In-House or Agency? The Social Media Dilemma
Choosing the Right Path for your Brand’s Social Growth
Let’s be honest—social media represents your brand’s personality online. It’s where your audience gets to know you, trust you, and decide if they want to purchase from you. So when it comes to managing your socials, the big question is: Do you hire a full-time, in-house social media manager, or team up with an agency?
It’s a fair debate, and both options have their perks. But if you’re looking for serious impact, fresh ideas, and a lot less stress—we’d argue that partnering with an agency (hi, it’s us) may be the better move. Let’s break it down.
The Case for Hiring In-House
Pros:
Hiring someone in-house means you have a dedicated team member who knows your brand inside and out. They’re just a desk away, which can make quick questions and edits a breeze. Plus, they’re immersed in your company culture and probably know what everyone likes for lunch.
Cons:
Most in-house marketers end up wearing a lot of hats. Like, a lot. One minute they’re planning content, the next they’re designing graphics, writing articles, making website updates, and scrambling to figure out the latest algorithm update.
Burnout is real, and hiring a full-time employee comes with a full-time cost—salary, benefits, PTO, the whole package. And if they leave? You’re not just losing a team member—you’re potentially losing months (or years) of brand knowledge, strategy insights, and content systems they had stored in their brain (and maybe a few Google Docs). Transitioning the role can be tough, especially if there wasn’t time to properly document processes or train a replacement. You’re back to square one, trying to rehire, retrain, and regain momentum—all while your social media presence takes a hit.
The Case for Hiring a Marketing Agency
Pros:
When you work with an agency, you’re not hiring one person—you’re hiring an entire team of creative, strategic, social-savvy people. We live and breathe social media. That means we’re up to date on every trend, algorithm shift, and best practice, so you don’t have to be. Agencies bring fresh eyes, new ideas, and knowledge that most in-house folks don’t have the time to learn.
The best part? We scale with you. Launching a new product? Hosting an event? Announcing something huge? We’ve got you.
Cons:
Sure, we’re not sitting in your office every day. But with the right agency you’ll still feel like we’re just down the hall. We keep communication clear, keep your messaging on point, and we’re on site frequently to capture fresh content.
Why KBL is the Move
We’re not just another agency—we’re your social media strategy crew and creative partner all rolled into one.
We know what works and what doesn’t. We create scroll-stopping content that actually gets engagement. We bring serious strategy to the table based on analytics and trending content. From Instagram Reels to LinkedIn posts to campaigns across multiple platforms, we’ve got the team and talent to get you results.
Our clients love us because we’re proactive, collaborative, and genuinely excited about helping their brands grow. We don’t just “do social media.” We become a part of your team and want you to succeed.
So… Which One’s Right for You?
If you have the resources and need someone deeply embedded in your daily workflow, hiring in-house might be the way to go.
But if you want access to a full team of social media specialists, strategy that’s always evolving, and content that actually moves the needle, teaming up with a social media agency is the smarter play. Ready to take your brand to the next level? We’re here to help.
