From in-house to agency: what we've learned from working both sides
If you’ve ever worked in a charity comms or marketing team, you’ll know it can be a whirlwind of tight budgets, endless sign-off chains, and the occasional existential crisis over whether anyone actually reads your carefully crafted content. But what happens when you move from in-house to agency life?
At olio creative, we’ve been on both sides of the fence, and it’s given us a unique perspective on how to support in-house teams in a way that actually helps. Here’s what we’ve learned.
Being heard: in-house vs. agency
One of the biggest shifts we’ve noticed? In agency, people actually listen to you. Groundbreaking. CEOs and Directors who may have ignored an in-house team’s recommendation will suddenly take notice when the same thing is presented with an agency logo on it. We get it - it’s frustrating! And let’s be honest, not all agencies are good. Sometimes, in-house teams will watch external consultants roll in with a big budget and a “new” idea that looks suspiciously like something they pitched six months ago (only now it’s somehow revolutionary).
We know how maddening that is, which is why we take a different approach. We work with in-house teams, not over them, and we make sure their expertise is valued.
Interestingly, working in an agency or freelance doesn’t just change how others perceive you - it changes how you perceive yourself. When you’re constantly asked for your expertise and trusted to deliver, your confidence naturally grows. Not because you weren’t already skilled, but because the environment reinforces your value in a way that in-house roles often don’t.
Creativity & headspace
In-house teams are constantly spinning plates, jumping from one urgent request to the next. Finding time for big-picture thinking or creative problem-solving can feel impossible when you're dealing with last-minute campaign changes or scrambling for approvals.
Agencies, on the other hand, have the advantage of more dedicated time for creative exploration. There’s space to develop ideas properly, test new approaches, and refine strategies without the same day-to-day pressures. And because agencies can often choose the projects they take on, they’re more likely to be working on briefs that inspire them - something that’s not always possible in-house.
Internal politics vs. fresh perspectives
If you’ve ever spent weeks fine-tuning a campaign only for it to be derailed by a last-minute opinion from senior leadership, you’re not alone. Internal politics can be one of the toughest challenges for in-house teams. Agencies, on the other hand, bring the benefit of an outside perspective - we’re not weighed down by office politics, so we can push ideas through more easily.
That said, we also know that external ideas aren’t always met with open arms. That’s why we focus on helping in-house teams navigate these dynamics, supporting them to champion their own ideas internally.
How great agencies collaborate
We know the stereotype: an agency swoops in, drops a big strategy doc on the table, and then disappears into the ether. That’s not how we do things. We believe the best work happens when agencies and in-house teams collaborate. You know your organisation inside out; we bring fresh perspectives and additional capacity. Working together means we can create something that actually works for you, rather than adding more to your already full plate.
When we were in-house, we were lucky to work with some brilliant agencies - Social Firefly and MOREVER showed us how great agency collaboration can be. They worked with us, not just for us, and that’s exactly the approach we bring to our work now.
Key takeaways for in-house teams
So, what can in-house teams do to navigate these challenges?
Advocate for your expertise. If you know an idea is good, don’t be afraid to push for it. Data, case studies, or external validation can help make your case.
Make space for creativity. Easier said than done, we know, but even carving out an hour a month to brainstorm or try something new can make a difference.
Work with agencies, not against them. The right agency should feel like an extension of your team, not an outsider swooping in with unrealistic ideas.
Don’t be disheartened - agency life can be just as challenging sometimes. Jumping between brands, clients, style guides, tones of voice, and causes can be hard - not to mention the constant pressure to find new clients. It’s a different set of challenges, but challenges nonetheless!
At the end of the day, it’s not that agencies are better than in-house teams. It’s just that we have the time, headspace, and external perspective that in-house teams often don’t. And when agencies and in-house teams work together, magic happens.
If you’re looking for an agency that actually gets the in-house experience, we’re here to help. Let’s chat!
