In House versus Consultants

For the first time, I am having clients ask me about hiring me full time. I believe that the Web has grown to the point that even smaller businesses are seeing a benefit of having full time Web marketing staff. Is it really better?

Of course, that depends on your business. If you can afford a true professional (not a teenager or hobbyist) that understands your site inside and out, understands Web marketing, and is willing to stay up to date on SEO and PPC, then I would say it's a wise move. There are things that can be done by someone who is at your business every day, truly understands your customers and your business, that a consultant simply can't do. No matter how closely I work with a client, it's still their site and their business, and I'm still working with a dozen other clients at the same time.

The problem is cost. Someone who is worth hiring at all versus a consultant also can work as a consultant and make pretty good money. Can you afford this person, who is bringing in a certain dollar amount per hour from multiple clients? What would this person want for salary? Well, as a consultant, I can tell you that the stability of a salary is a strong motivator, and the tax issues alone, mean it wouldn't take the same income level to attract a new employee.

Most businesses can get by with a consultant, especially if they're willing to do some of the grunge work of creating content for their site. But if you're ready to hire a full timer, be sure to ask your consultant - you never know!