BlueSmith
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What we build Video AdsFilmed on your jobs. Written and edited by us.Project Pages + EstimatorsYour work, a price range, a booking calendar.Speed-to-Lead + BookingInstant replies, reminders, and follow-up.
How it works The Acquisition EngineAttention × Offer × Sales × System.How It StartsFive steps, no surprises.Free ToolsLead value, break-even CPL, ad budget.
Who we build for RemodelersKitchens, baths, whole-home projects.RoofersFull replacements, not leak calls.All TradesHVAC, solar, pools, plumbing, electrical, and more.
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Acquisition agency vs an in-house marketing hire

Video, ads, pages, booking, and tracking are five different skills. The question is whether one hire can cover them, or a team should.

Show me where I’m losing jobsFree 2-minute assessment · No pitch, no obligation

By the BlueSmith team · Updated

SIDE BY SIDE

Acquisition agency vs In-house marketing hire

Acquisition agencyIn-house marketing hire
Cost structureMonthly fee; no payroll or benefitsSalary, benefits, tools, and training
Skills coveredVideo, ads, pages, CRM across a teamUsually one or two strong skills
Ramp-upBrings a process already builtNeeds time to learn your business and tools
Your management timeStrategy calls and approvalsDaily direction and review
Knowledge of your businessLearns it through youIn your shop every day
AvailabilityScheduled; shared with other clientsYours, full time, on-site
Changing courseAdjust scope or switch providersRetrain, restructure, or rehire
HOW TO CHOOSE

Pick by situation, not by hype.

Choose Acquisition agency when…

  • You need filming, ads, pages, and follow-up, not just one of them.
  • You don’t have time to manage a marketer.
  • You want a working system before deciding what to hire for.
  • Your marketing needs don’t add up to a full-time job yet.

Choose In-house marketing hire when…

  • There’s enough marketing work for a full-time role.
  • You need someone on-site for photos, reviews, and customer updates.
  • A system already works and needs someone to run it daily.
  • You have the time and know-how to manage them.
Our honest take

Most contractors at the size we work with need four or five skills, not one person: filming, editing, ad buying, page building, follow-up setup. That’s why an agency usually fits first. Once the system works and the volume justifies it, an in-house coordinator running reviews, content, and the CRM day to day is a strong addition, and we work alongside them.

RUN YOUR NUMBERS

Lead value calculator: what’s one lead worth to you?

Before you judge what a lead costs, know what it’s worth. Enter your numbers and see the revenue and gross profit behind every lead that comes in.

35%
35%
30%

Each lead is worth (revenue): $2,625

Each lead is worth (revenue)$2,625
Gross profit per lead
$919
Leads per signed job
9.5

$25,000 project, 35% margin, 35% of leads booked, 30% of estimates closed.

See what we’d build for these numbers

Starts with example numbers. Change them to yours. Arithmetic only, not a promise of results.

Open the full lead value calculator

KEEP GOING

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STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Questions we hear.

Is an agency cheaper than hiring?

It depends on the scope and the hire. Compare the full cost of a hire, including benefits, tools, and your management time, against what the agency actually builds and runs.

Can one marketer do everything?

Rarely well. Filming, editing, ad buying, page building, and CRM setup are separate crafts. Most hires are strong in one or two.

Who owns the ad accounts and pages?

Ask before you sign, with any agency. You should know where your ad accounts, pages, and customer data live, and what happens to them if you part ways.

Can an agency work with my in-house person?

Yes. A common setup is the agency building and running acquisition while your person handles reviews, photos, and customer communication.

Your crew is ready for the next job. Is your calendar?

Seven questions. Two minutes. See the one part of your engine holding your projects back.

Show me where I’m losing jobsFree 2-minute assessment · No pitch, no obligation

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