Affordable Monthly Fees for Outsourced Marketing Explained

Small businesses should seriously consider outsourcing their marketing efforts to gain a significant competitive edge and optimize their resources. By partnering with external experts, they immediately gain access to a diverse team of specialists—including strategists, copywriters, graphic designers, and SEO analysts—without the overhead cost and administrative burden of hiring full-time staff. This approach not only ensures that marketing initiatives are executed with the latest industry best practices and technology but also allows the business owner and their core team to focus their time and energy on their core competencies, such as product development and customer service. Ultimately, outsourcing provides scalability, professional quality, and a better return on investment (ROI), making it a highly effective strategy for driving growth in a cost-efficient manner.

Why Marketing Matters

The cost of outsourcing marketing varies significantly based on the scope of work, the provider (freelancer vs. agency), their expertise, and location.¹ However, we can provide some solid general ranges for small businesses:

💰 Average Outsourcing Costs for Small Businesses

1. Full-Service Agency Retainers (Ongoing Support)

Please note these prices and rates are a rreflection of the industry standard or averages, these are NOT our prices for our services.

What is the average cost of a marketing agency?

This is the most common model where you pay a fixed fee monthly for a suite of services (SEO, content, social media).

• Basic/Tiered Packages: $$1,500$ to $\$3,500$ per month.

  • What you get: Typically covers 1-2 key services like light SEO and social media posting/engagement.

• Comprehensive/Full-Service Retainers: $$3,500$ to $$10,000+$ per month.

  • What you get: A dedicated team covering multiple channels (SEO, content creation, social ads, email marketing, and strategy).

    
    

2. Specialized Services (Monthly Retainers)

If you only need help in one area, the cost is much more focused:

Service	Typical Monthly Cost Range
Social Media Management	$500 to $5,000 per month
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)	$500 to $$5,000 per month
Content Marketing (e.g., blog posts)	$1,000 to $3,000 per month
PPC (Paid Ad Management)	$1,000$ to $10,000 per month plus the actual ad spend

3. Freelancer vs. Hourly Rates

Hiring individual freelancers can be the most budget-friendly way to start, especially for project-based work.

• Hourly Rates: $35 to $200 per hour, depending on experience and location.

• Freelance Monthly: $500 to $4,000 per month, often for a defined scope of hours or deliverables.

Key Factors That Drive Costs

• Scope & Volume: The more platforms (social media channels, blogs) you need managed and the more content you need created, the higher the cost.

  
  

• Location/Expertise: Agencies in major metropolitan areas or those with highly specialized, proven results charge premium rates. Freelancers and agencies hiring global talent can offer lower rates.

  
  

• Ad Spend: If your plan includes Pay-Per-Click (PPC), the management fee is often a percentage (10-20%) of the actual advertising budget you spend.

  
  

To get the most accurate estimate for your business, you would need to define your goals clearly.

What Do Monthly Fees Cover?

• Content Updates: This includes adding new blog posts, updating product information, or changing images. Fresh content keeps your audience engaged.

  
  

• Email Campaigns: Email marketing campaigns remain one of the most powerful digital strategies, consistently delivering a remarkable high return on investment (ROI), often cited as $36$ for every $1$ spent, by leveraging direct and personalized communication with engaged customers.

  
  

• Marketing Videos: Video marketing campaigns are exceptionally successful because they capture attention immediately and convey complex information efficiently, leading to significantly higher engagement rates, improved brand recall, and a demonstrated ability to boost conversion rates by over $80\%$ on landing pages.

  
  

• Phone Calls:: While the average conversion rate of marketing cold calls is low, typically hovering between 2% and 5% for booking a meeting or generating a lead, the success of a high-volume campaign lies in the strategy of persistence and scale, effectively translating that small percentage into a substantial stream of new, qualified business opportunities over time.

  
  

• Technical Support: Having access to support can be invaluable. If you encounter issues, you want to know help is just a call or email away.

  
  

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

That is the core decision point for almost every growing small business. The choice between an agency and an in-house employee is a trade-off between breadth of expertise vs. depth of brand knowledge and control.

