Quick answer
A freelancer is usually the cheapest option for one skill, an in house hire gives you the most control but costs a full salary, and a content marketing agency gives you a full team of video editors, designers and ad specialists for a monthly fee. Most small businesses get the best value from an agency or a strong freelancer before hiring in house.
How do the three options compare?
| Freelancer | Agency | In house hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest (salary, tools, equipment) |
| Skills | Usually one or two | Video, design, copy, ads and strategy | Depends on the person |
| Speed to start | Fast | Fast, often one to two weeks | Slow, hiring and training take time |
| Control | Medium | Medium to high with approvals | Highest |
| Risk if someone leaves | High | Low, the team covers | High |
| Best for | One clear task, like editing | Brands that need volume and variety | Larger brands with daily content needs |
When should I hire a freelancer?
Hire a freelancer when you need one specific skill, such as reel editing or graphic design, and you are happy to handle the strategy, scheduling and ads yourself. Freelancers are flexible and affordable, but they are one person, so holidays, illness or a busy month can stop your content completely.
When is a content marketing agency the best choice?
An agency makes sense when you need several skills at once: reels, graphics, captions, posting and ads, all working together. You get a team for less than the cost of one full time employee, and you can scale up or down each month. The trade off is that an agency also works with other brands, so you need clear approvals and a good point of contact.
GetX is a remote content marketing agency that does exactly this for small businesses and startups worldwide. See our services and pricing.
When should I hire someone in house?
Hire in house when content is central to your business every day, you need someone on site to film, and you can afford a full salary plus software and equipment. Many brands combine both: an in house person films and manages the accounts, and an agency handles editing, design and ads.
What should I ask before hiring anyone for content?
- Can I see work you have made for businesses like mine?
- How many pieces of content do I get each month, and in what formats?
- How do approvals and revisions work, and how fast are they?
- Who owns the content and the accounts?
- Is there a long contract, or can I cancel month to month?
- How will we measure whether it is working?
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to hire an agency or an employee for social media?
For most small businesses an agency is cheaper than a full time employee once you add salary, software, equipment and training, and it gives you more skills.
Can I use a freelancer and an agency together?
Yes. Some brands use a freelancer for one task, like photography, and an agency for video editing, design and ads.
How do I know if a content agency is any good?
Look at real client work in your industry, ask how they measure results, check reviews and avoid long contracts before you have seen what they can do.
Does GetX work with businesses outside Pakistan?
Yes. GetX works remotely with brands all over the world, including the United States, and handles approvals over WhatsApp.