Not All Partners Are Built the Same
Choosing the right partner for paid media can feel like choosing between two extremes. Big agencies impress in pitches but disappear in execution. Freelancers are nimble, but often lack the strategic depth, consistency, and accountability growing teams need.
Carbon Wave was built to be the partner in-house teams actually need.
Lean, experienced, and built to scale with your team. See how we compare.
More Options, But Not All Are Equal
The paid media landscape is full of choices, but many come with tradeoffs.
Agencies offer structure and polish, but they’re expensive and layered with overhead that doesn’t drive results.
Freelancers are flexible and affordable, but often lack the strategic depth to push your business forward.
And then there are the "gurus"(you’ve seen the ads). Flashy videos, big promises, and zero real experience behind the scenes.
Carbon Wave was built to be what those models aren’t:
A true partner that is strategic, hands-on, and aligned with your growth. We won’t promise magical results (no one credible should), but we will deliver senior-level support, platform expertise, and a plan built for both now and six months from now.
The Marketing Partner Scorecard
Carbon Wave Media
Overall Value: A+
Smart, Strategic, Transparent, and focused on your growth
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Short-Term Execution: A
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Long-Term Strategy: A+
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Channel Diversity: A
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Strategic foresight: A+
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Industry Breadth: A+
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Optimization cycles: A+
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Transparency: A+
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Performance Priority: A+
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Typical Agencies
Overall Value: B-
Lots of tools and breadth, but slow, overworked, and focused on their growth
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Short-Term Execution: B
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Long-Term Strategy: A
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Channel Diversity: A+
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Strategic foresight: B
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Industry Breadth: A
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Optimization cycles: B
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Transparency: C
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Performance Priority: C
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Freelancers
Overall Value: C
Hands on, but lacks strategic chops, and focused on getting paid.
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Short-Term Execution: B
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Long-Term Strategy: C
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Channel Diversity: C
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Strategic foresight: C
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Industry Breadth: C
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Optimization cycles: B
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Transparency: A
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Performance Priority: B
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GURU Agencies
Overall Value: F
Almost no experience, claims performance "Hacks", and focused on locking you in.
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Short-Term Execution: B
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Long-Term Strategy: C
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Channel Diversity: C
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Strategic foresight: C
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Industry Breadth: C
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Optimization cycles: B
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Transparency: A
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Performance Priority: B
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"What if we just do it in-house?"
The short answer? Managing paid media entirely in-house can give you more control, closer communication, and upfront cost savings, but it often comes at the expense of performance.
In-house generalists are usually stretched thin, balancing multiple responsibilities across channels. That leaves little time for deep testing, platform optimization, or staying current with the ever-evolving paid media landscape. Their focus becomes limited to your internal view making it easy to miss growth opportunities happening outside your business.
The result: missed opportunities, slower growth, and dollars left on the table.
Partnering with Carbon Wave ensures your campaigns are guided by experts who bring fresh insight, tested strategies, and a relentless focus on performance. You stay in control while we unlock performance.