For years, outsourced content services have been the reliable solution for businesses seeking professional content without expanding their in-house teams.
Now, the emergence of generative AI has changed how we think about content development. AI-powered content tools promise lightning-fast creation, consistent output, and dramatically reduced costs, forcing businesses to reconsider their content strategies entirely.
This article will look at the pros and cons of both approaches: AI vs outsourced content services. We will explain the key differences between the two approaches and also examine the critical factors that should influence your decision when choosing between these two services.
Benefits and drawbacks of AI and outsourced content services
When should you consider outsourcing?
What is AI-generated content?
This refers to any content generated with the help of artificial intelligence. AI analyzes user questions and responds like a person would. Using AI tools, you can create content for anything, from blog posts to descriptions of products and even long-form content like e-books.
AI content creation relies on models that are trained on data from the internet. They understand language patterns and produce context-appropriate responses. All you need to do is provide a description or some instructions and the AI can quickly generate the required content.
The use of AI-generated content is expanding across various fields. As businesses, marketers, and content strategists increasingly turn to AI to fulfill the growing demand for content, it’s essential to understand what AI is capable of before leveraging it for communication and branding purposes.
What is outsourced content?
Content outsourcing involves bringing in writers from external companies. This is different from using in-house staff or automated systems for the task.
You have a range of options for outsourcing content creation, such as hiring freelancers, engaging professional writers, or using an essay writing service. Many companies and brands enlist freelance writers and content agencies to develop a variety of materials, such as blog posts, marketing content, newsletters, and product descriptions.
Outsourcing content allows businesses to maintain their publishing schedules without overwhelming their in-house teams. This approach also allows you to use different voices and styles that fit your requirements.
Some content providers offer a wide range of services, while others specialize in particular areas such as SEO, content creation, or writing on specific topics. The flexibility of outsourcing allows companies to easily scale their content production up or down depending on their requirements.
Benefits and drawbacks of AI and outsourced content services
Both AI-generated and outsourced content offer distinct advantages and disadvantages. Evaluating each approach in terms of speed, cost-effectiveness, uniqueness, and SEO impact will simplify your decision-making process.
Here are some factors to consider:
Speed and turnaround time
AI stands out for its remarkable speed. Whether you need to quickly craft a blog post, come up with an memorable caption, or write a straightforward product description, AI can handle it 10x faster than it would take to do the same work manually. It’s especially useful for urgent content needs or when large volumes of text are required, as it can swiftly produce drafts to meet those demands.
While many outsourced writers are skilled, they often take longer to finish their tasks. The duration can vary from a few days to several weeks, depending on the project’s complexity and the team’s response speed. In competitive markets, businesses find the efficiency offered by AI to be incredibly valuable.
Cost efficiency
Using AI to create content tends to be less expensive. Many AI content generation tools offer subscriptions or charge by the word. This makes them much cheaper than hiring a freelancer or agency. This makes AI a good fit for companies that do not have much money to invest.
Outsourcing, on the other hand, can lead to higher costs. External service providers may charge premium rates for their expertise and resources. While outsourcing content offers a human touch, using these services can become expensive.
Consistency
AI ensures brand consistency across various channels by adhering to guidelines for tone, structure, and format. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with large volumes of content.
Outsourced writers can bring a lot of creativity to the table, but their consistency often varies depending on the individual writer or agency. At times, you might also observe shifts in the freelancers’ style and the quality of their work.
Customization and control
AI allows businesses to handle tasks more efficiently. You can create, change, and enhance content at your own pace until it meets your requirements. AI gives teams the ability to update their messaging whenever desired. It can also prove to be invaluable for content personalization.
Outsourcing content depends on a few key factors: briefing, collecting feedback, and following a set process. Depending on the project, it can take several attempts to get the professionals to stick to the provided guidelines.
Creativity
Thanks to AI, we now see a lot of creative headlines and story ideas, as well as unique views drawn from available information. AI often excels in marketing, consistently performing beyond expectations.
Humans are still better at feeling emotions, understanding cultures, and telling unique stories. AI-generated content lacks the ability to truly feel and it often relies on patterns and repetitive phrasing to communicate.
Editing and revisions
AI is renowned for its ability to make swift revisions. Whenever you need to modify a section, you can do so quickly and directly within the document. This fast-paced iteration empowers lean marketing teams to explore new ideas in their content creation efforts.
Outsourced content often requires a few revisions, which can add extra time to the completion process. While professional writers always try to meet clients’ needs, making adjustments may extend the timeline.
SEO optimization
Many AI tools now feature SEO tools that make it easier to improve your content ranking in search results. These tools can automatically incorporate keywords, generate meta descriptions, and create header tags. Some tools can also offer insights into keyword usage and analyze how well your content is performing.
Outsourcing SEO to expert writers allows you to tap into their deeper understanding of current trends. While these services can be more expensive, they offer expertise in a field where changes occur frequently. On the other hand, AI tools, which continuously learn from new data can quickly adapt to algorithm updates, offering a speed advantage in response to shifts in SEO strategies.
Why use AI-generated content?
Still not sure which option to use between AI-generated content and outsourcing?
Here are some compelling reasons why you should rely on AI for creating your content:
- AI offers you the ability to generate content in bulk, while ensuring consistency in tone and format
- With AI’s, you can design topic clusters and plan your content
- If you need email marketing copy, interesting subject lines, easy-to-understand CTAs, AI can create several choices for you on the spot
- You can take your lengthy blog and have it transformed into tweets, LinkedIn posts, or simple summaries in less than a second
When should you consider outsourcing?
There are also instances where hiring human writers for content can be worthwhile.
If a project requires a deep understanding of a niche topic, compelling storytelling, or a distinctive brand voice, outsourcing to skilled writers can be beneficial.
The Hybrid Model: Best of both worlds
Many firms now rely on AI for 80% of their content. They use humans mainly for expert insights or original ideas in the remaining 20%. With this approach, both efficiency and quality are important.
Narrato offers AI assistance, workflow management, and team collaboration, all in one platform. You can generate content with the help of AI tools and templates. Use workflow and project management tools to streamline content creation. And finally collaborate on content with on-platform messaging and @comments.
Wrapping up
The debate between AI-generated content and outsourced content services doesn’t have to be an either-or decision. While AI excels in speed, cost-efficiency, and consistency, human writers bring irreplaceable creativity, cultural understanding, and nuanced storytelling to the table. The most successful content strategies today recognize that the future lies not in choosing one over the other, but in strategically combining both approaches.
Outsourcing aids in brand storytelling and thought leadership. However, AI offers even greater efficiency, scalability, and innovation. In today’s competitive landscape, businesses must leverage AI to maintain a leading edge in their content strategies. Narrato makes this achievable, empowering teams to produce content that is not only faster but also more intelligent and impactful.
