In-house vs. outsourcing

[ishir]

Many corporations I know have their own SEO/PPC team managing in-house campaigns, which were being outsourced at times.

I feel that they are right. Once they have found that Internet Marketing is not a one time game, but an ongoing process, they probably cut huge costs.
Outsourcing cost to a reputed firm vs. CTC of a dedicated resource is much higher...

This is probably because of the value degradation by individuals in this industry. Freelancers are still making good money, singled out from their past employers, but I feel they are at risk.

What can be the scenario in the long run (say, 10 years hence)?

[netidme]

My view is that there will always be a need for outsourcing in small and medium sized businesses as they simply cannot commit a full time resource to SEM, so it will usually fall to the marketing manager, who will not be an expert in SEM as its such a large topic area, therefore they need to employ the services of an experienced freelancer. so I guess the long term outlook is still pretty good...

[beu]

Marketing Sherpa says there is a much higher lift in SEO when outsourced!

[caugas]

I agree with everyone except for the statement provided by Beu, that a huge lift can be seened through outsourcing. Define HUGE? Beu, this is not be seen as an aggressive stance towards you. Just engadging....

I agree that most small and mid sized firms cannot affort to hire personal in-house. Its not cost effective.

I also agree that having a dedicated SEO & SEM resource person/s in-house provides great value, reporting, tracking, testing, real time change, and last of all and most importantly the inhouse person understands the business, he/she lives and breaths the product or content.

IMO, depending on the outsource agency or group, a client is just another invoice or number (not in all instances) I am sure small type freelancers pay closer attention.

About MARKETINGSHERPA statement,I would like to better understand, how they defined such a statement. It a very big statement, one that is not so simple, outsorucing defined as what? and agency? a consultant or freelancer? and for what type of business/businesses, direct marketing, content marketing? etc. all good questions.

[Shmuel]

My company is a small one, and we do everything in house. There are three of us in the marketing department...Marketing Manager (who oversees everything and handles SEO), PPC Manager (me who handles all of out paid advertising), and then we have our graphic artist. It's really about finding qualified individuals to hire. Sure we could outsource, but then we lose any control over our marketing efforts.

[beu]

I agree with everyone except for the statement provided by Beu, that a huge lift can be seened through outsourcing. Define HUGE? Beu, this is not be seen as an aggressive stance towards you. Just engadging....

I agree that most small and mid sized firms cannot affort to hire personal in-house. Its not cost effective.

I also agree that having a dedicated SEO & SEM resource person/s in-house provides great value, reporting, tracking, testing, real time change, and last of all and most importantly the inhouse person understands the business, he/she lives and breaths the product or content.

IMO, depending on the outsource agency or group, a client is just another invoice or number (not in all instances) I am sure small type freelancers pay closer attention.

About MARKETINGSHERPA statement,I would like to better understand, how they defined such a statement. It a very big statement, one that is not so simple, outsorucing defined as what? and agency? a consultant or freelancer? and for what type of business/businesses, direct marketing, content marketing? etc. all good questions.

"That's why last year we conducted research, asking more than 2,000 marketers whose sites had been optimized, what the results were and whether or not they used an outside expert. The data was phenomenal. The marketers who had used in-house SEO resources saw an average 73% lift in overall site traffic.

The marketers who outsourced SEO to an expert saw an average 110% lift in overall site traffic."
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/article.php?ident=29709

[caugas]

thanks for the additional information Beu, sorry it took me so long to reply.