Time vs. Money: Should You DIY or Hire a Marketing Team?
Introduction
Marketing your business takes time. But time is money — and for many small business owners, the real question isn’t “how should I market myself?” It’s:
“Should I do it myself or outsource it?”
This post helps you make a smart, strategic decision based on your goals, budget, and bandwidth.
Understand the Tradeoff
Every task in your business costs either:
• Time (if you do it yourself), or
• Money (if you pay someone else)
There’s no right answer — just the one that moves you forward faster with less burnout.
When DIY Marketing Makes Sense
✅ You’re early-stage and cash-conscious ✅ You want to understand your audience firsthand ✅ You’re testing messaging before scaling ✅ You have more time than leads
What to DIY:
• Instagram content
• Blog posts with templates
• Canva graphics
• Lead magnets
• Email newsletters
Tools that help:
• Canva, Later, Flodesk, Notion
When It’s Time to Outsource
✅ You’re consistently making money
✅ Your plate is full — but you want to grow ✅ You’re dropping balls or procrastinating consistently ✅ You want pro-level strategy + systems
What to outsource:
• Strategy (marketing consultant or coach)
• Execution (graphic design, email writing, ads management)
• Tech (funnels, analytics, integrations)
What It Really Costs
• Freelancers: $30–$75/hr
• Agencies: $1,000–$5,000+/month
• Specialists: $500–$2,000/project
But don’t just look at the price tag — consider the return on time saved, and the revenue that faster growth brings.
Hybrid Approach (Best of Both Worlds)
• Keep content creation in-house
• Outsource repurposing, design, scheduling
• Hire a strategist to create the plan — then execute it yourself
This works well for solopreneurs and coaches in growth mode.
Conclusion
If you’re stuck in indecision, do this: calculate your hourly value (your average sale ÷ time it takes to deliver).
If you’re spending hours on $20 tasks and turning down $500 projects — it’s time to hire help.
Follow @carlamariabruno and @ottawareels
�� contact@carlamariabruno.com for consulting or referrals to vetted marketing support.
