Distributing content vs managing channels
Agencies are great for building your brand identity, designing your creative, and managing your community. They act like a part of your team. A managed content network is different. It is a utility. Its sole purpose is to get your content in front of as many people as possible. If you need a partner to brainstorm your next campaign or design your logo, go with an agency. If you have great content that is dying in a hole and you need to get it seen, go with a managed network.
Cost and efficiency tradeoffs
Agencies often charge a high fee for their time and expertise, much of which is spent on manual activities. A managed content network uses technology and scale to provide distribution at a lower price point than an army of agency staff. You are paying for the reach, not the creative process. If you are already producing high-quality videos in-house or with a separate partner, a network is a much more efficient way to spend your budget. It turns your content into a high-visibility asset without the agency markup.
Scaling with a network, not a fee
Agencies are excellent, but they are hard to scale. To get more reach, you have to pay more for more hours. With a managed content network, scaling is a matter of adding more pages to your footprint. The marginal cost is predictable and lower. As a founder, this is a much more scalable way to handle growth. You aren't paying for an agency to sit in a meeting; you are paying for an infrastructure that delivers your content to thousands of eyes 24/7. It is a more robust solution for scaling.
The hybrid approach
You don't have to choose just one. Many law firms use a hybrid model. They keep an agency for the strategy and production, and they use a managed content network for the distribution. This is often the strongest way to play. The agency handles the quality and the brand, and the network handles the volume and the traffic. It is a powerful combination that covers both bases. It costs a bit more, but it provides a level of quality and reach that is simply unmatched.
Use a managed content network for high-volume distribution, and an agency for creative strategy and production.
See your network before you hire.
Tell us what your law firm already makes and how you get customers today. We'll show you a real network running live and tell you honestly whether it fits. It costs about the same as one marketing hire.
Follow-up questions
Can the network replace my agency?
Only if your agency is solely focused on distribution. If they handle production and creative, you will still need them.
Which one is cheaper?
Typically, the network is cheaper for the amount of reach you receive. Agencies are better for creative, which has a higher price point.
How do I know which I need?
Do you need better content (agency) or better distribution for your existing content (network)?