Ever felt like you’re walking on a tightrope, trying to balance quality content creation and your business’s core operations? It can be tough.
Outsourcing content marketing is like hiring an expert acrobat. You hand over the balancing act to professionals who know their craft inside out. What’s the cost of outsourcing content marketing?
Unfortunately, depending on the size of the business, the skill sets of your team, and the volume of work you have, offering content marketing services isn’t always feasible. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer content marketing services though.
Working with an agency like okwrite that specializes in content marketing can help lighten the load and also grow your business.
The Power of Content Marketing
Content marketing is one of the most powerful ways for businesses to generate interest, educate and nurture prospects, engage with an audience, and ultimately convert the prospect into a buyer and loyal customer. The success of a website, resource, or any sales and marketing resource really, comes down to the quality of the content.
It might be more than twenty years since Bill Gates titled his 1996 essay, “Content Is King,” but the words still hold true today. Those three little words have become echoed across the digital marketing community for two-plus decades and have helped shape the marketing strategies for countless businesses.
Back in 1996, Bill Gates was referring to the future of the internet and he mentioned that it would become a marketplace for content. He wasn’t wrong…
Chances are if you’re reading this, you know content marketing is important… and your clients need more of it. Great content marketing takes time though. It involves research, writing drafts, revisions, and search engine optimization (SEO) to make sure it ranks well online and is effective.
By engaging in content marketing, you can have an open dialogue with your customers without having to do it face-to-face or over phone calls. But instead of having this dialogue face-to-face or over phone calls, we’re doing it through well-crafted blogs, engaging social media posts, informative videos – basically any form that can hold and transmit information.
According to a study by Content Marketing Institute, successful marketers who had a strategy saw tangible growth in their business metrics compared to those who didn’t have one. The numbers don’t lie – 69% reported seeing real-world benefits from having a clear plan.
- A defined strategy helps you align all your efforts towards common goals.
- Crafting content specifically for your target audience allows you to gain a deeper understanding of them.
- Regularly delivering high-quality material makes sure that people keep coming back for more. Consistency breeds trust.
All these elements combined give birth to what we call ‘the power of content marketing.’ Not only does it help businesses connect with potential clients on a deeper level but also builds lasting relationships based on mutual benefit and understanding.
The Value Proposition of Outsourced Agencies
When it comes to content marketing, outsourced agencies bring a unique set of benefits to the table. These advantages can be pivotal for businesses striving for growth and digital visibility.
Benefits of Outsourcing
A strategic approach is key when working with an external agency. It’s not enough just throwing darts at a board and hoping something sticks.
In fact, according to data compiled by Neil Patel, businesses that outsourced their content marketing experienced a 59% increase in organic traffic (Stat 5). By outsourcing your content marketing, businesses can benefit from increased organic traffic and thus greater customer numbers and revenue—making it clear why this strategic approach is a beneficial one.
Just like finding the right pair of running shoes can make all the difference during a marathon, outsourcing your content marketing could be just what you need for an effective sprint towards success.
Embracing outsourced content marketing can supercharge your business, like swapping a sedan for a sports car. It offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness, letting you order fresh content when needed while saving 56% compared to maintaining in-house teams. With strategic planning, including defining goals and understanding audience demographics, businesses have seen a 59% increase in organic traffic.
Keeping Up with SEO Trends
Dedicated content marketing agencies are on top of ever-evolving SEO trends. They don’t just follow these trends – they study them in-depth, anticipating changes before they happen. This forward-thinking approach helps ensure your content performs optimally in search engine rankings.
Did you know that Google makes between 500-600 changes to its algorithm each year? Keeping up with this constant evolution is challenging if not impossible for most businesses who have other priorities to focus on.
Enhancing Best Practices in Content Marketing
In addition to keeping pace with SEO developments, outsourced agencies also improve their strategies based on industry best practices continually. It’s like having an entire team dedicated solely towards making sure your business shines online.
- Data-driven decisions: Agencies use data analytics tools and key performance indicators (KPIs) regularly, which inform strategic choices ensuring effective campaigns.
- Creative prowess: A wealth of creative talent at these firms means compelling narratives tailored specifically for your brand.
- Niche expertise: An agency specializes in various industries; thus chances are high there’s someone who knows about yours intimately.
The advantage here isn’t only professional knowledge but also fresh perspectives brought by outsiders looking into your business model.
Accordingly, reports indicate companies outsourcing their content see an average increase in leads generation by 67% compared to those that don’t. That’s a statistic worth paying attention to.
Wrapping it up, outsourcing agencies bring an unbeatable value to the table in content marketing. They’re seasoned pros who keep their fingers on the pulse of ongoing trends and never stop learning.
