Written by Jackie Carrillo, a content coordinator and contributor who writes on technology, marketing, business management and education. 

For high-achieving startup founders and entrepreneurs, marketing might feel like a no-brainer to tackle on your own. Plus, today’s online marketing platforms make it easy to post, track and engage.

Not so fast. It isn’t 2010. Digital marketing consists of much, much more than posting on Facebook once a week and using Google AdSense. To compete effectively, you more than likely need an aggressive digital marketing strategy, which requires full-time marketing efforts by experienced and knowledgeable marketers.

This leaves you with two options: Create an in-house marketing department or outsource. Anyone who advises you to build a DIY digital marketing program probably also advocates for hiring in-house marketing staff. But is it really the more economical choice? Read on to learn the costs and benefits of in-house marketing to determine whether building a marketing department allows for optimal marketing efficiency.