Marketing services you can outsource
- SEO: technical fixes, content and links that help you rank in search.
- Paid search and PPC: Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising and shopping campaigns.
- Paid social: Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok and other ad platforms.
- Organic social and community: content calendars and engagement.
- Content: articles, video, case studies and lead magnets.
- Email and CRM: newsletters, automations and segmentation.
Marketing rules to know when you go global
- EU and UK: GDPR and the ePrivacy rules (PECR in the UK) generally require consent for non-essential cookies and for most marketing emails to individuals.
- United States: the CAN-SPAM Act sets rules for commercial email, including a working opt-out. The FTC expects ads and endorsements to be truthful and clearly disclosed.
- Everywhere: ad platforms have their own policies, especially for finance, health and other regulated sectors.
How to choose an agency
- Ask for results from businesses like yours, and what they did to get them.
- Make sure ad accounts, analytics and data are set up in your name.
- Agree which numbers count (leads, sales, cost per acquisition) and how they’ll be reported.
- Be wary of anyone who guarantees rankings. Google’s own guidance warns against that.
- Check the notice period and minimum term before signing.
What affects the cost
Channels, markets and languages, how much content is needed, and whether ad spend is included or billed separately. Agencies often charge a monthly retainer, a percentage of ad spend, or project fees. Keep ad spend and management fees as separate lines when you compare.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
