Running a successful ecommerce business requires a broad range of marketing efforts, from social media to affiliate marketing, SEO, content creation, and website design. Many brands, especially growing ones, face the challenge of deciding whether to hire in-house employees or outsource their marketing needs to an ecommerce agency. At first glance, it might seem like building an in-house team offers more control. But when you dive into the costs and the benefits of agency expertise, it becomes clear that hiring an ecommerce agency like Ecomko offers significant cost savings and greater marketing success.
The Hidden Costs of In-House Employees
When you hire in-house employees, their salary is just one piece of the overall cost. Here’s a breakdown of the additional expenses associated with hiring full-time staff:
- Salaries: Hiring just one skilled social media manager, affiliate marketer, or SEO specialist can easily cost $60,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience and location.
- Benefits: On average, employers spend an additional 30% of an employee’s salary on benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. For an employee earning $80,000, this translates into an extra $24,000 per year.
- Payroll Taxes: Employers are responsible for payroll taxes, which add roughly 7.65% to your employee costs (for Social Security and Medicare). For an $80,000 employee, you’re looking at another $6,120 per year.
- Training & Development: You’ll need to continuously invest in training to ensure your in-house team keeps up with the latest trends and technologies. Conferences, certifications, and courses can cost thousands of dollars annually per employee.
- Overhead Costs: Office space, computers, software licenses, and other equipment also contribute to the cost of hiring in-house staff.
When all these expenses are considered, the cost of one employee can easily surpass $120,000 per year—and that’s just for one area of expertise. If you want an entire marketing team (social media, SEO, affiliate marketing, content, website design), you’re looking at hiring several employees, which quickly escalates into hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
How an Agency Saves You Money
Hiring an ecommerce agency like Ecomko can provide you with a full marketing team at a fraction of the cost. Here’s how:
- Flat Monthly Rate: With an agency, you pay a flat monthly fee that covers all services, from social media management and affiliate marketing to SEO, content development, and website graphics. For the cost of one employee, you gain access to a team of experts.
- No Overhead Costs: Agencies cover their own overhead costs. You won’t have to worry about providing office space, equipment, or software for your marketing team.
- No Payroll Taxes or Benefits: Since agencies are contractors, you don’t pay for their health insurance, payroll taxes, or benefits. This can save you 30% or more in costs compared to an in-house team.
- Scaling Made Simple: As your business grows, your marketing needs will grow too. Hiring an agency allows you to scale up quickly without the hassle of recruitment and training. Agencies like ecomko already have the team and resources in place to accommodate your expanding needs.
The ecomko Experience Advantage
Cost savings are only one side of the equation. When you hire a full service marketing agency like ecomko, you’re also getting access to experienced professionals who specialize in various aspects of ecommerce marketing.
- Deep Expertise: Agencies work with multiple clients across different industries, which gives them a broader understanding of what strategies work. This wealth of experience allows them to implement more effective campaigns, faster.
- Cutting-Edge Knowledge: Agencies stay on the cutting edge of marketing trends and technologies. They invest in the latest tools and software, and their team undergoes continuous training. This ensures that your business benefits from the most advanced strategies without the added cost of constantly training an in-house team.
- Proven Results: Agencies like Ecomko specialize in driving results. With years of experience and a track record of success, their teams know how to optimize social media, affiliate marketing, SEO, and content development to increase your brand’s visibility, engagement, and sales.
Ecomko: A Whole Marketing Team for the Price of One Employee
At Ecomko, we offer a team of seasoned marketing experts for the cost of one full-time employee. Our team includes social media strategists, SEO specialists, content creators, affiliate marketers, and graphic designers who work together to drive your brand’s growth.
For ecommerce brands looking to maximize their marketing budget, hiring an agency is a clear win. Not only will you save on overhead and employee-related costs, but you’ll also gain access to a highly skilled team that can execute on all aspects of your marketing strategy, increasing your chances of success in a competitive market.
In today’s fast-paced ecommerce world, the right agency partner can deliver results that far exceed what a single in-house employee could achieve. Contact us at Ecomko to learn more about how we can help your brand grow while saving you money.