Digital projects are complex today: automation, performance, SEO, UX, accessibility, content. Everything is interconnected. No one can do it all, but one person alone isn’t enough. This is where the dilemma begins.
Two Paths, One Gap
Agencies promise full-service. In practice, this means:
- Standardized processes
- Breadth over depth
- Junior-heavy teams
- Overhead that must be paid for
Freelancers offer specialization. With all the consequences:
- Direct collaboration
- Core expertise
- Limited capacity
- Focus on one discipline
- No backup security
If your freelancer leaves tomorrow, you’re stuck. Especially now, with many switching to permanent positions because the project situation no longer fits, this risk becomes concrete.
The Reality of Most Projects
Typical digital budgets in medium-sized businesses: 10,000 to 50,000 euros. Too small for comprehensive agency support, too complex for individual freelancers.
These projects need:
- Experienced implementation without overhead
- Broad understanding without full-service claims
- Continuity without rigid structures, like a website subscription
A Market Adaptation
That’s why micro agencies are emerging. 3-5 experienced professionals who combine the best of both worlds. Not from marketing considerations, but out of necessity.
The model works because it fits:
- Core expertise plus peripheral vision
- Direct collaboration at eye level
- Backup security through overlapping competencies
- Scalable without unnecessary complexity
Looking Forward
The market continues to evolve. Agencies are experimenting with lean units. Freelancers are joining together in networks.
Projects in medium-sized businesses need neither full-service agencies nor solo players. They need flexible, experienced teams that combine continuity and expertise. We expand on this in why micro agencies do not need do-it-all overhead.
The Micro Agency Model in Practice
The micro agency concept isn’t just theory. It’s my daily business model. As an experienced developer with over 25 years in the field, I’ve chosen this approach because it offers the right balance of expertise, flexibility, and reliability. My network of specialists complements my core competencies exactly where it adds value for your projects. For design agencies specifically, we also offer white-label development partnerships.