Are you looking for a social media agency to help you with your marketing campaigns? Or maybe you’re just curious about what a social media agency is and how it works. Either way, this article is for you. Here is what you need to know.
The Difference Between a Social Media Agency and a Social Media Manager
The line between a social media agency and a social media manager can get a little blurry, but the main difference is in the emphasis. A social media agency builds your account, creates content for you, and runs your social media feeds. A social media manager focuses more on the day-to-day management of a social media account, such as posting content and optimising your content for organic, traffic. A good social media manager will definitely consult with a social media agency when needed, but they also have to be able to handle most of the content themselves.
The Rising Popularity of Social Media Agencies
If you’re looking for a career in digital marketing, you have to admit that the growth of digital marketing as a distinct career is pretty incredible.
The demand for digital marketers is projected to grow 25% year from 2019 to 2025, according to the Global Market Reach 2025.
That’s a lot of growth in a short amount of time, and it’s been attributed to the rise of hybrid and digital marketing amongst other factors.
The industry is still in its early stages, but even at this early stage, you can see the differences in approach and emphasis when comparing a digital marketing agency to a digital marketing manager.
Why Should You Hire a Social Media Agency?
Depending on your specific needs, you can gain a lot from hiring a social media agency. Here are the key differences between the two:
Cost Effective
One of the biggest differences between hiring a social media agency and a social media manager is in terms of cost effectiveness. As we’ve established, a digital marketing agency will often specialize in cost-effective marketing methods, such as social media marketing. Typically, you won’t need to invest a lot of money in expensive ads or engaging content creators. And because they have teams of experts, they will be able to offer you more for less money.
Familiarity With Different Platforms
Another important factor to consider is the familiarity that the agency’s employees have with different social media platforms. If you’re running a Facebook business page or Instagram account, you’ll want someone on your side who is familiar with those platforms and how to use them effectively. Familiarity with different platforms isn’t just beneficial when dealing with your social media accounts – it’s also important when dealing with other marketing platforms, such as email marketing or SEO.
Dedicated Account Managers
Dedicated account managers are also a huge benefit for businesses, especially larger businesses with multiple accounts across various platforms. Having an account manager who is solely dedicated to your account is a distinct advantage, as they will be able to provide undivided attention to your needs. Having a dedicated account manager means that you don’t have to worry about managing your social media presence yourself or spreading yourself too thin. The team at your disposal will be able to take care of everything, including engaging with customers, growing your audience, and analyzing the performance of your social media efforts.
A Global Perspective
A global perspective is also important, especially if your company expands internationally. If you operate in multiple locations or have customers internationally, it’s essential to have someone who can understand your customers’ needs across borders. Without a global perspective, you risk losing touch with your customers and potential customers because you don’t have someone who can understand the nuances of operating in a different country.
The Different Types of Social Media Agencies
There are several different types of social media agencies, each with their own specific approach and specialization. Knowing how to spot and understand these differentiators can help you make the right decision for your specific needs.
Traditional
Traditional agencies typically work on a retainer basis. This means that they will take on a certain amount of work for a given duration, and you will pay them for the work that they do. In most cases, you will need to assign a specific project to a member of their team, and you will need to meet with them regularly to review progress and ensure that the work is being done to your satisfaction.
Traditional agencies often have a specific emphasis on traditional marketing methods, such as radio ads, billboards, and magazine spreads. Because of this emphasis, traditional agencies often work best when you have a clear message and want to target a specific audience. These agencies also often work best with other businesses that they have worked with in the past and want to continue that relationship. Finally, traditional agencies are good at getting your message out to a global audience and acting as a hub for international business.
Interactive
Interactive agencies represent the digital marketing agency generation, who strive to provide value to their clients through digital marketing. This group tends to have a wider base of experience than traditional agenciessuch as a result of the evolution of digital marketing and social media. As a digital marketer, you will work with clients to define a strategy, implement marketing campaigns, and track performance. You will also be expected to provide analysis, insight, and reporting on your campaigns and the results that you achieve.
As a digital marketer, you will work with clients to define a strategy, implement marketing campaigns, and track performance. You will also be expected to provide analysis, insight, and reporting on your campaigns and the results that you achieve.
Interactive agencies can be a little more varied than traditional ones in terms of the services that they offer, as they are more used to working with larger businesses and marketing agencies. However, because of their digital marketing emphasis, they tend to specialize in online marketing and social media. This specialization makes them extremely valuable if you’re looking for someone to help you get your message out to potential customers online using digital marketing and social media.
Content Creation
Content creation agencies are often hired to create content for a business or brand that does not exist. They are expected to come up with the content, and they will often collaborate with a graphic designer or web developer to put the content into a digital form that can be shared across different platforms. This type of agency tends to be high-volume with lots of different projects, and they often get the job because they can produce content quickly and at a good price point. You will need to engage with them regularly to make sure that they are delivering the content that you need when you need it.
Content creation agencies are valuable in helping you get your message out to the right audience. However, it’s important to note that the end product must be monitored and approved by a content strategist or manager. This is because it can be difficult to measure the effectiveness of untested content, and you don’t want to put your trust in something that isn’t going to provide you with the results that you’re looking for. If you’re looking for someone to create content for your social media accounts or website, a content creation agency is a good option
Data Management
Data management agencies are in charge of storing and analyzing all of the information that you provide them with. This could include anything from email marketing activity to website traffic or social media metrics and performance. Because of their in-house analytical tools, data management agencies are often able to offer insights that none of your other employees can provide. They will then be able to correlate this activity to provide you with more effective marketing strategies. Data management agencies are also responsible for keeping all of the information that they collect secure and accessible, as well as ensuring that it is compliant with data regulations. This means that they must be able to provide you with the information in a usable and understandable format.
Having a data management agency on your team can provide you with powerful insights into the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns as well as the behavior and preferences of your existing and potential customers. It’s important to remember that as a data manager, they will also be working for you – so be careful what you ask them to do!
If you’re looking for an agency that is going to provide you with high-quality work at a reasonable cost, investigate traditional, interactive, and content creation agencies. Make sure to work with someone who has extensive knowledge in multi-platform marketing and knows how to use different tactics and strategies to maximize your results.