Do I Need a Virtual Assistant or a Marketing Agency?
By Mary Deanne Tabios, Done by Di. Phoenix, Arizona. Updated September 2026.
Hire a virtual assistant when you know what needs doing and need hands to do it. Hire an agency when you do not know what needs doing and need someone to decide. The wrong pick is expensive in both directions.
Short version
- A VA executes. An agency decides, then executes.
- If you cannot write the instructions, a VA will not fix that.
- If you already have a plan that works, an agency is overpriced for it.
- Most owners need strategy once, then hands forever.
- You can buy them in that order instead of choosing one.
The one question that settles it
Can you write down, step by step, what you want done this week?
If yes, you need a virtual assistant. The thinking is done. You need time back.
If no, a VA will sit waiting for direction you cannot give, and you will conclude that VAs do not work. The problem was never the VA.
What each one is actually good at
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Posts are written but never get scheduled | Virtual assistant |
| Nobody finds you on Google and you do not know why | Agency |
| Inbox and calendar are eating your week | Virtual assistant |
| You are spending on ads with no idea if they work | Agency |
| You know the plan, you just cannot get to it | Virtual assistant |
| Your website looks fine and converts nobody | Agency |
The mistake that costs the most
Hiring a VA to fix a strategy problem. It looks cheaper on the invoice and it usually ends with a few months gone and nothing to show.
The reverse happens too. Paying agency rates to schedule posts you already wrote is paying for judgement you are not using.
The order most owners should buy in
- Buy the thinking once. Get a plan written down, with the steps spelled out.
- Hand the plan to a VA and have them run it.
- Check the numbers every quarter, not every week.
- Go back for more thinking only when the numbers stop moving.
That sequence costs far less than keeping an agency on retainer to do work a trained assistant can run.
Common questions
Can a virtual assistant do marketing work?
A trained one can run posting, scheduling, reporting, basic page edits and lead list work. What they should not be asked for is the decision about what to do.
How do I know if my VA is doing well?
Ask for a short written report at the end of every shift. Done, blocked, needs a decision. If you cannot tell what happened, the reporting is the problem.
Is an agency worth it for a small business?
For a one time plan, often yes. For an open ended monthly retainer doing routine tasks, usually not.
Can I start with one and switch?
Yes, and most owners should. Plan first, hands second.
Done by Di is a digital marketing growth lab in Phoenix, Arizona, run by Mary Deanne Tabios. We write the plan, and we train the assistants who run it.
If you are not sure which one you need, send a message with these three things and you will get a written answer back:
- What you tried last and what happened
- The three tasks eating most of your week
- Whether you already have a written plan
Email hello@donebydi.com or call +1 602 623 5977.
Related reading: digital marketing services.