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the two approaches, focusing on cost, skill set, control, and long-term viability:

🆚 Agency vs. Full-Time In-House Employee

Feature	Marketing Agency (Outsourced)	In-House Employee (Full-Time)
Cost Structure	Predictable Monthly Retainer: Fixed fee for a defined scope of services.	Fixed Salary + Significant Hidden Costs: Salary, benefits (40% to 100% of salary), payroll taxes, software subscriptions, equipment, training.
Expertise & Skill Set	Wide & Diverse: Access to a full team of specialists (SEO, PPC, copywriters, designers, analysts) instantly.	Deep but Narrow: Limited to the skills of one individual, who is often a generalist forced to handle multiple specialized roles.
Speed & Onboarding	Fast Start: They have established processes, tools, and experience; can begin strategy execution quickly.	Slow Start: Requires a lengthy hiring process, training, and setting up tools/workflows.
Brand Knowledge	External/Learned: Requires time and constant communication to fully understand the unique brand voice and industry nuances.	Internal/Deep: Lives and breathes the brand daily, leading to quick alignment and authentic voice.
Control & Focus	Less Direct Control: You manage the relationship, but the agency manages the team and processes; they also have other clients.	High Direct Control: The employee works exclusively for you and can be immediately directed to new priorities.
Scalability & Risk	Highly Scalable & Low Risk: Easily scale services up or down based on budget/need; strategy continuity is protected from individual employee turnover.	Low Scalability & High Risk: Scaling requires hiring new staff; employee turnover leads to a complete disruption of all marketing efforts.
Tools & Technology	Included: Agency typically owns and provides expensive, high-end industry tools (SEO software, analytics platforms).	Hidden Cost: The business must purchase and manage licenses for all necessary marketing software.

When to Choose an Agency

• You need immediate, specialized expertise in multiple channels (e.g., you need both SEO and paid social media experts).

• Your budget is relatively small/medium (typically under $\$6,000$ per month) and cannot support the total cost of a full-time employee (salary + benefits + tools).

• You want to minimize the risk associated with hiring, training, and potential employee turnover.

• You need a fresh, objective perspective on your business and market strategy.

When to Hire an In-House Employee

• You have a large, complex marketing scope that requires someone to be fully dedicated to your brand 40 hours a week.

• Your budget is large enough to comfortably cover the full cost of an employee (salary + 40-100% overhead).

• Your primary need is deep brand immersion and quick, real-time decision-making and cross-departmental coordination.

• You are prepared for a long-term investment and the administrative burden of human resources and team management.

The ideal solution for many growing small businesses is often a hybrid model: hiring one in-house person to own the strategy and brand voice, while outsourcing highly specialized or time-consuming tasks like technical SEO, PPC management, or graphic design to an agency or freelancer.

Finding the Right Service Provider

Choosing the right service provider is crucial for your website's success. Here are some tips to help you find the best fit:

• Research: Look for companies with good reviews and a solid portfolio.

  
  

• Ask for Recommendations: Talk to other business owners about their experiences. Personal recommendations can lead you to reliable providers.

  
  

• Get Quotes: Contact multiple providers to get quotes. This will give you a better idea of the market rate.

  
  

• Check for Transparency: A good provider will be clear about their fees and what services are included.

  
  

Examples of Monthly Fee Structures

To give you a clearer picture, here are a few examples of how different providers structure their fees:

Business Basic

1. 50 phone calls per month

2. 100 marketing emails per month,

3. 1 online ad campaign (Google Ads, FaceBook, etc.),

4. 1 in person marketing event / expo

5. 1 marketing video to promote

Business Premium

1. 1 50 phone calls per month

2. 300 marketing emails per month

3. 3 online ad campaign (Google Ads, FaceBook, etc.)

4. 3 in person marketing event / expo

5. 3 marketing video to promote.

Business Elite

1. 250 phone calls per month

2. 500 marketing emails per month

3. 5 online ad campaign (Google Ads, FaceBook, etc.)

4. 5 in person marketing event / expo

5. 5 marketing video to promote.

   
   

These examples illustrate how different levels of service can impact your monthly fees.

The Importance of Budgeting

Budgeting for website updates is essential for any business. Here are some tips to help you manage your expenses:

• Set a Monthly Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on website maintenance each month.

  
  

• Prioritize Services: Decide which services are most important for your business. This will help you allocate your budget effectively.

  
  

• Review Regularly: Your needs may change over time. Regularly review your budget and adjust as necessary.

  
  

DIY vs. Professional Services

Some business owners may consider handling website updates themselves to save money. While this can be a viable option, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons.

Pros of DIY Updates

• Cost Savings: You can save on monthly fees by doing it yourself.

  
  

• Control: You have complete control over your website and can make changes whenever you want.

  
  

Cons of DIY Updates

• Time-Consuming: Managing updates can take a significant amount of time, which could be spent on other business activities.

  
  

• Lack of Expertise: If you are not familiar with website maintenance, you may inadvertently cause issues.

  
  

In many cases, hiring a professional can save you time and ensure that your website remains in top shape.

Conclusion: Making Informed Decisions

Understanding the costs associated with website updates is crucial for any business owner. By knowing what to expect and how to budget effectively, you can ensure that your website remains secure, functional, and engaging for your audience.

Investing in regular updates is not just an expense; it is an investment in your business's future. With the right approach, you can find affordable monthly fees that fit your budget and meet your needs.

A person focused on updating a website in a bright workspace.