Small business owners often find themselves taking on the role of the proverbial “chief cook and bottle washer.” That is, they wear every hat, filling in staffing gaps and taking up the slack as needed. Especially with startups, business owners aren’t just “the boss.” They’re the face of the company, often providing customers’ services while also running the business and handling the marketing. Unfortunately, the same is often true in more established companies these days, as the struggling economy has forced downsizing, yet the work must still be done.

Of course, some tasks are still best left to experts. With many small businesses unwilling or unable to hire full-time, in-house marketing staff, many are looking for a better alternative to promote their businesses in Boston. Marketing companies that lock clients into lengthy contracts are not a great option. Simply hiring individual freelancers, such as finding a Boston web design expert to do project-based work, still leaves all of the project management up to the small business owner and often makes for disjointed marketing efforts.

There is a more effective solution for small businesses looking to promote their businesses in Boston: Marketing through outsourcing. By opting for an outsourced marketing department, small business owners see all the benefits of having full-time marketing staff while paying only for the time and services they need. No hiring search, no benefits, no payroll. An outsourced marketing department is a great way to access the talent necessary to make your marketing efforts pay off without breaking the bank.

Agencies that operate as outsourced marketing departments have established working relationships with vendors and freelancers. These associations often translate into even better prices for small business owners who reap the benefits in the long term. For example, a freelancer who specializes in Boston web design may offer an outsourced marketing department discounted pricing for its clients, as the marketing company brings the designer so much business. A vendor who produces printed marketing materials may offer bulk pricing or faster service to a Boston marketing company with which s/he has had a long-standing relationship, and again, these are benefits that should be passed along to the small business owner. Finally, an outsourced marketing department will have seasoned, sought-after experts on staff, full time. This enables their clients to access a level of talent that would be cost-prohibitive to a company doing in-house marketing or strictly using freelancers.

Simply by gaining access to the beneficial relationships an outsourced Boston marketing firm can offer, small business owners put themselves in a much stronger position than if they were to continue tackling their marketing internally. Adding in the flexibility, staffing cost savings, level of expertise, and project management services, and it becomes a very easy choice. For modern companies, outsourced marketing is the way to go.

Damien Cabral is the author of this article on outsourced marketing solutions, and he is an expert on Boston marketing and Boston web design.