First Digital Marketing Job? The In-house vs. Agency Dilemma

As a marketing graduate, the choice between in-house and agency can be pivotal – but which one is best for you? How much do you know about the options for your first marketing job?

Having recently graduated and joined House Digital – a forward-thinking agency with an in-house training component – I’ve learnt a lot about some of the key differences between in-house and agency roles. I’ve also seen the value of adopting a hybrid marketing agency approach where the strengths of both the agency and client are maximised. 

Before I began my role at House, I had assumed that an executive level position, whether within an agency or  an in-house team, would be similar enough – wrong! It turns out that there is definitely more than one digital marketing job description, and you’ll want to do your research! If you’re currently looking for your first digital marketing role and wondering which path to pursue, keep reading as I share what I’ve learnt so far about working for a digital agency which is breaking away from the in-house/agency binary.

Not all digital marketing jobs are created equal!

Before getting my first full-time digital marketing job, I hadn’t spent a great deal of time considering the differences between marketing agencies and in-house teams in terms of how they might impact my day-to-day experience as a newcomer. Of course I’d heard some opinions about which path was best, and warnings about the pros and cons of each. The general consensus seemed to be that getting hired by a traditional agency would be the best option for providing an intense but extremely useful learning curve, whilst an in-house position would give a great understanding of a specific industry with support from a wider team.

As a graduate, it’s tempting – and probably wise – to cast your net wide when applying for jobs. There are many things you can do with a marketing degree, but there are certainly some key differences between different companies’ approaches that you’ll want to be aware of, and the choice is not necessarily limited to traditional agency or in-house roles!

House Digital has adapted its business model in response to a notable shift towards companies bringing their marketing teams in-house. By adopting a hybrid agency approach that prioritises the empowerment of in-house teams whilst providing indispensable digital marketing expertise, House has maintained a legitimate value offering for its clients. As a new-starter, this has given me a really unique viewpoint of how both agency and in-house models work, as well as a first-hand understanding of the value of a hybrid approach in 2022.

In-house vs. agency: what’s the difference for a newcomer?

Firstly, it’s important to have an idea of how marketing teams typically operate, and the key differences between working for a digital marketing agency vs. an in-house team. Whilst there will almost definitely be similarities between the kinds of tasks that you’ll be working on day-to-day, there are some key differences between the two that’ll have a significant impact on your experience in different roles.

Working for a digital marketing agency

Pros:

• You’ll be learning directly from digital marketing experts with niche skills, and your organisation is more likely to be up to date with the latest marketing trends, tools and software.
• You’ll gain diverse experience working across different accounts which will equip you with a broad understanding of digital marketing as well as a variety of industries at once.
• You’re not tied down to just one industry or sector, so an agency role is great for giving you options later on in your career.

Cons:

• You’ll likely be juggling work for multiple clients at once, so it may take longer to familiarise yourself with the accounts you’re working on.
• You might feel that your workload is intense if you don’t stay on top of your time management.
• You’re likely to encounter delays due to liaising with clients about ideas, projects, and content that needs to be approved before you can proceed.

Working in an in-house digital marketing team

Pros:

• You’ll often have access to a large support network who are familiar with the company’s processes at a wider level.
• You’ll have direct access to the relevant members of staff, so you’ll spend less time waiting on approval.
• You’ll gain a really deep understanding of your company, so in-house can be a great option if you’re dedicated to pursuing a digital marketing career within a particular industry.

Cons:

• You may have less up-to-date resources and technical support at your fingertips than you would at an agency.
• In-house teams are often smaller, and your wider team are less likely to have specific marketing expertise, so you won’t necessarily have a large network to call on for support.
• Working in-house could limit opportunities later on in your career, particularly if you’re looking for opportunities outside of the industry you’re currently working in.

What about other options?

As more businesses are starting to take their marketing in-house, the rise of the in-house agency has been a hot topic over the past few years. The trend has been accelerated by the pandemic as companies have sought to cut their agency spends and have greater agility and control over their creative output. Of course, moving marketing in-house can bring downsides like those mentioned above: a smaller team, less resources, and working within a wider team with no marketing expertise. This is where a hybrid marketing agency like House Digital is paving the way forward.

What does House Digital do differently?

As I’ve touched on a little, House Digital prioritises sharing knowledge and empowering in-house teams with their own digital expertise. This is what sets them apart from other, more traditional agencies who have a less transparent approach, meaning that their clients are more reliant upon them in the short term, but ultimately see in-housing as a more beneficial and cost-effective option.

Part of House’s unique offering is the HD Academy, which is currently well underway. This adds another dimension to the traditional agency model by providing in-depth training courses for in-house teams, designed and delivered by our own team of experts who have a first-hand understanding of what really works and what doesn’t. 

Essentially, House Digital’s end goal is to equip in-house teams to function more independently. This is done by researching, strategising, and optimising each channel – much like a traditional agency might do – before (crucially) up-skilling the clients’ own team and gradually transitioning to a consultancy-based set-up. This way, the client retains access to expert support: any knowledge or technology gaps can be easily filled by the team at House.

What is it like to work for an agency/in-house hybrid?

In short, I am learning a lot. My day-to-day role still consists of a lot of the tasks I’d be working on in a traditional agency role, so I am gaining skills across different channels whilst familiarising myself with a range of clients and industries. Working at House has the same fast pace and wide variety that I expected from an agency job, but with an added facet of working closely with, and learning alongside, our clients’ in-house teams. 

Being a part of educating our clients’ teams about SEO, paid advertising, and the other key digital marketing services House Digital offers is allowing me to build on my own knowledge whilst learning about best practices for liaising with and upskilling in-house talent simultaneously. 

Working for a company who are ahead of the game in their approach has given me the opportunity to observe the in-house vs. agency debate from a unique angle. If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that being adaptable and finding new ways to work smarter is essential. It’s an exciting time to enter the industry, and it’s especially exciting to be part of a company which is passionate about navigating the changing requirements of marketing agencies in an innovative and adaptable way. 
If you’re intrigued by House Digital’s approach and want to know more about how we’re bridging the gap between agency and in-house, read more about us on our website.