Insider Tips on How to Hire a Marketing Team 2024

If you want to hire a marketing team, buckle up. It can feel exciting and thrilling or like drowning in more or less irrelevant ChatGPT-generated resumes. 

You want to find the right squad of people to spin the right beats for your brand and keep the audience grooving to your message. But the process of hiring the right mix of people (and making sure your investment is worth it) can be confusing, annoying, and downright disheartening. 

How to do it? How to hire a marketing team that delivers real results and puts your business right in front of potential customers? 

Keep reading to find out. 



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Hiring a marketing manager vs hiring an agency

You have two options if you need a marketing team: build a team yourself or outsource your marketing to an external agency. Both options are valid, but in the first case, you will most likely have to start by hiring a marketing manager.

Pros of hiring a marketing manager

Hiring a marketing manager and working with them to build your team can be beneficial from many perspectives. Here are some of the most important ones:

Their dedication

A dedicated marketing manager is focused on your business, whereas agencies can juggle tens of clients at the same time.

A marketer will work directly with your organization, and align with your company culture, objectives, and goals. They have in-depth knowledge and understanding of your products, target audience, and market dynamics.

This insider perspective allows them to devise and implement marketing strategies that are highly tailored and specific to your business needs. Furthermore, their full-time presence ensures consistent oversight and immediate adjustments to marketing efforts as needed.

Expertise available whenever you need it

Having a dedicated marketing manager allows for more frequent access to their expertise. Regular interactions provide opportunities for real-time feedback, adjustments, and strategy evolution, thus ensuring that your marketing efforts are always aligned with the dynamic business landscape.

Their adaptability

A marketing manager within your organization provides adaptability, which is crucial in the ever-evolving business landscape. They can swiftly react to changes, adjust marketing strategies to align with new business objectives, and ensure your company remains competitive and relevant in the market.

They can offer direct oversight

Direct oversight provided by an in-house employee ensures monitoring and evaluation of marketing efforts in real-time. This not only allows for timely adjustments but also facilitates the measurement of marketing effectiveness, ensuring goals are met and resources are optimally utilized.

Cons of hiring a marketer to build your team

Nothing is ever perfect, so there are some drawbacks to hiring a marketer to build your team. Some of the essential ones include:

It will likely be more costly

This may not always be the case, but in some cases, hiring a marketing manager and building your team can be more expensive than outsourcing to an agency. The salary of a full-time marketing manager may exceed the fees charged by agencies, especially for small businesses. Plus, with payroll taxes, benefits, and the costs of recruiting in-house marketing talent, making a bad hire can very quickly turn into a very costly affair. 

It takes more time

Building a marketing team from scratch will naturally take some time. Hiring the right marketing manager, training them, and then growing and developing the team will take considerable effort and resources. This may not be the most efficient option for businesses that need immediate results or have limited time and resources.

Risk of turnover

Agencies rarely quit their clients, but in-house marketing teams, and even consultants do. If your marketing manager decides to leave, it could cause significant disruption for your team and potentially affect the continuity of your marketing efforts. This is especially true for an early-stage startup, where you and the remaining members would have to handle the marketing tasks while you look for a new person to fill the marketing role. 



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Should you hire a jack of all trades?

If you're considering a full-stack marketer who can handle your marketing from the stance of a one-person- band, you should be aware that the phrase "jack of all trades" is often followed by "master of none."

Full-stack marketers may have a general knowledge of various aspects of marketing, but they might not excel in any particular area. It's essential to assess your business needs and decide whether a generalist or specialist approach is more suitable.

In some cases, a full-stack marketer can get things moving in your marketing efforts, but as your business grows and expands its marketing efforts, you may need to bring in more specialized talent or consider outsourcing certain tasks to a marketing firm.

Depending on what marketing channels you want to focus on, a jack of all trades should cover the following skills, at least to some extent:

• Content creation and copywriting
• SEO and SEM
• Social media marketing
• Email marketing
• Data analysis and reporting
• Graphic design for ads, social channels, and web pages 
• Product marketing 

Some of the most poignant downsides of hiring a jack of all trades include:

Limited productivity

A jack of all trades in marketing might face constraints in productivity due to the need to balance various tasks across different marketing facets. Their wide-ranging responsibilities may lead to compromised focus and efficiency in executing specific marketing strategies.



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Unequally developed skill set

A "jack of all trades" in marketing may possess an array of skills spanning multiple areas, but their expertise may be unevenly distributed across these areas. Hence, they might excel in some areas while falling short in others, possibly leading to inconsistencies in the effectiveness of your marketing strategies.

Pros of hiring a marketing team

Outsourcing your marketing team can also provide you with plenty of benefits, such as:

Working with a wide range of experts

When you outsource your marketing team, you gain access to a broad spectrum of professionals who have expertise in various marketing arenas. This diverse talent pool can provide you with comprehensive marketing strategies, encompassing all facets of marketing.

Access to the latest tools and tactics

Outsourcing your marketing team gives you the advantage of utilizing the latest tools and strategies in the industry. These professionals are up-to-date with the newest marketing trends and technologies, ensuring your business stays competitive and relevant in the ever-evolving market.

