I have worked over a decade as a web development and online marketing consulting for B2B mid-size companies as well as solo entrepreneurs. Here's what I learned, that might make sense for your company.

You Don't Need to Hire Developers Full-Time

(It's okay if you do have people working full-time doing web development, but you don't have to, to get your stuff done.)

Just spend what you can afford

Set an amount per month that you are comfortable spending, and your consultant can meet you there. Set a range, maximum or minimum, so that you can factor this into your yearly and quarterly budgeting. With some clients, I would set "not-to-exceed" levels and in some months I would be busy with other work and simply meet the lower end of their expectations, to make sure they stayed on track.

Set different levels per month

If you have a season that will need more spending or less spending, plan for that in advance. Collaborate with your consultant and work it out together.

Downturn? Cut back.

If there is bad news on the horizon, let your consultant know and they can turn down the amount of work they do. Also it's better to turn it down than to shut things off completely.

Good People Become Part of Your Team

An ongoing independent consultant/contractor can learn your business

• This experience adds value to your business over time. The images and copywriting and organization gets more attuned to the vision and messaging for your business.

Extra hands make light work - other timezones, after-hours possible

• Your consultant can be available outside of your standard team. Perhaps they have people they work with who can cover other time zones. This extends your reach and makes it easier for you to manage the demands on your time.

You Will Learn New Things

Get exposed to new ideas that will improve your presence

• Consultants who work with other companies are exposed to other ideas and business. They gain experience that they can bring back. If someone were only an employee, they would not see these other use-cases. Leverage the variety of experience.

Maybe your company has an IT support group or someone on the team who does part-time changes on the website. Is that really enough for what you need? Maybe you have bigger goals and cannot get there. Hiring a specialist from the "outside" could be a great idea because they can actually become an "insider"! I know, because I have been there, contributing as part of the team for several companies for 5+ years. It works.