Just Williams is a certified B- Corp, we are also a sales and marketing organisation but its this B-Corp status that drives each and every one of our business decisions. We are on the Entrepreneur's Forum Scale Up programme and looking to grow the business over the coming years through adding additional team members and services. And as discussed in my last piece, it's not without its challenges.
So in a time where the world of recruitment remains more than challenging and organisations are reviewing expenditure with a fine tooth comb, dealing with the lack of grants and looking for returns above their average rates – what is the future of the outsourced model?
I could and reguarly do argue on both sides and have only today been to see a prospect and recommended the need to take sales inhouse. Outsourcing is not right for everyone but here’s why I still fly the flag for outsourced services and will continue to do so:
Recruitment – It removes the headache of recruiting, upskilling, managing and retaining an internal team (see my last article!).
Cost – Our solutions provide access to a sales professional, marketing professional and administrator throughout the year are still more cost effective than hiring one full time position (based on market rates).
Expertise – You hire a team when you outsource, a team of experts in their field and have access to all of them versus recruiting one person and having only their capabilities.
Experience – Again, you have a whole team at your disposal along with their up to date experience across a range of other markets, sectors and geographies.
Market Knowledge – working for a range of clients, an outsourced organisation is ”in the know’ regarding industry changes and can provide a view covering a wider perspective and can remove groupthink danger zones.
Networks – An outsourced agency has a wide network, which if like us, can open this to clients and encourage cross collaboration.
Data and Platforms – we, like many agencies, work with lots of different platforms and CRM systems so provide insights and recommendations based on market knowledge and share best practices with our clients.
One size does not fit all and there are still organisations that require the team inhouse. I personally like to focus on what we are good at as a team and outsource the rest – I find it far quicker, easier, cheaper and less stressful to bring in experts to advise and do rather than spending hours working it out and then possibly executing it poorly and having to outsource in the long run. This is a lesson that took me longer to learn than I should have in a bid to save costs but has in the long term cost me more. I now always outsource!
If you are an owner managed business looking to grow your organisation through brand visibility, lead generation and impact – we would love the chance to chat and tell you more about the benefits of outsourcing your sales and marketing function!
Just Williams is an impact-led sales and marketing organisation working with owner-managed businesses to raise brand profile, lead generate and embed ESG.
Just Williams – Sales and Marketing
www.justwilliamsltd.co.uk