Paid media and growth agencies
Should we hire an agency or a freelancer while we're under $10M
You are buying the ads yourself, or a freelancer is, and you are wondering if a team would do it better. Under $10M a full agency can eat the margin.
The lists for this job
These are the ones I'd pick first, which is why I partner with them. I may earn a referral fee.
DISCLOSURE
Listings and verdicts can't be bought. Sponsored slots and reviews are always labeled.
WHAT MATTERS
- Someone inside the company still owns the number.
- Creative is part of the job, not a separate hope.
- The fee fits the gross profit, not the top line.
- You can fire them without a long notice that traps the ad account.
Before you sign
- You own the ad accounts, the pixels, and the creative files.
- The fee, the term, and how many days it takes to leave.
- Who makes the ads, and how many, in a normal month.
- What they will not do: landing pages, email, Amazon.
NONE OF THESE
If you cannot name the person inside the company who reads the result each week, do not hire anyone yet. Fix that seat first.
Questions
Is a freelancer always cheaper?
The invoice is smaller. The cost shows up when they are the only one who knows the account.
Should the agency own the ad account?
No. The account stays with the brand.
What do I decide in the first month?
Whether they can ship creative you would actually run, and whether the reporting matches Shopify.