Not with a big in-house org (while, I will be hiring!). But through an ecosystem of expert freelancers and agencies — with deep craft, strong POVs, and killer communication.
I act as the internal architect.
They plug in as specialized partners.
And honestly? I think this is where more marketing teams are headed.
Because the best contractors today don’t just do the work.
They help design the strategy.
In just 8 weeks, I’ve had conversations with 15+ vendors.
Hired 5+. Let a few go.
And what’s worked best is simple:
→ Strong POV
→ Excellent project management
→ Proactive, strategic communication
One agency even cold-pitched me — and still won the deal.
They didn’t just send a pitch deck.
They built an Aligned digital sales room customized to our business.
Not for onboarding, but to win the deal.
Every resource I needed to advocate internally was right there. They clearly understood our product, had ideas prepped, and brought the kind of detail that makes you think: “Wow, they get it.” (And you bet I shared it internally to geek out with my company!)
That kickoff call? Smooth as hell:
→ Communication plan
→ Timeline and expectations
→ Thought starters ready to go
→ Clear next steps
→ I left the call with relief
I’ve never been so excited about marketing as an entire function.
There’s just so much talent in the market right now — small, focused shops building incredibly smart offers.
→ Brand designers thinking about AI + Canva enablement
→ Organic-first thinkers building content ecosystems
→ AI SEO specialists
→ And dozens more who’ve taught me something new
This model excites me.
Not just because it scales — but because it creates space for more brains, better ideas, and faster momentum.
Here’s my running checklist for what makes a vendor indispensable:
(aka what I actually look for before signing)
✅ 1. A super clear offer — they know exactly what they do best
✅ 2. They want to be a strategic partner, not just take orders
✅ 3. They’re proactive in communication and delivery
✅ 4. Their pricing model doesn’t reward bloat or artificial scaling
✅ 5. They respectfully challenge my assumptions and teach me something
✅ 6. They’re on top of PM — and not afraid to ping me again if I drop a thread
✅ 7. They’re deep experts (no bait-and-switch from pitch star to junior doer)
✅8. They’re usually a small shop for the reason above
✅ 9. They’ve got proof their strategy actually works
✅ 10. They flex their execution to fit our business, not a playbook
✅ 11. They bring solutions and clarity — I just have to say “yes”
We’re not just building teams.
We’re building systems.
And the future belongs to those who can architect both.
Are you building like this too, or still leaning in-house first? Any agencies/teams that have wow’d you with an unique offer?
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