Low maintenance for you

Outsourcing your marketing team is a low-maintenance option as it eliminates the need for direct supervision and the complexities of team management. This allows you to focus your efforts on core business operations while the marketing firm handles all facets of your marketing campaign.

It can be cost-effective

Outsourcing your marketing team can prove to be cost-effective in the long run as it eliminates the expenses associated with maintaining an in-house team, such as salaries, benefits, and training costs. Furthermore, marketing agencies often offer scalable services, meaning you only pay for what you need, providing a more flexible and cost-savvy solution to meet your marketing needs.



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Cons of hiring a marketing team as an agency

While outsourcing your marketing team brings a diverse range of skills, up-to-date strategies, and cost-effectiveness, there are potential downsides:

They are less dedicated to your business

One essential point to note is that an outsourced marketing firm is not entirely dedicated to your business alone, which could potentially affect the depth and focus of their marketing efforts.

There will be a learning curve

When you hire a marketing agency, there's an inevitable learning curve as they familiarize themselves with your business, industry, and customer base. This process can result in a delayed response in the initial stages of the marketing campaign, potentially slowing down the momentum of your business growth.

Other aspects to consider when hiring a team

Not sure if you should hire a team, a marketer to build your team, or outsource your marketing operations to an agency? Consider the following criteria to make the right decision:

Your marketing budget

Your budget significantly influences your decision between building an in-house team, hiring a full-stack marketer, or outsourcing a marketing firm.

Hiring an in-house team or a full-stack marketer may involve fixed costs such as salaries, benefits, and training, whereas outsourcing to an agency could provide more flexibility and cost-effectiveness by allowing you to pay only for the services you require.

However, it's crucial to consider not just the monetary aspect, but also the value and ROI each option can bring to your business.



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Your timeline

Your timeline is another critical factor to consider when deciding on your digital marketing strategy. If you require quick results, hiring an experienced marketing agency with ready-to-implement strategies could be beneficial.

However, if you have more time, developing an in-house team or training a full-stack marketer who can grow with your company, while initially slower, might yield long-term benefits.

The range of skills you need

Deciding between hiring a full-stack marketing professional, building an in-house team, or outsourcing to a marketing agency largely depends on your budget, timeline, and required skill set.

If you want quick results and a wide range of skills, consider outsourcing to an experienced marketing agency. However, if you prefer a team that grows with your company and has more time at your disposal, hiring an in-house team or a full-stack marketer could lead to long-term benefits.

Your step-by-step guide to hiring a marketing team (or manager)

Hiring a marketing team or a manager who'll build your team doesn't have to be a daunting task. And yet, if you search on any job board or website, you'll likely end up with hundreds, if not thousands of candidates that supposedly "match" your search.

Here's how to untangle the process and hire with a clear mind:

Identify your business goals & your marketing goals

Your business goals and marketing goals are the foundation of your hiring process. Business goals may span areas such as expanding to new markets, increasing sales, or enhancing customer satisfaction. On the other hand, your marketing goals might involve increasing brand awareness, boosting customer engagement, or enhancing online presence.



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Look for references

The reference check process is a vital step in hiring an entire marketing team or manager. It allows you to gather insights about the candidate's work ethic, skills, and relevant experience from their previous employers or colleagues. This information can significantly assist in making an informed decision and ensuring the selected candidate aligns well with your company's needs and culture.

Analyze industry expertise

Industry expertise is a crucial factor to consider when hiring a marketing team or manager. It refers to the candidate's knowledge and experience in your specific industry, which can greatly impact the effectiveness of your marketing strategies.

A candidate with deep industry expertise will have a solid understanding of your customer base, market trends, and competition, allowing them to develop more tailored and effective digital marketing campaigns.

Create a shortlist

Creating a shortlist is a crucial step in the hiring process as it narrows down the pool of candidates to those who are most suitable for your marketing team or manager role.

At this phase, you should evaluate each candidate based on their skills, industry expertise, and alignment with your company's goals and culture. This streamlined list of potential hires allows for a more focused and effective assessment in the subsequent interview stages.

Ask for work samples

Requesting work samples is a valuable step in assessing a candidate's capabilities and understanding their working style. These samples, which could range from marketing plans, campaign reports to content pieces, offer tangible evidence of the candidate's specialized skills in action.

By evaluating these, you gain insights into their proficiency, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, thereby aiding your decision-making process.

Take a peek at their marketing efforts

Taking a look at a candidate's previous marketing efforts provides valuable insight into their strategic thinking, creativity, and effectiveness in achieving results. This could involve analyzing their past campaigns, social media posts, or content pieces they have created or managed.

This way, you can assess their real-world application of marketing principles, ability to engage target audiences, and their potential to contribute to your organization's marketing goals.

Read reviews, testimonials, and social proof

Reading reviews testimonials, and social proof are essential steps in the hiring process to verify the credibility and effectiveness of a candidate. These elements provide honest feedback about the individual's previous work, showcase their ability to deliver results and highlight the level of satisfaction among past employers or clients. In essence, they serve as a potent tool to gauge the potential success of a candidate in fulfilling your marketing goals.