Outsourced content marketing agencies offer unbeatable value by staying ahead of SEO trends, constantly improving strategies based on industry best practices, and providing data-driven decisions. Their creative talent tailors compelling narratives for your brand while their niche expertise brings fresh perspectives to your business model. Plus, they help increase leads generation by 67%.
Leverage Reputable Content Creation Teams
So, you want to nail your content marketing strategy? It’s like building a house – without a strong foundation and detailed blueprint, it just won’t stand. The same goes for great content marketing.
This is again one of the best reasons to consider outsourcing your content marketing company – nailing this strategy and process takes time and effort. And agencies like us have honed our craft so you can easily hire that skill rather than try to learn it.
Developing an Effective Strategy
The typical process for developing content marketing strategies involve planning and commitment, usually involving meetings with your content team, liaising with the marketing manager, and more. To sell a package like this to your clients, you’ll need an expanded marketing budget. Consider putting a retainer program in place so clients can pay through installments for the duration of the contract.
A successful strategy starts with defining goals—like setting coordinates on a GPS before starting the journey—and then designing unique content aimed towards these objectives (Stat 9). This includes understanding audience demographics, using SEO practices effectively, or improving conversion rates—all under the expert guidance of seasoned professionals.
Deep Keyword and Topic Research for High Quality Content Creation
You wouldn’t bake a cake without checking the recipe first, right? Similarly, before creating engaging content that speaks directly to your audience’s needs and wants, comprehensive research is essential. Determining who your desired viewers are, and what they’re interested in or require aid with, is key to constructing compelling material that speaks directly to their requirements.
A Content Marketing Institute study found that 63% of businesses don’t have a documented strategy. That means doing your homework could give you an edge over more than half of other companies.
Building your first content marketing strategy can be challenging. Core to your strategy is the research. An effective strategy involves:
- Dedicated research to the industry, topic, and niche
- Knowing what key points you need to uncover in your strategy research is also challenging
- You must be able to identify your target audience
You can learn more about the anatomy of an effective content marketing strategy.
Drafting, Revising and Optimizing Content
As many people know, it may seem like an easy feat to write until you’ve actually tried it. Writing good content well is a challenge. This is why companies like us hire dedicated writers in different niches in order to make sure the content is accurate. We also hire professional editors that polish the work so that it’s perfect.
To make sure every piece sings the right tune to its reader (and Google), revisiting the content again and again help us identify discordant notes, allowing us to improve clarity and cut fluff. You can take advantage of agencies who are dediated to this stuff; for example, we adopt best practices for high quality writing like readability and plain language,
Writing Clearly and For SEO
If only getting noticed were as easy as standing on tiptop toes in a crowd…but hey. In comes SEO optimization – which can work wonders when done right. Moz states, about 70-80% people ignore paid search results while focusing solely on organic ones. Hence, smart keyword use and meta-tagging can skyrocket your content’s visibility.
And there you have it. A great recipe for successful content marketing – from meticulous research to diligent drafting, revising and optimizing.
Presenting Content Marketing Services to Your Clients
Stepping into the realm of outsourced content marketing services can be a game-changer for businesses. It’s like swapping out your reliable sedan for a high-powered sports car—you still get from A to B, but it’s faster, more thrilling, and leaves an impression.
If you’ve recognized that content marketing needs to be one of the marketing efforts you offer clients, you have a couple of options for what happens next.
First, you need to figure out exactly what it is you’re offering clients. Do they need a long-term strategy with new content being developed regularly? Or do they need a few resources every now and then on occasion?
Choosing from the following options has to do with how much involvement you can commit to, as well as the reliability of your outsourced team.
Option 1: Managed Content Marketing With Strategy
The best package for outsourcing content marketing is through a managed service. A managed service is one that is completely handled (or almost completely) by a third-party. Effectively, you are reselling a white label service. The marketing company you hire can modify their workflow to some degree to suit the white label capabilities, but for the most part you are handing the reigns off and trusted them to achieve the success you know your clients need.
There are pros and cons to this method:
Pros
- You don’t have to learn the ins and outs of the trade and orchestrate the process; you can rely on someone else to do that.
- By not having to learn new skills or adapt new tools you are saving a lot of time, money, and headache
- The team you are entrusting realistically should be experts, so you are wasting fewer resources in order to achieve exceptional results
Cons
- Typically the more expensive option, which can be challenging for budget-restricted clients; this also cuts into your profit as the reseller
- Some resellers aren’t comfortable handing off the reigns, especially since their name is the one on the line. Developing a good relationship with the marketing company will make this a lot easier and it will feel less like you are handing over the clients you work hard for.
- This is a bit more pricey but really it looks way more expensive if you think that hiring a cheap freelancer or running the content through ChatGPT is the alternative. Paying for decent writing cost a bit more than these cheaper options. You can read more about the cost of a blog in our other pieces.
