OK, so you get it. Your company understands why communications, engagement, and marketing are crucial for keeping your reputation and brand sparkling and successfully managing relationships with customers and stakeholders. You also understand that during challenging economic times, investing in PR and marketing is even more crucial to ensure your business maintains a competitive advantage when the market bounces back.
You face a tricky choice when it comes to getting the job done. Do you
Hire an external agency, consultant, or contractor on a more flexible arrangement while you determine your next move or
Employ someone permanently and hope they have the goods to deliver what you need.
Now, we know this may come across as a little bias, considering Belle is a consultancy. However, our senior team has experience working in-house, as contractors, and with agencies, which gives us firsthand knowledge of both approaches.
While both approaches have their merits, we genuinely believe that thinking outside the box and engaging with a specialist (backed by a team of experts) on a contract basis leads to better outcomes.
Here's why (scroll down!)
Contracting Belle can be more cost-effective
This may shock you, but engaging the right consultancy on a contract or retainer basis can actually be more cost effective than hiring a permanent staff member.
It’s fair to say consultants currently have a bad rap. They’re a major target for cost-cutting, particularly in local and central government. People often ask us if our business has been impacted by the slash and burn of consultants. The answer is no. That’s because our fees are realistic, flexible and accessible for various budgets.
Hiring a full-time person can be pricey and incredibly stressful if it doesn’t work out. Between salaries, equipment, staff benefits, training and other operational costs, the expenses can pile up quickly.
Our agency works on a contract basis, which allows you to focus your investment on the specific outputs and outcomes you need, when you need them. This flexibility can make a big difference, enabling you to receive high-quality PR services for a comparatively smaller investment than hiring someone full-time.
Research indicates that the average worker is only productive for about three hours in an eight-hour day. Based on this research, here's an example comparing a senior contractor option with a permanent employee.
Contract option with Belle (senior consultant)
Discounted contract fees are charged only for productive time, with 3-5 hours of productive time per day costing approximately $360-600 per day. This would be equivalent to $1,800-$3,000 per week, or up to $144,000 per year based on 48 weeks of productive time (as you are not paying for someone's annual leave). There are no sick leave or annual leave concerns, and no need to worry about Kiwisaver or ACC payments. Furthermore, there are no other benefits to cover, and the agency provides everything else needed, including a phone, laptop, licenses, and subscriptions. This individual can work remotely or on-site and is capable of working at the leadership team and board level. They bring diverse experience and expertise and offer a more flexible option for your organization. The contract can also be adjusted based on deadlines and workloads.
Employee (full-time senior communications specialist)
When considering the financial aspects of staffing, it's important to keep in mind the salary ranges for managerial positions. A full-time salary for a manager typically falls between $130,000 and $180,000, while senior advisors in our industry generally earn around $100,000. On a daily basis, about three to five hours are dedicated to productive tasks, with distractions like social media and non-work-related browsing taking up a significant portion of the workday. Covering or backfilling leave periods can present challenges, and additional costs such as Kiwisaver and ACC should be factored in. There are also extra overheads to consider, including IT costs, memberships, subscriptions, training and professional development, leave, travel, and staff perks. It's important to note that these are fixed costs that are difficult to adjust if circumstances change. Additionally, the process of recruiting individuals with the necessary varied skills and experience for the role may be challenging, often leading to the hiring of consultants in addition to existing permanent employees.
Note: Each client’s needs are different, and we tailor options to the specific needs of the organisation.
You get the benefits of a team of senior experts for the price of one
A key advantage of hiring our agency is accessing a diverse group of professionals with a wide range of skills, unique backgrounds, and extensive experience. Agencies attract team members with strengths in strategy, creativity, content writing, design, digital, and media relations, all under one roof, to deliver the best possible results to their clients. This means that instead of relying on just one person’s talents, you’ll have a whole squad dedicated to achieving your goals. We simplify your life with a single point of contact.
New ideas and creativity
Agencies come with that outside perspective that can help shake things up – in a good way. Agencies work with a range of clients across a number of industries and are always on the lookout for new trends and fresh ideas, which means they can help you craft creative campaigns that resonate with your audience. Plus, because they work with many different clients, they have a treasure trove of tried-and-true strategies to draw from.
Connections that count
When you hire a consultant or agency, you also get access to their established relationships within the media and industry. These connections are gold when it comes to getting your business noticed; they can help land features in key publications and increase your media exposure. Let’s be real: starting from scratch with media relations can be a daunting task for a single in-house employee.
Ready to go
We have the capacity to hit the ground running and help out today. Over many years, the team has learned to be adaptable and ready to jump into any situation, including a crisis, with little notice, to get the job done. We become an extension of your team and provide a positive addition to its culture.
Flexibility that fits your needs
Communications, engagement, marketing and PR isn’t a one-size-fits-all gig. Your needs can shift rapidly based on market changes, product launches, or big company announcements. A PR agency can easily adapt by ramping up their resources as needed. So, if you have a major event coming up, they can dive in headfirst. And if things quiet down, they can adjust to that too.
So, what's your plan?
While the idea of hiring in-house might sound attractive, it’s important to weigh up your options. Teaming up with an agency like ours usually comes with many perks that can help your brand shine. From senior-level skills, knowledge and experience to cost savings, fresh thinking and valuable connections, we can guide you through the wild world of public relations and marketing and help your business flourish.
For more information, get in touch with Charlotte and let's have a chat about your needs.
