Whether you’re new to the industry or you’ve been doing this for some time, you’ll soon realize that managing your social media presence is both difficult and time-consuming. Hiring a company to help with this can be a lot easier and more cost-effective than doing it yourself, and the benefits far outweigh the initial costs. An online social media marketing agencyis the best choice for those who want to save time and effort without having to worry about the day-to-day operations of a successful social media campaign.
Things to Consider
When looking for an agency to help with your social media marketing, make sure to consider a number of important factors. These include cost, experience, expertise, security and reliability. While it’s always great to look for the best price, you should also be willing to pay for quality work and for agencies that have a lot of experience in the field. Remember, as the business owner, you are ultimately responsible for the campaign, so it’s important to be confident that you are making the right decision for your business. Asking for references or contacting previous clients is highly recommended, and a good agency will be more than happy to provide you with testimonials or case studies that you can review. With so much conflicting information online, it’s essential to be confident in the expertise of the team you’re working with. Knowing that you’re making the right choice for your business and that your data is secure is also important, so make sure that the agency you choose undergoes regular privacy audits and guarantees that your data will be kept secure at all times. Deciding which platforms to focus on is also important. While it’s preferable to have a presence on all major social media platforms, some businesses may only have a budget for certain platforms or may not feel comfortable getting into the habit of using multiple social media platforms. Take time to consider what’s going to work best for your audience and the business objectives you have in mind. Developing content for social media is also an important part of any marketing campaign, so make sure to ask the agency about their process for creating new content and whether or not they offer content creation services as part of their package. Finally, make sure to consider whether or not to outsource social media marketing. Since much of this work is conducted via online interactions, it’s possible that using an agency to help manage your social media can result in cost-savings and greater efficacy. However, you may also decide to keep some of the functions and operations of your social media team under your control, in which case it would be wise to invest in people and training.
The Downsides
While there are many upsides to using an agency to help with your social media marketing, there are also some significant downsides. The first and most important downside is that you’re responsible for the outcome of the campaign. Therefore, if you decide that a particular social media platform isn’t performing as well as you’d hoped, it’s up to you to make the necessary changes and determine how best to adjust the strategy. Another downside is that not all agencies are created equal, and it’s important to do your research before making a decision. Due to the highly competitive nature of the industry, many agencies will be more than willing to up-sale their services. However, getting the best price is often not the primary concern of the business owner. The last downside to consider is that much like any other form of marketing, social media marketing is an ever-changing beast. It’s important to consider what works best for your business now, but it also pays to be aware that what was effective last year might not be this year. Finally, make sure to consider whether or not this is the right fit for your business. It’s great to have a presence on social media but if your primary purpose is to sell products or services, then utilizing social media can have some significant drawbacks.
Choosing The Right Platforms
One of the biggest mistakes new business owners make is getting caught up in the seemingly endless stream of articles, blog posts and videos discussing the latest trends in social media. While it’s important to be aware of what’s going on, it’s also important to know which platforms your audience actually spends their time on. According to HubSpot Blogs research, the top five social media platforms are:
- YouTube
If you have a limited advertising budget, then it might be smart to focus on these platforms first and foremost. You can use free tools like Google Analytics to easily discover your most valuable audience demographics and behaviors.
Security And Privacy
Like any other form of marketing, your social media strategy needs to abide by industry best practices when it comes to security and privacy. Always use a VPN when accessing public Wi-Fi, and change your passwords frequently. Never share your personal details (like your phone number or email) with any third party without explicitly stating what you are doing and why. In addition, learn how to use different passwords for different platforms (like your Gmail and Facebook passwords), and ensure that they are all unique and difficult to guess. Last but not least, learn how to monitor and measure the results of your efforts. If you’re not using a tool like Hootsuite to keep track of your key performance metrics, then you’re missing out on crucial information. Don’t underestimate the value of reliable, timely metrics when it comes to marketing.
Outsource As Required
One of the greatest things about utilizing an agency to handle your social media is that you don’t have to worry about all the mundane, day-to-day tasks that come with managing a robust social media presence. Most agencies will have experience in creating the perfect blend of content for various platforms and will know exactly which ones to focus on based on your business goals.
For instance, if you’re looking to grow your email list, then you might want to target content to a more general audience on social media. Alternatively, if you’re looking to sell or promote a product or service, then targeting the right audience on social media is a great way to make sure your ads are as effective as possible.
Deciding whether or not to outsource your social media is just as important as choosing the right platforms. If you feel like there are certain tasks that you can’t achieve due to lack of expertise, then it might be a good idea to outsource those tasks. However, be sure to review the terms of the agreement before making any decisions. Most agencies will require you to sign a nondisclosure agreement, so be sure to ask about that before agreeing to any terms. With so much conflicting information online, it’s important to be confident in the expertise of the team you’re working with. Knowing that you’re making the right choice for your business and that your data is secure is also important, so make sure that the agency you choose undergoes regular privacy audits and guarantees that your data will be kept secure at all times. It’s highly recommended to get a signed contract before moving forward with any agency negotiations.
Additional Considerations
Apart from the factors discussed above, you should also be asking yourself questions like:
- How much investment am I willing to make in this campaign?
- What kind of results do I want to see from this campaign?
- How much control do I want to give this campaign over my company?
The answers to these questions will guide you in making the right decision about whether or not to hire an agency to handle your social media. Of course, it’s always great to get a good deal but first you should consider how much this is going to cost you in the long run. Answering these questions will help you make the right choice for your business.