Option 2: On-demand content: Pay per blog Method
If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on fumes trying to keep up with creating fresh content, outsourcing could be your pit stop. Think about it this way: You wouldn’t buy groceries in bulk if you weren’t sure what meals you’ll make next week—why commit resources to unnecessary content?
Outsourcing allows flexibility by letting businesses order relevant material when they need it most.
If your clients need only a few blogs every now and then, you can pay upon blog request for one-off orders, so you only have to order content pieces as needed.
Easily submit content requests for blog posts directly via email. You’ll provide:
- The topic
- Interested SEO keywords or long-tail keywords
- Content tone
- Target audience or buyer personas
- Delivery due dates
- Anything else the writers need to know
Then you select from one of seven different blog word-count ranges, and hit submit. From there, a dedicated team, including strategy managers, editors, dedicated content writer(s), and customer specialists, gets to work on your blog post, ensuring timely and quality production.
This cost-saving approach makes perfect sense for businesses looking to get the most out of their resources. According to Content Marketing Institute (CMI), companies that used outsourced agencies reported spending 56% less than those maintaining full-time teams (Stat 3). Now that’s what we call getting more bang for your buck.
Identifying Cost Savings Through Outsourcing
At first glance, outsourcing to many seems like a higher expensive. And for the most part this is true – if you are outsourcing a new product, you are paying someone else rather than realizing those profits internally.
The cost benefits of outsourcing are quite surprising for many businesses. By leveraging external expertise, companies often find they save significant amounts compared to maintaining an in-house team.
A Breakdown of In-House Costs
To get a clearer picture, let’s do some math. Hiring an internal team means paying salaries and benefits. Let’s say you hire five employees with different skill sets necessary for effective content marketing – strategist, writer, editor, graphic designer, and SEO specialist.
If we consider industry averages (Glassdoor estimates) each position could range from $40k to over $70k per year – totaling upwards of $300K annually.
You can read more about the cost of a blog in our other pieces.
The Cost-Efficiency Angle of Outsourcing Content Marketing
In contrast, outsourced agencies typically offer comprehensive services at much lower rates by pooling resources across multiple clients. Plus, since they specialize solely on content creation and optimization tasks – their efficiency levels tend to be sky-high.
- You pay them only when you need their services which reduces overhead costs significantly.
- No expenses related to recruitment or training as these experts come ready-to-deliver.
- They are equipped with the latest tools and technologies which might otherwise be costly for you to purchase.
The Content Writers’ Blog estimates that outsourcing can save up to 60% of what it would cost to maintain an in-house team. That’s not just pennies – we’re talking about potential savings of hundreds of thousands per year.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
In essence, outsourcing your content marketing gives you access to a team of experts. By outsourcing your content marketing, you can save both time and money that could be invested elsewhere in your business. You’ll find this strategy incredibly beneficial.
Outsourcing content marketing can fuel your business growth while keeping more cash in your pocket. It gives you access to a team of experts at lower costs compared to an in-house team, cutting down overhead expenses and eliminating recruitment or training costs. The savings aren’t just pennies but could be hundreds of thousands per year.
Focusing on Core Business Operations
When you run a business, there’s always more work than time. It’s like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle – exciting but overwhelming. Outsourcing content marketing lets businesses reclaim their balance and focus on what they do best.
The value of outsourced content marketing isn’t just about getting high-quality articles or social media posts. It’s also about freeing up internal resources so that your team can concentrate on core operations. Think of it as delegating tasks to experts who know the ins-and-outs of SEO, keyword research, and engaging copywriting.
Imagine your business having an internal marketing team in charge of activities from introducing new products to email campaigns. But adding content creation into the mix could stretch them thin and decrease overall productivity.
- This is where outsourcing comes into play.
- Your business continues with its crucial day-to-day operations.
- A specialized agency handles your content production needs efficiently and effectively.
The Gift of Time Through Outsourcing
You might be thinking, “But I have capable writers within my organization.” Sure you do. However, writing valuable blog posts or crafting catchy social media updates often takes more time than expected – time better spent elsewhere in your enterprise.
Outsourcing hands over these intensive tasks to dedicated professionals whose primary job revolves around creating captivating contents designed specifically for audience engagement.
Savings That Make Sense
Let’s not forget about cost savings. Outsourcing is often more economical than hiring full-time staff, especially when you factor in the costs of recruitment, training, and benefits. In contrast, outsourcing gives you access to a team of professionals who are already equipped with the necessary skills and experience.
This approach allows businesses to save money, which can be reinvested back into core business operations for growth and development.
Fuel Your Business Growth
In conclusion, handing over content marketing tasks to experts outside your organization can turbocharge your business growth. Whether it’s crafting blog posts or making engaging social media content, outsourcing lets you zero in on what you do best – running your core operations. You’re able to lean on the pros for their expertise.
