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Why a Specialised Development Agency Wins Over Full-Service

Thoughts |

by Olly Burjan

The Power of Specialisation

Full service vs specialist agency image

Having the right support for your Magento site can make or break your success. In this article, we look at why having specialists (like us! 😎) working with you is key to your business's success. We strongly believe in a separation of skills when it comes to choosing a web agency and advocate for separate specialist agencies for Magento, SEO & Marketing over so-called "full-service" agencies.

Sharpened Skills, Superior Websites: A specialist web development agency dedicates its resources to perfecting the art of development. Their team members are constantly honing their skills in coding, user experience (UX), and the latest web technologies. This translates to a website that's not only functional but also performs flawlessly and delivers a seamless user experience – a critical factor in today's competitive online environment.

Deep Expertise: A specialised development agency breathes code. Their team consists of developers who eat, sleep, and dream of crafting clean, efficient, and user-friendly websites. This depth of knowledge ensures they stay on top of the latest trends and technologies, building a website that performs flawlessly and keeps pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape. They have niche knowledge of exactly what is needed to help you reach your goals. Specialists focus more on long-term planning to ensure mistakes aren't made early on that will cost you later.

Agility and Speed: Because a specialised agency focuses on development, its processes are streamlined. They can quickly adapt to your needs and revisions, ensuring a faster turnaround time. This is crucial, especially in today's fast-paced digital environment.

Focus on Your Vision, Not a Package Deal: Full-service agencies often operate with pre-defined packages that might not perfectly align with your specific needs. A specialist developer works closely with you to understand your vision and goals for the website. They'll craft a bespoke solution that prioritises your unique requirements, ensuring the final product reflects your brand identity and caters to your target audience.

Freedom to Choose Your SEO Partner: The SEO landscape is constantly evolving. A specialist developer won't pressure you into their potentially limited SEO offerings. This freedom allows you to find a dedicated SEO agency that aligns perfectly with your budget and growth goals. You can leverage their expertise to optimize your website for search engines, while the development team ensures the technical foundation is SEO-friendly.

The Showdown: Single-Service vs. All-in-One

Single-Service Agencies: 💪

Pros:

  • Specialised Expertise: Deep knowledge and experience in either Magento development or SEO, ensuring top-notch results.
  • Streamlined Communication: Direct access to experts for seamless collaboration and faster turnaround times.
  • Freedom to choose different partners: You maintain the freedom to work with different marketing and SEO agencies and are not tied into one that isn't working.
  • Cutting-edge knowledge: Specialists have a vested interest in knowing the very latest in their field.

Cons:

  • Coordination Challenges: If you require both Magento development and SEO services, you may need to coordinate efforts between multiple specialized agencies (don't worry, we do that part really well).

All-in-One Agencies: 😰

Pros:

  • Convenience: One-stop shop for all your e-commerce needs, from website development to marketing.

Cons:

  • Lack of Specialization: Jack of all trades, master of none. All-in-one agencies may lack the depth of expertise needed for Magento development or SEO.
  • Cookie-Cutter Solutions: A one-size-fits-all approach may result in generic solutions that fail to deliver optimal results for your unique business.
  • Less evolved Solutions: All-in-one agencies are far less likely to be at the cutting edge of technologies. They use the same technology and solutions time and time again.
  • Locked in: You've gone "all in" so there is no escaping if any area is underperforming.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to Magento development and SEO for your e-commerce business, the specialized expertise and tailored solutions offered by single-service agencies can give you a significant competitive edge. While all-in-one agencies may offer convenience, they often fall short in delivering the level of expertise and customization required to succeed in the highly competitive digital landscape. So, if you're serious about taking your e-commerce venture to new heights, partnering with a single-service agency is the way to go!

Here at outer/edge, over our 25 years we have built a wealth of knowledge about on-site search engine optimisation. Whilst our primary focus is on development, we have a skilled team who can interpret Google Search Console and GA4 data to provide the best guidance on how to optimise your site. We regularly carry out manual (no cheat scans with crawler tools) audits for our customers to complement the more broader advice offered by their dedicated SEO agencies.

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