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Most entrepreneurs are hands-on— it’s one of their key characteristics. As a small business owner,  you wear many hats – CEO, Chief  Technology Officer, Head of Customer Service, and of course – Chief Marketing Officer.

As you juggle other roles at your business, it’s normal to consider hiring a contractor or marketing agency to help you conceptualize and execute marketing plans or short-term projects.

If you’re thinking about contracting out some work, here are some things you should consider.  

• How much is your time worth? It may be tempting to hire an intern to run your social media accounts or to just read up on how to execute an effective email marketing campaign. But if you’re trying to attract clients to your business in a timely fashion, you cannot afford to make rookie mistakes. Hiring a marketing agency gets you on-demand expertise without the need for lengthy onboarding.  
   
• Agency or contractor can be more cost-effective – It’s not just about time it’s about money.  Consider the cost of paying for employee benefits, workman’s compensation insurance, and payroll taxes – not to mention a salary.  When compared to hiring a full-time employee to do marketing operations, hiring a contractor or agency can be a more cost-effective option for smaller businesses.
   
• Set specific goals. Many marketing agencies or contractors can deliver specific a-la-carte services at an affordable price. It’s important to have an upfront conversation about expectations. Set SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound) goals for what you’d like to achieve. You can measure these goals in terms of visitors to your website, social media followers, or in sales. Whatever you’re trying to achieve, be upfront and direct with your agency from the onset.
   
• Ask to see their certificate of insurance – Whenever you outsource part of your business operations, make sure you’re working with a reputable agency that follows common business practices. One way to determine if an organization is reputable is whether they carry general and professional liability insurance.

If you’re busy running the day-to-day operations of your business, consider working with a reputable contractor or agency. Doing so can save you time and give you peace of mind.