Jan 08 2026
Do it yourself, or do you need help?
It's a big question that almost all business owners will ask themselves at some point.
The stakes are high because your answer has a major impact on your business.
Do it right and you set yourself up for growth. Do it wrong and you waste time, money and opportunity.
Here's the issue:
Business owners often don't know what's best in their specific situation.
Some will throw thousands at a digital marketing agency when they don't need one.
Others will struggle on their own with do-it-yourself marketing when they should get help.
Both approaches can work. But only if you choose the right approach for your business.
Let's get into…
DIY marketing means just that. You are doing it yourself.
This includes all aspects of digital marketing: creating social media posts and content, running email campaigns, SEO and more.
Yes, even paid advertising campaigns.
And honestly?
DIY marketing can be a great choice for some businesses. Especially early-stage companies and those with tight budgets.
In fact, 53% of small businesses dedicate 1-10 hours each week to marketing efforts. That's very reasonable for most small business owners who prefer to remain hands-on with their brands.
The obvious benefit to doing it yourself is that you save a ton of money.
Agency fees and retainers don't exist. You can spend every single dollar you have directly on campaigns and marketing activities.
It's only effective if you actually know what you are doing.
Spending money on Facebook ads without training will quickly deplete your budget. Creating SEO-optimized content without understanding keywords or research is shouting into the void.
The truth is that DIY marketing can be a serious time investment.
You must learn each platform, keep up with changing algorithms and create content and visuals. Then there's time needed to analyze, read reports and course correct.
DIY marketing is 100% a commitment.
But what about the other path?
The one where you hand off your marketing to the pros.
Yes, sometimes bringing in a digital marketing agency is the smart move.
Professional agencies like Boomcycle digital marketing agency have experience, tools, and strategies that would take years to build on your own.
A professional digital marketing agency can provide experienced specialists in all major areas. SEO, paid advertising, social media, content marketing, and more.
Agency teams are focused on digital marketing 24/7. It's their job to know the latest trends and techniques.
They've already made the mistakes. And learned from those lessons.
They understand what does and doesn't work across dozens of industries. The learning curve an agency helps you avoid is massive.
Agencies also have access to premium tools and software.
Keyword research, competitor analysis, campaign management software, and other tools can cost thousands per month for a business. Agencies have those built into their fees.
The research shows many small businesses go this route.
75% of SMBs say they prefer boutique digital marketing agencies over large firms due to their cost-effectiveness and specialized expertise. These small business owners understand that professional help often nets a much higher ROI than struggling on your own.
If you are still on the fence, here are some important factors to consider.
Your budget is a huge factor, but it's not the only one.
Don't just look at how much you have for marketing. Review your available time and current digital marketing knowledge.
Be honest. Do you have 10 hours per week or more to dedicate to marketing?
If running your business is all consuming, marketing will suffer.
Marketing is a "must do" area and needs regular attention to succeed. Half-assed efforts will rarely result in workable results.
What do you currently know about digital marketing?
While you might understand the basics of creating and managing social media profiles, you might not know how to really succeed with social ads or advanced SEO.
If things like "schema markup" and "conversion tracking" are confusing to you, you need training before you can DIY.
Ambitious growth targets call for professional assistance.
Try to double your revenue while teaching yourself how to run marketing campaigns by watching YouTube tutorials.
This won't work. It will be a frustrating experience.
Digital marketing agencies can get you up and running significantly faster.
What takes you six months to try to learn, figure out and apply will take them six days.
Marketing requirements increase significantly when industry competition is high.
If competitors are already outsourcing marketing to agencies, a DIY approach puts you at a disadvantage.
Review what your top competitors are doing with their marketing. Check their website and search results for rankings and content. Look at ads to see what they are running.
This is the bar you must meet or exceed.
Still not sure which approach is right for your business?
Let's go through a quick framework.
DIY marketing is probably best for you when all these statements are true.
Your monthly marketing budget is $2,000 or less. You have 10 or more hours per week to spend on marketing tasks. Industry competition is not high. You really enjoy learning and trying new skills.
Hiring a digital marketing agency is probably best when the following is true:
You have a budget of $3,000+ per month for marketing fees. You have little to no time available to spend on marketing. The competition you face all have marketing agencies. You must see results within 90 days.
In between these two are some options worth considering.
Some businesses begin with DIY marketing to learn the basics of what works. They then bring in an agency to scale those initial efforts.
This hybrid approach of building internal digital marketing knowledge and using professionals to take things to the next level works well.
It's also possible to choose a hybrid model where you outsource only certain services.
For example, you might do your own social media while hiring an agency to manage SEO and paid ads. This keeps costs lower while still bringing in help where needed most.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the DIY vs. agency question.
Both approaches can be best in the right situation.
Look honestly at your current budget, available time, digital marketing skills, and competition level.
The businesses that win at marketing make a decision on this and then commit fully to the strategy they pick.
Does it matter if you roll up your sleeves or hire a digital marketing agency? Not nearly as much as picking a course and executing.
Business owners. Time to decide. Which path is right for you and your business today?
Tell me what you need and I'll get back to you right away.