you’ve built so far too.

But if you have professionals taking care of different aspects of your business, you’ll have time to steer the core of your business. And it's not merely outsourcing; it's reclaiming your time for what truly matters – growing and nurturing your business.

Disadvantages of Hiring Professionals for eCommerce Marketing

Higher costs

Hold onto your budget hats because hiring professionals for your eCommerce marketing can come with a heftier price tag.

Sure, you're investing in top-notch expertise, but excellence often comes at a premium. The professional touch, the seasoned strategies, and the industry insights are undeniably valuable, but they do come with a cost that might not align with every business's financial comfort zone.

We’re a marketing company that’s been in the game for over 4 years. We offer flexible payment models like commission-based marketing, and we’ve already helped 100s of eCommerce businesses boost their earnings.

If you’re interested in hiring an eCommerce marketing agency on a commission basis, feel free to reach out. We only work with select clients that fit our criteria to maximize our impact.

Book a FREE 30-min discovery call with us to measure our compatibility.

Potential lack of direct control

Professionals operate with autonomy, and while that's often a strength, it might leave you wondering – will they truly capture the essence of your brand? Will they understand your vision and voice as intimately as you do?

It's a bit like a trust fall, isn't it? While the professionals are armed with expertise, there might be a lingering concern about relinquishing direct control.

However, some professionals prefer to work under guidance at first and then slowly become autonomous. Like us. Because we know it takes some time to learn a business inside out, so we prefer working under our clients’ guidance at first.

So it also really comes down to the marketing partner you’re hiring.

Considerations for DIY eCommerce Marketing

Skill assessment and learning curve

So, you're thinking about taking the DIY route. Bravo! But before you dive into it, it's time for a little self-reflection – a DIY report card, if you will.

First things first, assess your skill set. Are you updated with social media, are you a content creator, or a marketing expert?

If your answer is a resounding "Yes!" to all, you might be well on your way. But if you find yourself squinting at marketing terms like they're written in a foreign language, it's time to embrace the learning curve.

Remember, doing it yourself doesn't mean doing it blindly. It's about understanding your strengths, identifying your weaknesses, and being willing to embark on a learning journey.

Budget constraints

When it comes to budget, doing it yourself is sort of like a two-sided coin…

The first concern is having a low budget. In that case, you can go ahead and do it yourself because hiring a marketing partner definitely won’t be feasible if you do not have a budget allocated for it.

Now, that opens a new question to us. If you have budget constraints and you decide to do the marketing yourself, wouldn’t the possibility of losing be higher in this case if you’re not an experienced marketer?

That means DIY can be cost-effective, but it's not immune to the realities of budget constraints.

So, while you might save on agency fees and professional services, DIY requires investments of a different kind.

Are you prepared to allocate funds to market a new campaign? Even if you are, how confident are you about making that campaign a success so that it actually brings you some profit, or at least, break even?

Essentially, it's not just about saving money; it's about spending wisely.

Time availability and commitment

Doing marketing yourself isn't just about dollars; it's also about the currency of time. So, pause for a moment and assess your schedule. How much time can you realistically commit to your marketing endeavors?

If your calendar resembles a Tetris game with every block occupied, the DIY path might feel like an uphill climb. Crafting compelling content, analyzing data, and staying on top of trends require a time investment.

It's a commitment that goes beyond occasional tinkering; it's a daily rendezvous with the digital world.

If you're ready to make the time commitment, then doing it yourself might just work. But if your schedule stands against you, well, good luck then!

Considerations for Hiring Professionals

Budget allocation

Before you decide to hire a professional, take a good look at your budget landscape. Like I said, hiring experts comes with a price tag, and it's not a secret handshake – it's right there on the invoice.

So, ask yourself: How much of your budget can actually afford to pay for external marketing help? And if you do have the money required, make sure avoid the common mistakes when outsourcing eCommerce marketing services.

Also, see if you can find performance-based marketing services. They work on a commission-based model, where you pay them based on how they perform.

There are a lot of benefits to performance-based marketing. And we, as a marketing agency, offer such payment models so that our clients don’t have to worry about losing money. And we only make money when we achieve those preset goals of yours.

If you’re interested, you can book a FREE 30-min growth session to discover what we can do for you.

Researching and selecting the right professionals

Marketing experts can turn your brand into a symphony of success. But here's the catch – not all professionals are created equal.

Research becomes your trusty sidekick in this case. Pull up those portfolios, read client testimonials, and perhaps even try to get a little sneak peek into their past projects. Just so you know, we take you through our projects live, so there are no surprises with us.

Once you've narrowed down your list of potential marketing partners, it's time to select one of them (or more than one).

Consider not just their expertise but also how well they understand your brand. It's a partnership, a collaboration, and you want professionals who not only helps you out but also know your brand's essence.

Communication and collaboration with hired experts

Congratulations if you’ve found your dream team! Now comes the part where it's about fostering a relationship where ideas flow, feedback is constructive, and the end result is a masterpiece.

Open lines of communication are the secret sauce in this professional collaboration. Share your brand vision, voice your expectations, and be receptive to the insights of the experts you've brought on board.

It's basically a two-way street where creativity thrives in an environment of mutual understanding.

Conclusion

As we come to an end, it's essential to recognize that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Each approach carries its own set of advantages and challenges, much like characters in a grand narrative.

In the end, the decision rests upon your business's unique needs and traits – a blend of goals, resources, and aspirations. And whatever you choose, keep in mind that success lies not just in the decision but in the commitment to continually refine and adapt your strategy.

Good luck!