Would you hire a one-stop-shop agency where you can get it all done, or an agency that specializes in one thing only?

They say if the manufacturer of a lawn mower claims it's mower mulches and bags, it won't do either very well. However, what I  have found in media creation is that the technology and accessibility of tools have exploded so that most of what you need CAN often be found in one place and created with a high level of quality. Also, smaller shops often have strategic relationships with other specialists who agree to work together on larger projects. Other reasons to consider a one-stop-shop is that the coordination, file sharing, and overall communications surrounding your project are immensely simplified when dealing with one firm instead of three or four. Finally, make sure you ask to view samples because if the agency you are considering has never handled the deliverable you are looking for, you will find out right away. 

Best, Jeff

I definitely prefer a one-stop-shop!

I'll bite. (A disclaimer upfront. We do everything because we need to) Digital inbound and outbound marketing today is integrated. Websites, blogs, social media, search engine marketing work together. You can't run an effective ad without having an optimized landing page. You can't run a really well planned email marketing plan without calls to action and you can increase growth in your email list without your site being properly set up. Your social sites would be islands without sharing content from your blog on social sites to drive traffic back to your site which helps SEO. 

Everything is integrated and works together. If not, you might as well throw some money at a billboard and call it a day.

Alot has to do with budget, but my preference would be to have one agency or individual managing the account. As a freelance publicist, I outsource the graphic design, the SEO, ORM or video production. But bottom line, I am coordinating everything so there are no holes and the branding remains consistent. 

Executives always face this dilemma. Each of these 2 choices has its cons and pros. We found there is no possibility of establishing a one rule where one choice fits all. For certain projects in certain fields , like an advertising campaign it is better to chose a one-stop-shop Agency, while for Market Research for instance it is better to chose an Agency specializing in one thing only, like a specific industry or specific trend.

No matter what, it is always recommended to spend time in assessing the choices before every project and match the choice to the specific project

Yes, if money was tight and the job not too complicated. No, if the job is too important to mess up or the income exceeds the expense. My philosophy in life has always been to hire an expert for important outcomes.

The challenge is if the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing  there is tremendous waste and inefficiency. While the business owner puts their faith into both , believing that they have his or her best interests in mind.

I think as can be   accomplished all under one roof is a better model if there is competence and ethics. And often, even though they say one roof,  companies will outsource and manage it under their own direction. 

This can work but disclosure needs to be out there with transparency. 

There are many agencies that say they do x and do not actually do it.  They outsource.

My business was the benefactor of this type of relationship for years. As they did not as they say, like to lose control of the dollars. Because once a prospect is in relationship they might stray and use the other company. So there was deep trust between us and the referral source.  Because I could have sold their clients what they were selling. 

I once was brought into an under one roof scenario, and I asked if they are doing SEO now. Yes we are was the answer. 

I asked how?, and they said, that  they write articles and post them. 

How often? I asked

Like every other month. lol

I said But thats not SEO.

Well its content marketing they said. 

Not really lol. You forgot the second part of that phrase. Marketing.

So many agencies will put makeup on a pig to demonstrate value, when it really will not help much. 

There are lots of interests wanting those fees. 

Ethics and competence are sadly often missing.

 The client just wants leads and sales. 

The truth is real SEO by an expert is not cheap and not a commodity. It is part technical and part art.

A true SEO expert can also manage Adwords/YouTube and Facebook Ads, and all that is digital and make it work within a comprehensive synergistic construct. 

If it's brain surgery- then one that specializes in that. If it's marketing, better off going with a one stop so you don't go crazy trying to manage 3 separate people for one project. My company, http://iDesignYours.com  does web design, SEO and video editing- and we do all of them well!

Economically right from the start a manager or director would see an all in one would be more economic and logical because they would already know the company goals.  They would need to know the value and ROI to hire a company for a specific thing.  

I  think it depends on what market you are in, who your ideal client is, and what the customer's needs are. I  don't think there's one answer for everyone. As an example, if I were a large company and had in-house people that could create visual ads, handle social media, etc. but I  wanted to start spending money on Google Ads, I  would probably look for someone that specializes in Google Ad Words. Especially if I  had a large budget to spend on advertising. On the other hand, if I were a small company that needed help creating ads, managing social media, and had a smaller budget for Google Ads, I would want a one-stop-shop so I wouldn't have to write a bunch of smaller checks.