Why You Should Consider Hiring an Outsourced Marketing Manager

Beth Comstock, the former CMO of General Electric, once said, “Marketing’s job is never done. It’s about perpetual motion.” As a company grows, its marketing needs scale quickly, sometimes outpacing the capacity of its existing team. 

If you want to innovate every day, as Comstock suggests, you’ll need a comprehensive marketing strategy that adapts to competitive market conditions and audience expectations. Many businesses—especially SMEs—may not have the resources to support a full-time, in-house marketing manager. 

Outsourcing can be the answer. 

This article will examine the role of outsourced marketing managers, the benefits they can provide, some reasons why you might want to hire one, and the qualities to look for in your search. 

What Is an Outsourced Marketing Manager?

An outsourced marketing manager is a professional who is recruited to manage a company’s marketing activities as an external consultant or through a marketing agency. 

You can hire an outsourced marketing manager on a contract basis, often for a defined project or during a specified time frame. These experts bring a wealth of expertise and an external perspective to the business.

Unlike a traditional marketing manager, who is a permanent member of the company’s staff, an outsourced marketing manager operates independently or as part of a third-party team, offering their marketing services to multiple clients. 

They can either complement your current marketing efforts or take full charge of your company’s marketing strategy and execution.

Outsourced marketing manager roles and responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of an outsourced marketing manager can vary depending on the needs of your business, but they generally include:

• Developing advertising strategies: Planning through market research, competitor analysis, and different aspects of digital and traditional marketing approaches.
• Campaign management: Overseeing marketing campaigns from start to finish, ensuring they meet business goals and are delivered on time and within budget.
• Content creation: Guiding the creation and distribution of relevant content across various marketing channels to engage the target market and promote the company’s products or services.
• Digital marketing: Implementing and optimizing digital marketing activities, which could include SEO, PPC campaigns, social media marketing, and email marketing.
• Analytics and reporting: Tracking the performance of marketing initiatives and using these insights to improve future campaigns.
• Vendor and agency coordination: Liaising with other marketing agencies, vendors, and partners to ensure cohesive strategy execution.

This flexibility makes outsourced marketing managers particularly attractive to companies that require top-tier marketing expertise but must be mindful of their budget and in-house resources.

When Should You Outsource a Marketing Manager?

More than 90% of companies outsource some or all of their marketing activities. Here are several situations that indicate it might be time to consider outsourcing your marketing management:

Your company is undergoing growth

When your business is growing faster than you can hire or if your marketing needs are becoming too complex for your current team, an outsourced marketing manager can quickly step in with the expertise needed to support and sustain your growth.

You have limited in-house expertise

If your current team lacks specialized marketing skills, such as expertise in digital marketing, SEO, or analytics, an outsourced marketing manager can fill those gaps. 

You have budget constraints

Hiring a full-time marketing manager means paying for their salary, benefits, and training. If you’re working with a tight budget, marketing outsourcing can be cost effective, providing access to a marketing professional at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.

You need a fresh perspective

Sometimes it helps to have an external perspective to challenge the status quo and bring in new marketing ideas. An outsourced marketing manager is not constrained by internal biases and can provide objective, innovative approaches to your marketing strategy.

You’re scaling marketing efforts for a campaign

Specific campaigns or product launches may require intensive marketing efforts that your in-house team cannot handle alone. An outsourced manager can lead these initiatives without a long-term commitment.

You have time-sensitive marketing goals

If you have aggressive timelines and need to achieve marketing objectives quickly, bringing an outsourced marketing manager on board can help accelerate your efforts. They can provide immediate support without the lead time required for hiring and onboarding a new employee.

‍How Can an Outsourced Marketing Manager Benefit Your Business?

An outsourced marketing manager can contribute positively to your company’s marketing efforts and overall growth. Here’s how:

Access to specialized knowledge and marketing experience

Outsourced marketing managers often have a broad range of expertise accrued from working with diverse clients across industries. This exposure allows them to apply proven marketing strategies and best practices to your business.

Cost effectiveness

By outsourcing, you can avoid the overhead costs associated with hiring a full-time employee, such as benefits, office space, and equipment. Even further, hiring from regions with lower living costs, like Latin America (LatAm), means you can benefit from competitive salary expectations compared with US-based marketing managers. 

Flexibility and scalability

With an outsourced marketing manager, you have the flexibility to ramp up or scale down marketing efforts based on business performance, seasonality, or budget fluctuations without committing to long-term contracts or staff adjustments.

Quick implementation of new technologies

Remote marketing managers often bring with them a deep understanding of cutting-edge software and tools for analytics, automation, and customer relationship management that can benefit your campaigns.

Results-driven approach

Since outsourced marketing managers need to continually justify their value, they are committed to delivering measurable results. They focus on ROI, ensuring your marketing dollars are spent wisely.

Qualities and Qualifications To Look For in an Outsourced Marketing Manager

When you’re ready to outsource your marketing management, here are the key qualifications and qualities to consider:

• Relevant experience: Look for someone with a proven track record of success in your industry or with similarly sized businesses.
• Technical expertise: Remote marketers need a strong command of online marketing tools and platforms. 
• Creativity: Marketing requires creative problem-solving and innovative approaches. 
• Communication: Outsourced marketers need to be able to communicate with teammates and effectively convey your brand message to customers. 
• Management skills: Organizational and project management skills are critical for campaign success.

A strong portfolio and positive references from past clients can provide insight into the marketing manager’s capabilities and the quality of their work. Don’t hesitate to ask for case studies or success stories.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to fill a skill gap, inject fresh ideas, or implement strategic marketing campaigns, an outsourced marketing manager can offer the flexibility and specialized skill sets you need to succeed.

If you’re ready to bolster your marketing efforts with top-tier talent within just 21 days, fill out a simple form to access pre-vetted marketing candidates from LatAm. These dedicated professionals are ready to elevate your marketing initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an outsourced marketing manager the same as an outsourced CMO?

No, they serve different roles. An outsourced marketing manager typically handles the day-to-day execution of marketing strategies and campaigns, while an outsourced chief marketing officer (CMO) focuses on creating high-level marketing plans and often gets involved in broader business development activities.

What is the difference between an outsourced marketing manager and a head of marketing?

A head of marketing is a full-time senior executive who leads an in-house marketing team and crafts long-term marketing strategies. An outsourced marketing manager is a contracted individual who focuses on specific marketing projects or tasks, providing flexibility for short-term or specialized needs.