Building an in-house content team sounds great in theory, but the costs stack up fast, and hiring takes time most startups don’t have. That’s why many early-stage SaaS companies turn to outsourcing. But does it actually work? Can an external team capture your brand’s voice, keep up with industry trends, and deliver high-quality content that drives growth?
The good news: yes. The better news: it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Let’s explore how startups can scale content effectively—without the overhead of an in-house team.
🔍 Did You Know? Content marketing is seen as the top revenue-driving channel by 49% of US B2B marketers, demonstrating its significant impact on sales generation.
Why an In-House Content Team Isn’t Always Feasible
Building an in-house content team sounds ideal, but early-stage SaaS startups often face roadblocks that make it difficult to justify. Here’s why hiring a full-time team isn’t always the best move:
- High costs: Salaries, benefits, and training expenses add up quickly. Hiring a content strategist, writers, and editors can stretch an already tight budget, especially when other areas need funding
- Time and resource constraints: Recruiting, onboarding, and managing a content team takes time most startups don’t have. Founders and early employees juggle multiple roles, leaving little bandwidth for content strategy and execution
- Need for specialized content: SaaS content demands industry expertise. Writing for technical audiences, optimizing for search, and maintaining thought leadership require skilled professionals—finding and retaining them in-house can be a challenge
🧠 Fun Fact: Nearly half of B2B marketers (45%) struggle with scaling content effectively, while only 35% have a solid strategy in place. The remaining 20%? They’re still figuring things out.
The Case for Outsourcing Content
Outsourcing content makes sense for early-stage SaaS startups looking to scale without the overhead of an in-house team. Instead of hiring full-time employees, companies can tap into experienced professionals who deliver high-quality work at a fraction of the cost.
Cost savings
Hiring a content team in-house comes with salaries, benefits, and software costs. A content strategist, writer, and editor can easily push the budget beyond what an early-stage startup can afford.
Outsourcing eliminates these fixed expenses. Companies pay only for the content they need, scaling up or down based on demand. This flexibility ensures funds are allocated efficiently while maintaining a steady content pipeline.
Access to expertise
SaaS content isn’t just about writing—it requires SEO knowledge, industry insight, and the ability to break down complex topics.
Finding professionals with this skill set takes time and resources.
Outsourcing provides immediate access to specialists who understand technical topics, audience pain points, and content distribution strategies. Instead of training an internal team, startups can work with experts who already know what works.
Faster execution
Content production moves faster when experienced professionals handle it. An in-house team requires onboarding, workflow setup, and ongoing management.
Outsourced teams already have efficient processes in place, delivering content on time without delays. Agencies and freelancers work with clear deadlines, ensuring startups can publish consistently without getting bogged down in approvals and revisions.
🔍 Did You Know? Companies that invest in content marketing tend to grow 30% faster than those that skip it.
Limitations of Outsourcing Content
Outsourcing content offers flexibility and cost savings, but it comes with challenges that startups need to manage effectively:
- Brand alignment challenges: External writers may take time to fully capture a company’s voice and messaging. A clear style guide, detailed briefs, and ongoing collaboration help maintain consistency across all content
- Less direct control: An in-house team works closely with internal stakeholders, making quick changes easier. Outsourcing requires clear communication and structured feedback to ensure content meets expectations
🧠 Fun Fact: Businesses have been outsourcing tasks for centuries! Merchants in the Middle Ages often outsourced bookkeeping and trade negotiations to specialists.
Finding the Right Balance
Outsourcing content provides flexibility, cost savings, and access to expertise, but striking the right balance between external help and internal control ensures a strong, consistent brand presence.
Hybrid models
A hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds. A lean internal team sets the content strategy, refines messaging, and ensures alignment, while an external team executes at scale.
This setup provides strategic oversight without the overhead of hiring a full team. A SaaS startup, for example, might keep content marketing leadership in-house while outsourcing blog production, case studies, and technical content to experts who can execute efficiently.
🔍 Did You Know? About 38% of CMOs are gearing up to boost their content marketing budgets in 2024, signaling a stronger focus on content-driven growth.
Starting with outsourcing and transitioning to in-house
Outsourcing is a smart way to scale content in the early stages. It eliminates the need for immediate hiring while ensuring a steady flow of content.
As the company grows, bringing key roles in-house—such as a content strategist or editor—allows for stronger brand consistency and deeper audience engagement. This gradual shift ensures content remains high-quality without slowing momentum.
🔍 Did You Know? Many famous speeches, books, and even historical documents were outsourced to skilled writers behind the scenes.
Content That Grows With You
Scaling content shouldn’t mean endless hiring, wasted resources, or inconsistent messaging. Startups need a content engine that delivers quality at scale—without slowing down growth.
An in-house team offers control but comes with high costs and slower execution. Full outsourcing speeds things up but risks brand misalignment. The smartest approach blends both—keeping strategy in-house while leveraging external experts to produce content efficiently and effectively.
That’s where 31Cookies comes in. We act as an extension of your team, creating content that drives demand, builds authority, and fits seamlessly into your brand voice. No hand-holding, no wasted effort—just results-driven content that scales as fast as you do.
Work with 31Cookies and take content off your plate—without losing control.
