Collaborating for Bigger Wins: Simantel + Your In-House Team

When it comes to marketing, balancing the workload between your in-house team and an external agency can feel daunting. But honestly? It doesn’t have to be. In fact, at Simantel, we align our processes to the ways our clients work.

We work with in-house teams in a variety of scenarios. Some teams are hands-on and want to be with us at every step of the process. Others prefer to let us take the lead and only jump in at major milestones. And some even call on us to help grow specific skillsets or expertise within their own teams. Any of these approaches can be effective with the right rules of engagement. Here’s a closer look at how we create synergies with client teams and how we can team up with yours.

Play to Each Team’s Strengths

Your in-house team knows your brand inside and out. They’re the keepers of your company’s history, culture and all the little details that make it unique. That’s their superpower. But when you partner with an agency like us, we bring fresh eyes and a wealth of experience from working across different industries. That’s our superpower.

When you combine those two strengths, the results are next level. Your team ensures everything stays true to your brand’s identity, while we help push creative boundaries and bring new ideas to the table. This mix of brand consistency and outside innovation is what leads to campaigns that are both aligned with your core values and still feel fresh and exciting.

Set Clear Roles Early

One of the keys to a successful partnership is making sure everyone knows their role from the start. Without clear roles, things can get messy fast. Tasks get duplicated, deadlines get missed and no one’s quite sure who’s responsible for what. That’s why we like to kick off every collaboration by setting expectations and defining roles early on.

A tool we find super helpful is the RACI matrix. It outlines who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed for each task or project. By laying this out upfront, everyone knows exactly what they’re responsible for and how their role fits into the bigger picture.

Here’s an example breakdown:

Your in-house team handles brand consistency, day-to-day tasks and aligns everything with the long-term strategy.
Simantel leads major campaigns, brings new ideas to the table and manages specialized tasks like digital marketing, analytics and creative development.

With clear roles defined, both teams can stay focused on what they do best, and the project runs smoother overall.

Communication is Key

Good communication is at the heart of any great partnership. Without it, even the best ideas can fall apart. That’s why we make open and regular communication a top priority when working with in-house teams.
A few options that keep communication flowing:

Weekly check-ins: These are great for reviewing project progress, discussing any roadblocks and making sure everyone is on the same page.
Periodic strategy sessions: We use these to take a step back, look at the big picture and adjust plans based on how things are performing.
Shared tools: Using project management platforms or shared dashboards keeps everything visible, organized and easy to track.

The most important thing? Transparency. If something shifts—whether it’s the campaign direction, a key deadline or the overall strategy—both teams need to know right away. When communication is clear, it leads to smoother projects and better outcomes overall.

Collaborate on Creative from the Start

The creative process can sometimes feel like a game of telephone when multiple teams are involved. You start with one idea, but by the time it gets to the final product, it’s changed so much that it’s barely recognizable. We’ve found the best way to avoid that is by involving both teams from the very beginning.

That’s why we love kicking off collaborations with workshops and brainstorming sessions. Bringing everyone together early in the process ensures that both your in-house team and our agency are aligned on the vision from day one. Plus, when you get different perspectives in the room, it can spark new and innovative ideas that wouldn’t have come up otherwise.

Keeping the feedback loop open is also key. Your team knows your brand better than anyone, so you help ensure our ideas are on-point and share any anecdotal feedback you’re hearing about campaigns, either internally or from the field. At the same time, we might push you to think outside the box and explore creative approaches you hadn’t considered before. This back-and-forth makes sure the final product is both on-brand and fresh.

Align on Goals and KPIs

For any partnership to be successful, both teams need to be working toward the same goals. That’s why it’s crucial to align on objectives and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) right from the start.

Whether the goal is to boost brand awareness, launch a new product or drive more conversions, having clear KPIs in place helps ensure everyone knows what success looks like. We bring tools and expertise for measuring performance, while your in-house team offers valuable insights into customer behavior and brand history. By combining these insights, we can get a fuller picture of what’s working, what’s not and what adjustments need to be made along the way.

Share Knowledge and Skills

A great collaboration isn’t just about getting the job done—it’s also about learning from each other. At Simantel, we’re all about building partnerships that foster growth on both sides.

For example:

We can share the latest industry trends, creative techniques and cutting-edge tools with your in-house team to help keep them sharp and up to date.
Your team can give us deeper insights into your company’s values, goals and audience, which helps us tailor our approach and create more effective campaigns.

When both teams share their knowledge and skills, it not only strengthens the partnership but also leads to better, more well-rounded results.

Build a Long-Term Relationship

At the end of the day, the best collaborations are built on long-term relationships. At Simantel, we don’t just want to finish a project and move on—we want to build something lasting. The more we work together, the more we understand your brand, your preferences and how your team operates. Over time, this familiarity leads to faster turnarounds, smoother processes and better results.

When we work together, we can elevate each other’s strengths and create impressive results. By playing to each other’s strengths, keeping communication open and aligning on shared goals, we can create a powerhouse partnership that drives bigger wins.

Ready to take your marketing to the next level? Reach out today, and let’s see how we can team up to achieve your brand’s goals.