Agency Advantage

Are you considering whether to manage your new Ambassador marketing program in-house or tap into the expertise of an agency? Or perhaps you’ve already been managing your program internally and are evaluating whether it’s time to outsource to a specialized agency?

Here are three key advantages of outsourcing your Ambassador marketing program to an expert agency:

1. Save Money

Managing an Ambassador program internally can incur significant costs, many of which are often overlooked in the decision-making process. Let’s break it down:

In-house Costs:

Salaries: Full-time employees with the expertise in influencer or advocacy marketing can command substantial salaries. A marketing manager, for example, may cost between $60,000–$90,000 US annually, while a senior program manager could command $100,000 or more. And that’s not all—add to this the overhead costs such as health benefits, paid time off (PTO), insurance, and more, which could easily increase total compensation by 40% or more.
Training and Onboarding: If your in-house team is new to Ambassador marketing, you’ll need to factor in the cost of training and onboarding. This time and investment could further increase costs, particularly when trying to build expertise from the ground up.
Opportunity Costs: Managing a specialized program like Ambassador marketing requires dedicated resources. If in-house employees are diverted from their core roles, overall productivity can decrease, causing delays in other areas of your business.

Agency Costs:

In comparison, agencies typically charge a monthly fee of around $2,500, totaling about $30,000 per year—a fraction of the in-house costs when you factor in salaries, training, and the potential inefficiencies of internal management.
By outsourcing, businesses can skip the trial-and-error phase of developing an in-house program, quickly benefiting from an agency’s established processes and expertise.

2. Save Time

In addition to cost savings, outsourcing to an expert agency allows you to save valuable time and resources. Here’s how:

Efficient Execution:

Agencies are experienced and well-equipped with streamlined processes, tools, and systems specifically designed for Ambassador marketing. This means they can get your program up and running faster, with less lead time, than an in-house team would need to develop from scratch.

No Learning Curve:

If your in-house team is unfamiliar with the intricacies of Ambassador marketing, there’s often a learning curve that can delay results. From understanding the right tools to staying on top of trends, the ramp-up time for internal teams can be lengthy. An expert agency, on the other hand, has the experience to dive straight into execution with minimal ramp-up time, ensuring you don’t lose momentum.

Focused Attention:

In-house teams often juggle multiple roles and projects, meaning your Ambassador program might not always get the attention it deserves. Agencies, however, are dedicated to executing and optimizing your program, ensuring faster turnaround times and more consistent results.

Faster Scaling:

Agencies also benefit from pre-existing relationships with influencers, advocates, and other key figures in the marketing ecosystem. This enables them to quickly identify the right ambassadors and scale campaigns faster than an internal team could, ensuring quicker results.

3. Maximize Results/ROI

An expert agency’s experience and specialization directly translate into better results and higher ROI for your brand. Here’s why:

Optimized Strategy:

Agencies have a deep understanding of how to select and collaborate with the right ambassadors who align with your brand’s values, messaging, and goals. Rather than focusing on vanity metrics like follower count, they prioritize engagement and conversion, which results in a more targeted, effective strategy.

Pre-Established Relationships:

Agencies often have established networks of trusted influencers and ambassadors. These pre-existing relationships allow for smoother negotiations, faster onboarding, and greater engagement—leading to higher ROI in less time.

Data-Driven Decisions:

Agencies utilize advanced analytics and performance tracking tools to monitor the effectiveness of your Ambassador campaigns. By relying on data to make decisions, agencies can optimize campaigns in real-time, ensuring your program always delivers the best possible results.

Proven Tactics:

With years of hands-on experience, agencies know what works and what doesn’t. They’ve tested and refined strategies that consistently drive measurable outcomes, such as customer acquisition, retention, and brand loyalty—leading to a long-term positive impact for your business.

Recap: Why Choose an Agency?

Cost Efficiency: Save thousands of dollars annually by leveraging an agency’s expertise instead of managing a team in-house.
Faster Execution: Agencies have the tools, processes, and experience to launch and scale campaigns quickly, ensuring faster results and a competitive edge.
Better ROI: Agencies rely on data-driven strategies to continually optimize your Ambassador program, guaranteeing the highest possible return on your investment.

Conclusion: The Case for Outsourcing to an Expert Agency

Outsourcing your Ambassador marketing program to an expert agency provides numerous advantages, including substantial cost savings, time efficiencies, and superior results. Whether you’re a small startup or a well-established brand, leveraging an agency’s expertise allows you to maximize the potential of your Ambassador marketing efforts and unlock a more measurable ROI.

By outsourcing, you gain access to proven strategies, stronger industry relationships, and a team of experts dedicated to driving the success of your program—ultimately resulting in greater brand advocacy, increased customer loyalty, and better business outcomes.

About the Author

Rob Fuggetta is the founder/CEO of Vibe Advocates, an Ambassador/Advocate marketing agency, and is formerly founder/CEO of Zuberance, a pioneering advocacy software and services company. With more than 15 years of experience, Rob is a thought leader in the industry and the author of Brand Advocates: Turning Your Enthusiastic Customers into a Powerful Marketing Force.