Evaluate the soft skills too

You could hire the best marketer in the world and the most reputable agency in the Solar System, but if you cannot communicate with them, and if you do not work well together, you won't achieve anything meaningful.

Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving are crucial for any marketing team to function effectively. Hence, it's essential to evaluate these qualities in a candidate to ensure they align with your company culture and can collaborate well with your existing team.



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Make sure you get a detailed service agreement

An in-depth, cover-to-cover service agreement helps you make sure you and your consultant or digital marketing agency are on the same page. It outlines the specific services they will provide, timelines, deliverables, and payment terms.

The agreement serves to protect both parties by setting clear expectations and preventing misunderstandings or conflicts down the line. Make sure you review it carefully and address any concerns before signing on the dotted line.

Seal the deal on short-term contracts

Long-term contracts could bind you to a marketing team or manager that may not align with your needs and goals in the long run. To avoid this, consider sealing the deal on shorter-term contracts. This gives both parties time to assess their working relationship before committing to an extended period.

This approach also allows for flexibility in adjusting the scope of services provided as needed, ensuring your marketing efforts stay aligned with your business goals

The key elements of a marketing team

If you're looking to hire a marketing team, be sure you get at least one person for each of the following pillars:

Acquisition

The customer acquisition strategy is all about drawing attention to your business and convincing people you're the best option for them. Generally, it involves creating and executing advertising campaigns on various platforms such as social channels, search engines, and email campaigns.

Acquisition specialists are skilled in understanding target audiences, conducting market research, and developing effective strategies to attract new customers. Generally, search engine optimization (SEO), copywriting, and paid advertising are key components of the acquisition team.



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Monetization

Monetization refers to converting prospects into paying customers by leveraging various tactics such as upselling, cross-selling, and subscription models. This requires a deep understanding of your products or services, effective pricing strategies, and creating compelling offers to entice potential customers.

Monetization specialists also work on customer retention strategies to ensure existing customers continue to do business with the company. Generally, PPC marketers, email marketers, and sales teams are key members of the monetization pillar.

Content expert

Last, but not least, you need a content expert: a communicator or a creative who can shape your message, and share it in a way that's compelling and resonates with your target audience.

Content experts are skilled in content development, which sometimes includes white papers, social media posts, blog articles, and video scripts. They understand the importance of storytelling and how it can drive engagement and conversions for a brand. Additionally, they have a deep understanding of content marketing strategies and how to use different channels to reach

A competent marketing team should include acquisition, monetization, and content experts.

What is the cost of hiring a marketer?

The cost of hiring a marketer varies greatly depending on their experience, digital marketing skills, and the market rates in your area. As of January 2023, Glassdoor reports that the average general marketing specialist makes between $145K - $263K per year. This is regarding base pay, not including additional benefits, profit cuts, and bonuses. However, this can go up or down depending on factors such as location, specialization, and company size.

For instance, in 2022, messaging, positioning, and storytelling were highly demanded skills. If the market was saturated with talent in this area, the cost of hiring a marketer with these skills would be lower than average. However, this may change in the future as skills and demands shift.



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What’s the price for hiring a marketing company?

Hiring an digital agency can come with a complex payment system, or with a straightforward pricing plan. The actual cost varies, depending on several factors, like agency size, services offered, and the scope of work required. On average, a small to mid-sized marketing agency can charge anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 per month for their services. Larger agencies may charge upwards of $50,000 per month or more.

Another factor to consider is the actual range of skills the marketing firm can cover, as different agencies will have different models they use to charge their clients. For instance, a PPC agency will usually ask for 5% to 20% of the monthly advertising budget. A content marketing agency, on the other hand, will likely work based on a retainer (say, between $2,500 and $5,000 per month, depending on your needs).

Where do you find your dream marketing team?

Finding your dream team might feel difficult, especially if budget and time restraints are putting a dent in your hopes.

Here's a proposition that will get you the best of all worlds: Mayple. Get the expertise of consultants (without the hefty price), the range of skills of a digital marketing agency (without long-term contracts and ridiculous agreements), and the dedication of an internal team. 

We work with businesses like yours, looking for the best marketing hires. We've vetted more than 1,000 experts in different marketing niches and with experience in various industries. Once you contact us and tell us more about your business, we run the request through the AI system we've built to match you with the best marketing talent for your specific needs.

This is a data-driven decision. We don't match digital marketing experts and clients based on subjective opinions, like "I like this digital marketer's Instagram account." Additionally, if something isn't going well between you and your expert, we take care of it. This is because Mayple provides a satisfaction guarantee.2

So with Mayple you get:

• An expert who knows your industry
• A pricing plan that adapts to your needs
• The option to change your marketer if the fit isn't great
• An entire team dedicated to making sure you're happy with your results
• A community of other business owners and entrepreneurs, so you can learn and grow together.
• No minimum contract period – you can stop working with us at any time.

What are you waiting for? Let's get in touch and we'll match you with a marketer in a matter of days!