Key Takeaway:
Think of outsourcing content marketing like getting an extra set of hands to juggle your business tasks. It’s not just about producing top-notch articles or social posts, but also about giving you the gift of time and savings. Your team can focus on what they do best – running core operations, while expert outsiders handle content creation efficiently. Plus, it often turns out to be a more cost-effective solution.
The Future of Outsourced Content Marketing
Outsourcing content marketing has revolutionized how businesses operate, and it’s just the beginning. The future holds even more promise as emerging trends and technology come into play.
Emerging Trends in Outsourcing
We’re seeing a shift towards more strategic partnerships between businesses and their outsourced teams. Organizations need to align their objectives with the proper material in order to reach them, not just get work done.
Tailored strategies are becoming crucial. Companies don’t just need writers; they need thinkers who understand their industry, audience, and objectives. Expect outsourcing agencies to offer more personalized services moving forward.
The Impact of Technology on Outsourced Content Marketing
Digital tools have made remote work easier than ever before, opening up global talent pools that were previously inaccessible. But this is just scratching the surface when we talk about tech’s impact on outsourced content marketing.
Data analytics can give precise insights into what works best for your target audience – from post timings to preferred type of visuals – helping create content that hits home every time. So anticipate an increased use of data-driven decision making in outsourcing setups. AI-powered tools, like those generating SEO-friendly headlines or analyzing sentiment analysis in real-time, will be increasingly used by these agencies too.
Note: While no one can predict the exact course that things will take (unless you’ve got a crystal ball handy), these trends and technologies offer exciting possibilities for outsourced content marketing. We’re excited to see where this journey leads.
How Your Clients Benefit From an Outsourced Content Strategy
If you’re going to successfully sell outsourced content marketing services to your clients, you’ll need to get them to buy into the process and the outcome. After all, they’ll be working with a new team and content marketing might be a new process for them.
If that’s the case, then propose these three benefits an outsourced content marketing agency can offer your clients.
A Dedicated Team is Focused on Your Content
When your client begins a long-term project with an agency like okwrite, they get a dedicated team focused strictly on content for that client’s brand, goals, and tone. This includes dedicated strategist(s), writers, and editors focused on delivering the highest quality of work that is, most importantly, applicable to that brand and in line with that brand’s larger marketing goals.
Unlike content mills that turn generic and paraphrased content, your dedicated project team will ensure we only deliver original and thoroughly researched blog content.
The team regularly communicates with the client to get feedback and continually improve on the content each round. This results in a more successful content marketing strategy and greater results for the client.
Moreover, outsourcing a content marketing service allows for more integrated marketing automation. Your dedicated team will handle either the content creation, or both the strategy development and creation process! Your clients will appreciate this!
Expert Knowledge of Content Marketing Best Practices
Content marketing and SEO are always changing. Not every agency stays up to date on SEO, especially for an agency that only works with SEO superficially. Content marketing agencies like okwrite though need to stay on top of the latest SEO trends and best practices for our client’s needs.
When your client works with an experienced content marketing agency, you and your clients can rest assured knowing that your team is constantly learning, developing, and enhancing content marketing best practices to continually provide high-ranking content, content that is competitive, and content that generates more web traffic.
Better for Your Bottom Line
It can cost a lot of money to design and implement a content marketing strategy with in-house staff. For instance, a three-month project might require thirty-plus blog posts, in addition to developing the strategy and implementing the process. That’s a lot of time spent researching, planning, writing, and editing—especially if your team has other responsibilities too.
By hiring an outsourced content marketing team, your clients can remain focused on their day-to-day and let our expert team handle the content marketing production. When it comes to larger projects, companies can save significant costs by finding an agency that focuses strictly on content development and strategy.
FAQs in Relation to Price Outsourced Content Marketing
How much should you charge for content marketing?
Pricing for content marketing hinges on project scope, industry rates, and your expertise. Typically, agencies might charge $2k to $10k monthly.
How much does a freelance content creator cost?
A freelance content creator’s rate varies based on their skills and experience. On average though, they might ask between $50 to $500 per piece.
How do you price content services?
To price your services right, factor in the time it takes to create the material, your overhead costs plus an acceptable profit margin.
How much does a content strategy cost?
The price tag of a solid strategy depends heavily on business size and goals but usually sits between $5k-$15k over 6 months or so.
Finding a Trusted Content Marketing Company
At okwrite, we’re always on the lookout for new agencies to partner with. If you’re looking to start offering your clients ongoing content marketing managed services, we’d love to help you serve them. Depending on the size of your project and details, we can offer different packages to meet your needs.
okwrite is an award-winning content marketing agency that can link content with conversions and bring more traffic to your site using authoritative, SEO-driven, high quality content. Connect with us to learn more.
