16 Nov Branding Agency Hertfordshire: Should You Hire A Freelancer Or An Agency For Your Branding Project? (3 mins)
So you’re looking to brand, or rebrand, your company…
Who do you hire to take on your project?
There are a number of options available to you, such as approaching a freelancer, or an agency. Are there any differences? If so, what are the pros and cons of each? Is there an ideal option?
As one of the top searches for “branding agency Hertfordshire,” we clearly fall into the agency category. Of course, this meaning we will be biased on this topic (just like everyone else!).
However it might surprise you to hear us say that it all depends. Hiring a freelancer may be the best option for you. It might not. There are a number of variables you need to consider.
The first obvious advantage of a freelancer is that their initial quote is usually cheaper than an agency’s. As such, if your project is a quick, minor graphic design amend then it might be a good idea to hire a decent freelancer (due to the project’s simplicity).
On the other hand, if your project involves multiple, diverse aspects that all need to be integrated into a coherent solution (e.g. logo design, branding, website design and possibly video production), then most freelancers won’t be specialised in all of those areas.
By typing “branding agency Hertfordshire” into Google, however, you can find agencies like Ratio7; who have all the necessary skills to deliver results across different platforms.
A dedicated team is available at hand, with each member specialising in an area of your project; meaning projects typically need fewer revisions and therefore conclude faster.
Moreover, the team dynamic present within an agency means that groups of designers are usually working together on possible ideas; thus broadening the possible range of design outcomes.
In short, hiring a freelancer can be a good idea for a small project. For larger, more important projects, the best course is usually to go with an agency.
It’s worth noting that the freelancer route (for larger projects) can actually end up more expensive than an agency; who will provide a quote for it all. Multiple freelancers will need to be hired for different parts of your project, meaning you will have more invoices to pay.
You will also find yourself needing to be the project manager; which is typically stressful, and takes up considerable amounts of your time. By going the “branding agency Hertfordshire” route, however, you only pay for the quote and they manage the project for you.
You don’t have to choose a large agency, however, to ensure that your project is delivered to a high quality. Indeed, lots of large agencies outsource work to smaller agencies (e.g. due to the amount of work they have going on) and put a margin on it; which is one reason why they’re usually more expensive.
by going the “branding agency Hertfordshire” route, however, you cut out the monolithic middle-man; retaining all the benefits of a quality agency, at a much lower cost.
One final but crucial thing to consider. If you go the freelancer route, and they become unavailable (e.g. due to sickness), then that’s your project on hold. An agency, however, will have the resources in place to ensure a specialist picks up your project; delivering it on-time, to a high quality.
If your project is small, unimportant personal one, then this risk may not present a big problem. However, if your project is large and has important deadlines, then it is wise to ensure that you aren’t dependant upon an individual’s health or circumstances.
As the Marketing Coordinator at Ratio7, Phil is responsible for devising tailored marketing strategies for his clients; generating engaging and informative content; and ensuring brand consistency across all of Ratio7’s communications. Phil has a passion for creating powerful corporate brands, and suffers from a borderline-unhealthy addiction to Google analytics.
In his spare time, Phil can be found training for powerlifting competitions, watching Jason Statham movies, and playing acoustic guitar at open mic nights.