So you’re thinking of hiring a social media manager but still aren’t sure whether it’s the right move for you?
That’s totally understandable. Deciding to outsource your social content is a big step and there’s lots to think about.
So, to help you make up your mind, I’ve outlined some of the pros and cons you need to consider.
Let’s start with the pros
1. More time for you
Working with a freelance social media manager will remove all the pressure you’re currently feeling about creating original content for your social media channels.
They’ll free up your time and resources so that you can focus on other important tasks in the business.
2. They’ll work to a strategy
Social media is more than just posting pretty pictures on Instagram and Facebook. If you really want to make an impact on social, working to a strategy is vital and that’s exactly what a social media pro will do.
Before posting begins they’ll work with you to understand your business goals and will create a plan for social media that helps you get there faster.
3. They’ll create content that speaks to your ideal audience
When was the last time you considered who your ideal client was and whether the content you’re creating is really what they want to see?
A social media manager will get under the skin of your biggest fans and create content that gets them commenting, sharing and coming back for more.
4. They’ll put social media first
When you’re juggling a busy business with family life and (hopefully) a social life, your social media can easily take a back seat.
The beauty of outsourcing the job to an expert is that they’ll make it a priority for your business again. They’ll take care of the content creation, commenting and messaging as well as ensuring your business gets seen by more of the right people.
5. They’ll keep tabs on your competitors then make sure your content is better!
One of the biggest worries I hear from new clients is that their competitors are getting the edge. When I take a closer look, I usually find it’s because their competitors are active on social media.
A good social media manager will keep tabs on your competitors and create a strategy that ensures your content outshines theirs.
6. They’ll keep on top of platform trends and updates so you don’t have to
It feels as though barely a week goes by without one of the platforms introducing a fancy new feature or two. It can be totally overwhelming – or even baffling – to work out how to use it and whether you need to bother at all.
When you hire a social media manager you won’t have to worry about any of that anymore. They’ll be on top of all the changes and will be able to tweak your strategy accordingly.
Now for the cons…
OK, so let’s look at the flip side. Here are a few things you need to be aware of before making a final decision to outsource.
1. You might feel as though you’ve lost touch with your accounts
For a lot of business owners, it’s a huge relief to hand over their social accounts to a professional – but it’s not always easy. Until you get to know your social media manager better, you might feel as though you’ve lost touch with your followers.
This problem can easily be overcome. Firstly, you can ask to approve all content before it gets posted – this will put any fears about tone, voice or authenticity to rest. Arranging regular meetings with your social media manager will also help keep you in the loop.
2. You’ll still need to provide content
Outsourcing isn’t a completely hands-off experience. Your social media manager will need access to photos and information about the things that are happening in your business.
It’s a good idea to arrange a monthly or fortnightly meeting where you can discuss ideas and share information and images.
3. You’ll need to step back
As I’ve already highlighted, stepping back can be tough. But for your social media manager to fully implement their strategy, you need to trust them – and that means not posting random pictures of your family BBQ without discussing it first.
Your social media manager will work hard to create a consistent tone and image for your brand and it’s important that you support them in this.
4. They won’t be on call
Although social media managers have your business’ best interest at heart, they also have their own lives and other clients to attend to.
Unless there’s an absolute emergency – and a good social media manager will have a process in place for this – you should aim to keep communications within agreed business hours.
5. You need to be patient
As you already know, social media success doesn’t happen overnight and sadly social media managers don’t have a magic wand.
This means you need to give them time to put their strategy into action. Be prepared to wait at least 3-6 months for results.
6. You’ll need to have a budget
Social media management, of course, comes at a cost. Typically, you can expect to pay upwards of £500 per month per platform.
However, think about what you’re investing in. You’ll be saving time and money by not doing the job yourself, you’ll be attracting new clients to your brand and, depending on your objectives, you’ll potentially increase the number of leads and appointments that get from social media.
If outsourcing social media sounds like the perfect next step to grow your business – or if you have any questions – please contact me here