You’ve probably heard the same advice a dozen times: “Create content consistently. Focus on SEO. Publish high-quality blogs. Be a thought leader.”

Easy to say, much harder to pull off.

Most teams know content matters. But making it happen? That’s where things often get stuck. Ideas sit untouched. Writers come and go. Deadlines slip. And your blog hasn’t seen an update in months.

At some point, the question comes up: Should we hire a freelancer? Build a team? Or work with a content agency?

This article breaks down the latter.

Why Written Content Still Matters in 2025

When someone has a question, they usually don’t start by calling a salesperson. They google it.

They might type in something like:

• “How do I choose a project management tool?”
• “Best accounting software for small teams”
• “Why isn’t my website ranking?”

If your business can show up with a clear, helpful answer, that’s a foot in the door. That’s search intent. And written content is still the most effective way to meet it.

It’s not about gaming the algorithm or writing for robots. It’s about understanding what people are really searching for and offering something useful.

And it works. According to Invesp, organic search has a 16% conversion rate—higher than Amazon, social media, or paid ads.

That’s not just traffic, that’s real results.

Content writing for SEO gives your business a way to show up early, earn trust, and guide people toward a decision before they ever speak to anyone.

Common Content Struggles Businesses Face

There’s a gap between wanting to create great content and having the systems in place to actually do it.

That gap usually isn’t about skill. It’s about time, process, and ownership. The intent is there, but execution breaks down quickly. Here’s where most teams start to feel it.

Too many priorities, not enough hands

Content doesn’t live in a vacuum.

It’s competing with product launches, paid campaigns, internal requests, and a dozen other priorities. Most marketers already have full plates, and content becomes something to “get to later.”

Even when people know it matters, it’s hard to treat it like it does without dedicated time and focus. Good content requires more than writing—it needs strategy, research, editing, and review. And those things just don’t happen in between meetings.

Freelancers don't fix broken systems

Freelancers can be helpful, but they don’t come with structure.

Someone still has to assign topics, give feedback, align on voice, and check for quality. Without a clear process in place, things get inconsistent fast.

You might get one solid post. But then you need another writer. Or someone is late. Or the formatting’s off. Suddenly you’re managing four people just to keep one blog alive.

And when you’re busy, this kind of management gets dropped first.

The blog quietly stops performing

Blogs are often launched with enthusiasm. A few posts go up, maybe even a content calendar gets made. But over time, the schedule slips. Posts stop. Results flatten.

No one’s checking which content is ranking. No one’s updating old pieces. And no one’s sure what’s coming next.

That silence sends a message to your audience. It also tells Google that your content is out of date.

SEO gets ignored until traffic drops

SEO isn’t a plug-in. It’s not something you do once and forget.

It needs consistent effort—researching new keywords, updating old content, linking between posts, and making sure every page is built to be found.

When no one owns that part, performance fades slowly. You don’t notice until your rankings drop, and by then it’s a long road back.

These are the points where the benefits of hiring a content writing agency become more than convenient. A good agency doesn’t just deliver drafts. It brings consistency, structure, and a system that doesn’t depend on your team finding time they don’t have.

Freelancers vs In-House vs Content Agencies

You need content, but who’s actually going to write it?

Some teams hire freelancers. Others build a team from scratch. And some hand it off to an agency so they can stop thinking about it.

Each path works in the right situation. The trick is knowing what you’re getting into before you commit. Here’s how they compare.

Managing freelancers

Hiring a freelancer can be a good fit for small projects or businesses just starting with content. You can work on demand, keep costs low, and test different voices.

But consistency is tough. Managing multiple freelancers takes time. You’ll need to give detailed briefs, manage edits, and chase deadlines. And if someone drops the ball, it’s on you to fill the gap.

According to nDash, companies can save up to 70% compared to hiring full-time writers by working with freelancers.

Freelancers work well for one-offs. Less so when you need a system.

Hiring in-house teams

Bringing content in-house gives you tight control over voice, tone, and workflow. It’s a good option if you’re producing high volumes and want writers embedded in your team.

But the overhead is high. Salaries, onboarding, benefits, and tools all add up. And if your content needs shift, your team doesn’t scale down easily.

As of 2025, the average full-time content writer earns $56,425 a year in the US, not including benefits and overhead. That’s a big commitment, especially if content isn’t your team's main focus.

Working with a content writing agency

A content agency handles more than writing. It brings a process. That means you don’t have to manage multiple freelancers, juggle deadlines, or figure out SEO on your own.

The cost is higher than hiring a freelancer, but you’re getting a team with built-in systems. Strategy, editing, voice, alignment, keyword planning—it’s all covered.

For businesses that need consistent output, better rankings, and less hand-holding, this model often makes the most sense.

Making the right choice

When deciding between a content agency vs a freelance writer or building an in-house team, consider your specific needs:

• Budget constraints
• Need for consistent brand voice
• Volume and frequency of content
• Internal bandwidth for management

Each model has its merits, and the best choice depends on aligning these factors with your business goals.

