Hi Amy. Great post. This sums up the choice between Agency and Freelancers clearly and concisely.

Thanks for including Zerys in the list of resources.

When we created Zerys, we recognized that there will always be situations that call for an agency, while other times, it makes sense to use a freelance marketplace system like Zerys.

The way we handled this was to create a "Do It Yourself" platform (Zerys), as well as an Agency Matching service called Zerys Pro.

When a user first comes to the site and wants to get started, the first thing we do is desribe these two options, so they can think about which one makes sense for them. You can see it here: http://www.zerys.com/zerys-for-marketers

For the DIY version, the user sets up their own project, finds the best topics,. creates titles, finds and manages writers, and reviews/edits the completed content... all on their own.

In the end, it comes down to the 3 basics: time, budget, and knowledge. If you're on a budget, and you have the time and some basic know-how, it might make sense to try the DIY route first.

However, that being said, often times we see users staring out with the DIY option, but then realizing they don't have the time or skill, so they switch to Zerys Pro and hire a certified content agency to manage the process for them.

Anyways, thanks again for the great post and mention. Keep up the great work!