When to DIY and When to Hire a Marketing Pro
How to Know What You Can Handle In‑House and When It’s Time to Bring in Experts
Marketing today is more accessible than ever. With the right tools and tutorials, almost anyone can design a social post, build an email campaign, or launch an ad. But just because you can do it yourself doesn’t always mean you should.
At some point, every business reaches a crossroads: should we keep handling marketing in-house, or is it time to bring in professionals?
Here’s how to make that call with confidence.
The Case for Doing It Yourself
If you're just getting started or have more time than budget, DIY marketing might be a smart choice. Today’s tech makes it easier than ever to manage core activities like:
Posting on social media
Creating basic Canva graphics
Writing blogs or newsletters
Running small-scale Facebook or Google Ads
Sending email campaigns with tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit
DIY Works Best When:
You have someone on the team who enjoys marketing and can commit consistent time
Your business is still small or pre-revenue
You need to test the waters before investing more
You’re clear on your brand and goals
Pro tip: Even if you're DIYing, consider getting a professional to help set the foundation - like a content strategy, basic brand guide, or campaign plan.
When It’s Time to Call in the Pros
As your business grows, DIY marketing often leads to bottlenecks, inconsistent results, or burnout. Hiring a marketing professional - whether an agency, consultant, or in-house hire - can unlock growth and free you to focus on what you do best.
Signs You Should Hire Help:
You’ve hit a plateau and aren't sure why leads or sales aren’t growing
You’re spending money on ads but not seeing a return
Your brand lacks consistency across channels
You don’t have time to keep up with content, trends, or analytics
You’re launching something new and want to make a splash
You want to scale without wasting budget or time
What Pros Bring to the Table:
Strategic thinking and experience
Access to advanced tools and data
High-quality creative and copy
Campaign optimization skills
A team that scales with your needs
Hiring doesn’t mean losing control. A good agency works as an extension of your business - not just another vendor.
Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
Not ready to fully outsource? Many growing businesses thrive with a hybrid model.
For example:
Handle social media posting internally, but hire a pro to run your paid ads
Write your own blogs, but get an SEO expert to optimize them
Build your website, but bring in a designer to polish it up
Use AI for first drafts, then collaborate with a copywriter for refinement
This approach keeps costs manageable while raising the overall quality and strategy of your marketing.
Final Thoughts
Marketing success comes down to two key resources: time and expertise. If you have both, DIY can work great. But when you hit limitations - or want faster, more strategic growth - partnering with professionals is one of the smartest investments you can make.
Ready to Build Some Momentum?
Whether you’re navigating a new chapter or riding the wave of what’s already in motion, we’re here to help. From one time strategies to full-scale execution, we’ll find the right approach to fit your goals and keep things moving forward.