Virtual Agencies: How A New Model Benefits Agencies And Clients

With the pandemic and technology integration in workplaces, people’s capacity to connect and work from anywhere has greatly improved. Because of this easy access to information and services, virtual agencies are redefining the new era of work.

A report by Gartner highlights that in 2023, the proportion of global knowledge workers engaged in hybrid work will reach 39%, a rise from 37% in 2022. Gartner also predicts that by 2025, 10% of workers will use virtual spaces for sales, onboarding, and working remotely. Virtual workspaces enhance remote collaboration by overcoming geographic barriers, revolutionizing traditional meetings, and eliminating the need for extensive travel.

And now that most of the globe is experimenting with a work-from-home model, clients are learning that transitioning to virtual agencies is quite simple. So, how do you classify a virtual agency, and what role does this virtual model play in benefiting both the company and its clients?

How Do You Define a Virtual Agency?

There was always the concept of a virtual agency even before the terms “hybrid” and “remote work” entered our professional lexicon. Agencies had to embrace technology and collaboration platforms to connect talent and their work, beginning with cross-agency or multiagency engagements. However, when COVID-19 struck, all agencies became “virtual” entities overnight.

A virtual agency is no different from a regular marketing or advertising agency. It provides all of the resources that you associate with traditional agencies and the same fantastic services that you desire. The only difference is that they run from anywhere in the world, connecting with employees and clients virtually via phone, chat, and email. They use freelancers and digital promotion leaders from all over, leveraging resources on demand. Moreover, it outperforms traditional agencies in size, talent, and agility.

No matter how you look at it, it seems that more and more agencies are going virtual to maximize gains.

Advantages of Collaborating and Working With a Virtual Agency

As the virtual agency concept takes hold, agencies are in an evolutionary phase. Long-term partnerships will be determined by how agencies position themselves to assist clients. So, let’s consider how a virtual agency can supercharge your company’s success.

Firstly, virtual agencies have the ability to attract and retain the best talent around the globe by removing regional constraints. Geography is not a barrier for talented individuals to explore professions with their preferred agency. With this flexibility, people can live where they want and plan schedules that seamlessly integrate their work and personal commitments.

They also utilize access to a greater pool of external resources and people. The ability to supplement talent and resources at any time and from any location gives agencies greater flexibility to quickly acquire personnel with the required capabilities rather than taking time to acquire and upskill. This can be accomplished through agency partnerships or offshore resources, including talent and a mature firm’s mechanisms, processes, and technology.

Lastly, a virtual model allows agencies to quickly adapt to changing market conditions. Agencies can bring in experience, toolset knowledge, processes, mechanisms, and so on from around the world. And technology enables seamless collaboration from pitch to delivery to measurement for clients.

As you can see, there are numerous benefits that a virtual marketing firm can offer that traditional companies don’t have access to. They provide a higher level of service and increased accessibility at a lower cost. Furthermore, building an international team of independent consultants ensures you receive the competence and sector experience required for the work.

Should You Consider Transitioning From a Traditional Agency to a Virtual One?

You are on the cusp of channeling your resources to become a virtual agency — what should you consider before leaping?

You must first have the technological capabilities to enable remote communications, scheduling, resource sharing, process sharing methods, tracking, measurement, etc. A solid business model is also essential in outlining how the agency will run as well as its organizational structure, well-defined processes, procedures, etc.

Finally, consider how a virtual agency might improve your job and make it a reality. The technology exists to support nearly all solution requirements; you simply need to define them.

Once you’ve considered these factors, you’re ready to take your agency to the next level.