5 reasons to hire an agency that doesn’t rely on outsourcing

Most agencies contract at least some of their work out, especially in busy seasons. But too much outsourcing is definitely not to your advantage as a client, and it’s not good for workers either. 

Here are 5 reasons for your union to hire an agency that doesn’t rely on outsourcing.

1. You save hard-earned union dues

Too much subcontracting means higher costs for you and your union. Subcontractors charge fees that then get marked up by the agency, and that means your hard earned dues don’t get used efficiently.

For example, your ad spend is often the largest single line-item in your contract with an agency. Unfortunately, many agencies contract their media buying to outside vendors and pay premiums for those services. In some scenarios, ad buyers charge upwards of 30% commission, which in turn gets marked up even more by the agency!That directly undermines your campaign–less money going towards the ad spend itself means less visibility, fewer clicks, and more expensive signups.

By hiring an agency that doesn’t rely on outsourcing, you avoid fees and markups and get the most for your members’ dues. 

2. You support full-time, permanent work 

If you work with a unionized agency you can be confident that the people doing the work are being treated fairly. That means secure and permanent full-time roles, wages that are firmly above the cost of living, paid overtime, generous paid time off, health benefits, strong focus on workplace wellness, and a positive culture. 

Employers invest in full-time staff more than they do in contractors. Supporting full-time, permanent work helps make the advertising industry better for everyone. 

3. Your campaign work is done by people you know and trust

Subcontractors don’t get to know you and you don’t get to know them. If an agency is subcontracting too much of your work, you’re essentially handing your campaign over to strangers. 

But when you work with full-time agency staff, you get to build direct relationships with the people working on your project. Those staff get to know you, your goals, and your campaigns. Because contractors are often totally unknown to you (and you are unknown to them), their level of commitment to your project just isn’t the same. In many cases, you don’t even get to meet the subcontractors who are working on your campaign.

When you work with a permanent team you get access to a cohesive group that’s been put together strategically for maximum impact. They’re consistent, which means you get to know them and they get to know you. And that means better results.

4. Your feedback goes directly to the people who are doing the work

Nobody likes a game of telephone. Your message is important, and it needs to come through clearly.

But if your agency is working with too many contractors, it’s hard to communicate your message to the people who are actually doing the work. Being one step removed, you don’t get the same level of accountability that comes from a consistent relationship with a permanent full-time team. 

Communication is faster and more efficient when you’re closer to the source. You’re setting yourself and your campaign up for success if you can be confident that your ideas are getting through to the people doing the work. 

5. Your timelines will be honoured 

Your campaign may include crucial deadlines, so it’s important to work with an agency that has the capacity to see your campaign through to successful completion on budget and on time.

An agency with a robust full-time team has the capacity to be nimble and move quickly when you need it. Rather than relying on a bunch of different subcontractors, a full-time team can be extremely efficient. For example, it’s helpful to have a creative director and paid media team lead in the same shop so they can make edits on the fly. 

Workloads and deadlines are planned for with proper coverage, so there won’t be any surprises when it comes to establishing a calendar for your work. 

So, what kind of agency SHOULD you hire?

Before signing on to work with an agency, make sure you know how much of the work will be done by full-time in-house staff and how much will be subcontracted. Your cause and your organization deserve an agency with strong internal capacity to avoid the pitfalls listed above. 

At Point Blank, we’re committed to a full-time permanent staff group because we value workers and we want the best results for our clients. 

• Point Blank is Canada’s largest progressive agency made up of the best strategists, campaigners, media buyers, and creatives from across the country–and they’re all employed full-time under one roof. 
• We have long standing working relationships with unions, progressive political parties, and non-profit organizations across the country. That’s because we only work with organizations and causes we believe in. We’re not in it to chase awards–impact work is our expertise.
• Point Blank is one of Canada’s only fully unionized agencies. We offer 50+ permanent, full-time jobs instead of relying only on subcontractors, perpetuating precarious gig work, or paying to use a union bug. 
• We offer in-house media buying with no double-charging and some of the lowest commission rates in the industry, so your members’ dues go up to 30% further.
• We use a strategy-first approach informed by data and research-driven insights to deliver campaigns that are smarter, more targeted and more impactful

Want to learn more about Point Blank and the work we do? Click here. 

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