Social Media Agency vs In-House Marketing: Which is Best for Equestrian Brands and Events?

In the equestrian world, an impactful online presence is no longer optional - it's essential. Whether you're running a prestigious equestrian event, managing a leading equestrian brand, or promoting a product line, your social media strategy is a key component of success.

But when it comes to managing social media, is it better to build an in-house team or partner with a specialist equestrian marketing agency like EQuerry Co? Let’s explore the advantages and challenges of both options to help you decide.

In-House Marketing: Keeping It Within Your Team

For established equestrian brands or large events, managing social media in-house may seem like a logical choice. Your team already understands your values, audience, and goals, so why not take ownership of the content creation and strategy?

Advantages of In-House Marketing

1. Control Over Brand Voice: With an in-house team, you maintain direct oversight of how your brand is presented online, ensuring every post aligns with your vision.

2. Internal Knowledge: Your team already understands your products, services, and audience, which can make content creation more seamless.

3. Quick Response Times: For real-time updates during events or launches, having your team handle social media can ensure swift execution.

Challenges of In-House Marketing

1. Resource-Heavy: Building and maintaining an in-house marketing team requires significant investment in time, training, and salaries.

2. Specialised Skills: Effective social media management demands expertise in strategy, analytics, creative design, and advertising - skills that may not all be readily available within your team.

3. Scaling Issues: As your needs grow, it can be challenging for a small team to keep up with the demands of an expanding social media presence.

Hiring a Specialist Equestrian Marketing Agency: Expertise at Your Fingertips

Equestrian-focused marketing agencies like EQuerry / Co are designed to help large brands and events thrive in the digital arena. With a team of specialists, agencies bring tailored expertise, resources, and creativity to your marketing strategy.

Advantages of Partnering with an Agency

1. Industry Knowledge: Agencies that specialise in equestrian marketing understand the sector's unique dynamics, from audience preferences to the latest trends in equestrian sponsorship and event promotion.

2. High-Quality Content: Agencies have the tools, experience, and creative talent to produce top-tier content that sets your brand apart, whether that’s behind-the-scenes event coverage or sleek product showcases.

3. Comprehensive Strategy: From long-term brand development to targeted campaigns, agencies provide a holistic approach to help you achieve measurable results.

4. Flexibility and Scalability: Whether you’re preparing for a flagship event or rolling out a product line, agencies can adjust their approach to match your specific requirements.

Challenges of Hiring an Agency

1. Investment: While agencies are an additional cost, the results - ranging from increased brand visibility to higher engagement - often provide a significant return on investment.

2. Collaboration Effort: Working closely with an agency requires clear communication to ensure your vision and goals are fully realised.

How EQuerry / Co Can Support Your In-House Marketing Team or Act as Your Full Marketing Partner

At EQuerry / Co, we understand that every equestrian brand or event has unique needs. Some organisations have dedicated in-house marketing teams that require specialist support, while others look for a full-service marketing partner to manage their entire strategy. Whether you’re running a prestigious equestrian event or building a global brand, EQuerry can adapt to your needs, providing the expertise and flexibility to help you succeed.

Supporting Your In-House Marketing Team

For equestrian brands and events with in-house marketing teams, EQuerry acts as an extension of your team, providing additional skills, tools, and resources to amplify your efforts. Here’s how we can help:

1. Specialist Expertise: Our deep knowledge of the equestrian industry allows us to provide valuable insights into trends, audience behaviour, and creative strategies that resonate with your target market.

2. Content Creation Support: Struggling to keep up with the demand for high-quality content? We can step in to create visually stunning videos, social media campaigns, and promotional materials that align with your brand voice and goals.

3. Campaign Development: Whether you’re launching a new product or promoting an upcoming event, EQuerry can help craft targeted campaigns that deliver measurable results.

4. Advanced Tools and Analytics: We use the latest tools to analyse performance and optimise campaigns. Sharing these insights with your in-house team ensures your strategy is always data-driven and effective.

EQuerry / Co - Your Full-Service Marketing Partner

For equestrian businesses or events without a dedicated marketing team, EQuerry can handle every aspect of your marketing strategy, ensuring your business thrives in the competitive digital landscape.

1. Comprehensive Strategy Development: We’ll create a tailored marketing plan that aligns with your brand’s goals, whether that’s driving ticket sales for an event, building brand awareness, or attracting sponsors.

2. End-to-End Social Media Management: From creating engaging posts to managing community interactions, we’ll take care of your social media presence across all platforms. Our focus is on showcasing your brand professionally while fostering meaningful connections with your audience.

3. Content Production: Our team produces premium content, including video, photography, and graphic design, to highlight your brand’s story and value.

4. Event Promotion: We have a proven track record in promoting large-scale equestrian events, ensuring maximum reach and engagement through targeted digital campaigns, influencer collaborations, and sponsorship activations.

5. Regular Reporting and Optimisation: With detailed analytics and reporting, we provide transparent insights into your marketing performance.

Good Marketing: How Much Does It Cost?

When planning your marketing activities for the year, understanding the cost is crucial. Industry standards suggest that businesses allocate between 5% and 20% of their annual revenue to marketing, depending on their growth goals, also taking into consideration the time they’ve been in business. For equestrian businesses or events aiming to scale rapidly or reach international audiences, this percentage may need to be on the higher end of the scale. Here at EQuerry, we offer bespoke pricing based on the scope of your needs, whether that’s a one-off campaign, ongoing social media management, or full management of all your equestrian marketing activities. Our services are designed to provide measurable returns on investment, ensuring every dollar spent drives tangible results for your brand.

What’s Right for Your Brand?

The decision between building an in-house team or partnering with a specialist agency like EQuerry / Co is not just about social media - it’s about your entire marketing strategy. From brand development and content production to event promotion and sponsorship activation, your marketing activities need to align seamlessly with your business goals and resources.

For equestrian brands and events with the capacity to hire and maintain a skilled marketing team, in-house efforts can provide close alignment with internal operations and the brand’s unique culture. However, the complexities of modern marketing - encompassing digital campaigns, content strategy, event promotion, analytics, and stakeholder engagement - often require a broader range of expertise than most in-house teams can offer.

If your focus is on delivering a high-calibre event, driving global recognition for your brand, or attracting and retaining sponsors, a marketing agency provides the specialised resources and expertise needed to achieve those outcomes. Agencies like EQuerry / Co bring a comprehensive approach to your marketing, integrating strategies across multiple platforms, ensuring brand consistency, and delivering results that are both measurable and impactful.

Additionally, for businesses with existing in-house teams, an agency can be a valuable partner. By providing specialist support in areas like campaign development, analytics, or content creation, agencies can enhance your team’s efforts and help you achieve goals more efficiently. This hybrid approach combines the intimate knowledge of your in-house team with the cutting-edge expertise of marketing professionals, creating a collaborative model that maximises impact.

When choosing the best approach for your brand, consider factors such as your long-term goals, the complexity of your marketing needs, and the resources available to your organisation. Whether you need a dedicated partner to take the reins of your entire marketing strategy or expert support to complement your team, Equerry Co. is here to ensure your brand stands out in the competitive equestrian industry.

Let’s Work Together
Are you on a search for a reliable and results-orientated equestrian marketing agency? Book a call with us to discover how EQuerry / Co can support your equestrian brand or event with a tailored approach to marketing that will deliver results across every aspect of your business.