When to Hire a Content Writing Agency

There’s a point when doing content in-house stops being practical.

Maybe your blog is weeks behind schedule. Maybe the person who was “going to write that” is now in back-to-back meetings. Maybe you’re publishing, but it feels scattered—with different voices across every platform.

Here are a few signs it might be time to bring in support.

You need more content than your team can reasonably produce

Publishing a few blog posts might be manageable. But once you’re aiming for four or more each month, the workload compounds. Outlines, edits, formatting, metadata, uploads—it’s not just writing, it’s running a whole process.

That’s where an agency fits in. You stay in control of the direction. They handle the details that make content consistent, scalable, and actually go live.

SEO matters, but no one's really owning it

Maybe your traffic is flat. Maybe your content is ranking, but not for the right things. Without someone actively working on SEO, it’s easy to fall behind.

According to HubSpot, 39% of marketers say that optimizing content with the right keywords is their most important SEO strategy. That only works if someone’s focused on doing it consistently.

Your team is out of creative headspace

Even if your team could technically write the next blog post, the question is—should they?

When content becomes just another task on a long to-do list, it shows. The writing feels rushed. Strategy takes a back seat. And the creative energy that should drive content gets pulled into everything else.

Bringing in an agency gives your team space to think bigger. You stop plugging holes and start building a system that actually supports growth.

Your content doesn't sound like one brand

If your blog, email, and website all sound like they were written by different people, you’re not alone. Voice drift is common when content is created ad hoc.

A good agency learns your tone and sticks to it. They help you show up consistently, wherever your brand appears.

Recognizing these signs can help you determine when to hire a content writing agency. It’s about ensuring your content strategy supports your business goals without overwhelming your internal resources.

What a Great Content Writing Agency Should Offer

Choosing a content writing agency isn’t about outsourcing tasks. It’s about building a system you can rely on.

The right agency should feel like an extension of your team—one that helps you plan, write, and deliver content that actually moves the needle.

Here’s what to look for if you’re thinking about how to choose a content writing agency.

1. Strategic partnership

Great content starts before the writing. A strong agency takes the time to understand your business, audience, and goals. They help you choose what to create and why—so every piece has a purpose, not just a deadline.

You should feel like you’re building a content engine, not just checking off blog titles from a list.

2. Consistent brand voice

Tone is what makes content feel like you. Without it, readers won’t remember what they read or who wrote it.

A good agency builds systems that protect your voice and apply it consistently across all channels. That means your blog, website, and social posts sound aligned, even if they were written weeks apart by different people.

3. Built-in SEO thinking

Search shouldn’t be an afterthought. It needs to shape the content from the start.

The right agency writes with structure and intent. They understand how to choose keywords, format for readability, and make your content easy to find without making it sound robotic.

4. A reliable, low-friction process

You should always know what’s in progress, when drafts are coming, and how revisions get handled.

A great agency communicates clearly and works within your systems—not theirs. Content shouldn’t be one more thing to chase. It should just get done.

We built TheArticleRoom around these principles.

We don’t try to be everything. But we’re good at building content systems that feel solid—where voice is clear, search is baked in, and the workflow doesn’t fall apart when things get busy.

If you’re thinking about how to choose a content writing agency, those are the things worth prioritizing. The rest will follow.

Objections Businesses Have & Why They're Outdated

Most content agencies don’t lose work to competitors. They lose it to hesitation.

The hesitation makes sense. Content is personal, time-consuming, and hard to get right. However, many of the common objections are based on old assumptions that no longer hold up.

Here’s what we hear and what’s changed.

"It's too expensive"

On paper, hiring an agency can look pricey. But what’s the cost of publishing inconsistent, low-quality content that never ranks or converts?

When content stalls, so does growth. Leads slow down. Visibility fades. And your team ends up doing more work for less impact.

According to Forbes, content marketing delivers an average return of $2.77 for every dollar spent (a 177% profit). The right agency helps you get there by writing content that performs.

"We'd lose control of our voice"

This one’s valid, especially if you’ve worked with people who didn’t get your brand.

But great agencies don’t replace your voice. They learn it, protect it, and apply it consistently across platforms. The best ones build with you, not around you.

If the process is collaborative, you stay in control of what matters.

"We'll just do it in-house"

You might have a few strong writers on the team. But content at scale isn’t just about writing. It’s strategy, editing, SEO, formatting, publishing, and updates.

That takes a system, not just skills.

Internal teams already have full calendars. A good agency adds support without adding stress.

Most of these objections come from experience with the wrong partner or setup. When content is handled the right way, those concerns start to fade. What you’re left with is a system that works, even when everything else is moving fast.

Should You Hire a Content Writing Agency?

Content shouldn’t be a bottleneck. It should be a lever.

The right agency doesn’t just help you publish more. It helps you build consistency, sharpen your voice, and turn content into something that earns attention and drives growth.

If you’re spending more time managing writers than seeing results, it might be time to step back and rethink the system. A good agency doesn’t add complexity. It clears it up.