Today’s blog post is for the business owners, general managers, and HR teams out there asking themselves one big question:
“Should we hire an in-house marketing employee or bring in an experienced contractor?”
I want to make the case—based on real-world results, cost-efficiency, and strategic flexibility—that an external contractor often isn’t just the smarter choice—it’s the better investment.
Let’s break it down.
1. Experience You Can’t Always Afford In-House
When you hire a contractor like me, you’re not getting someone who’s learning on the job.You’re hiring a strategist who’s already built, tested, and executed hundreds of digital campaigns, across Google Ads, SEO, social, websites, eCommerce, email funnels and more.
You get decades worth of experience instantly on tap, without paying for that learning curve that often comes with junior or mid-tier in-house hires.
Most in-house hires are limited to a few years of experience, and often one area of focus. But businesses today need a generalist with specialist depth across platforms—and that’s where an external partner thrives.
2. Cost: Contractors Save You More Than You Think
Let’s be honest: hiring in-house isn’t just about salary. It’s about:- Superannuation
- Leave entitlements
- Onboarding time
- Office space, equipment, software
- Ongoing training and courses to keep them upskilled
And the best part? You’re not locked into a fixed cost. If there’s a quieter month or a project pause, you scale down. When there’s a big launch or campaign, you scale up. That kind of financial and strategic flexibility doesn’t come with a permanent employee.
3. Immediate Impact and Faster Delivery
Most contractors—myself included—come ready to hit the ground running.There’s no six-week induction. No lengthy training modules. No time wasted setting up access to the right software.
You get plug-and-play marketing muscle. As soon as we agree on scope, I’m writing copy, adjusting your website, launching ad campaigns, refining your customer journey, and tracking what’s working.
This speed isn’t just convenient—it’s what businesses need in today’s market. The longer you wait to market effectively, the longer your competitors pull ahead.
4. Contractor Accountability Is Performance-Based
Here’s a big one that’s often overlooked:Contractors are only as good as their last campaign.
That means we don’t get comfortable or complacent. Our business depends on your success. If we don’t drive ROI, we’re out. There are no long-term contracts protecting underperformance.
An in-house hire, on the other hand, is salaried regardless of results. That doesn’t mean they don’t work hard—but the incentive structure is completely different.
When you hire me, I treat your business like my own. Your metrics are my metrics.
5. No Office Politics, No Disruption
Contractors aren’t here to climb the ladder, lobby for promotions, or play internal politics.Our focus is singular: move the needle in your marketing.
This creates less disruption, fewer management headaches, and a clearer line of communication. You don’t have to worry about internal dynamics—we’re here to execute and deliver results.
6. Broader Perspective and Outside Insight
In-house teams can often get too close to a brand. That can limit innovation or make them blind to inefficiencies.As an external contractor, I bring an outside-in view. I’m seeing what’s working across other industries, markets, and campaign types. I can identify weaknesses quickly, apply learnings from different verticals, and offer fresh strategic thinking that isn’t stuck in legacy processes.
In short, I’m not just another resource—I’m a perspective shift.
7. Focus on Strategy, Not Just Tasks
Most in-house marketers get bogged down with admin, internal requests, meetings, and task churn.As a contractor, my focus is different. I prioritise strategy over busyness. That means thinking bigger, aligning your campaigns to revenue targets, and refining the user journey for better conversion rates—not just writing another social caption or approving another email.
When you bring someone in externally, you’re not just hiring hands—you’re hiring a brain.
8. Proven Workflows and Efficiency
Unlike an employee who may still be finding their rhythm, contractors already have systems in place.From project management tools to reporting dashboards, I bring tested workflows that save time, reduce friction, and produce real, measurable output. This means less trial and error for your business—and more momentum, right from day one.
9. Access to Wider Talent and Tools
When you hire an experienced external marketer, you’re often getting access to a wider ecosystem.Need a video produced? I’ve got a go-to creative team.
Need a tech integration? I’ve got developers and CRM partners I’ve worked with before.
You’re not just hiring me—you’re gaining a network of on-demand talent, without needing to recruit or manage them directly.
Wrapping Up: What’s the Right Move for You?
Hiring an in-house digital marketer can work—especially for large organisations with internal marketing departments and clear operational structure.But for small to mid-sized businesses, or even large enterprises needing external firepower, a contractor brings faster returns, greater flexibility, and deeper marketing experience for every dollar spent.
So if you’re a Perth-based business leader currently hiring—or rethinking how to do more with your marketing budget—consider the contractor advantage and what an external online marketing partner in Perth can deliver.
You're not just getting a marketer. You're getting a partner with strategic insight, commercial thinking, creative execution, and a results-first mindset.
If this blog post sparked some ideas or raised questions, let’s talk.
Until next time—market smarter, not harder.