And how to find the right one for you.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

– Using social media for your business takes time and dedication
– Hiring social media help is an investment in the growth of your business
– Finding the right type of help for your needs and budget can help take it off your hands

 

It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of a social media manager was a foreign concept. In fact, it’s still a role I find difficult to explain to my family and even peers. But if you’ve ever run a business, no matter the size, and tried to manage all the social media yourself, you’d understand why the role is becoming increasingly important. 

 

The truth of the matter is that the upkeep of social media pages takes a lot of time and expertise in the area. With platforms constantly changing and no hard and fast solution to just winning on social media, having someone who can live and breathe social media and more importantly, your brand’s social media is a valuable resource.

But between all the social media courses online, advertisers serving you ads to get you 1k followers and agencies, how do you find the right services for you? Here’s a guide to the types of social media managers you’ll find out there and when they might be right for you.

 

The truth of the matter is that the upkeep of social media takes a lot of time and expertise in the area.

 

1. Social Media Guides

You’ve probably seen it all over your social before. Get this FREE guide to social media to boost yourself to 1k followers immediately. And hey, maybe that’s all you need. They sell quick and easy solutions so that you can do it for yourself. 

Particularly when you do not have the budget or the reason to yet employ full-time help for your social media, it’s a great way to understand what the best practices are and how you can set yourself up for success in the best way. This is particularly great for brands that have the tendency to do well on social media already and won’t get caught in the crossfires of Facebook’s continuous attempts to get you pay on the platform.

That’s local brands who just want a niche, local audience (like small restaurants), brands that are already well-known and just joining a certain social media platform or local market, or personal accounts.

Who is it best for?
  • Businesses with inbuilt success eg. restaurants and well-established brands
  • Personal accounts

2. Freelancers

Freelancers are your jack of all trades, usually working on a number of different projects. They’re incredibly valuable; with a hand on everything it takes to run a social media account from content creation to reporting to community management and all. These are the people you’re often finding through Facebook job boards, Fiverr, Upwork and the like. 

But finding the right freelancer is like finding any other employee. Where is their experience from? Are they just an influencer who says they can grow your following like they did yours? Oftentimes, this is not the case as building a personal account is not the same as a brand account. Do they have other advertising and marketing background? 

Freelancers are a ‘get-what-you-paid-for’ type of thing. Investing in a more high-quality freelancer with greater experience is going to cost more.

Who is it for?
  • Businesses with an existing marketing strategy but need an extra hand

 

3. Growth Hackers

Growth hackers are an emerging field in marketing – focused solely on growing your business. They usually employ a host of tools that get you quickly to a mass following – including bots, funnel models and conversion optmisation. They’re a great reminder of just how much time and love it takes to build your social – as it does take a dedicated person committed to your growth to get the results.

But be aware, fast followers tends to mean less long-term customers. The whole thing about social media audiences is building trust and engagement with your audience. If you’re looking for engaged, repeat customers, putting money into quick hacks or bots won’t deliver the results you’re looking for.

Who is it for?
  • New brands looking to expand their reach as quickly as possible
  • Startups needing a mass audience quickly

4. Agencies

Not going to lie, we’re obviously a little biased towards the agency model. Agencies are full-service entities, able to take social completely off your hands. If you don’t know where to get started, then an agency is there for you. They’ll be able to guide you on the right track, from defining the role of social for your business to the use of each platform. They’ll understand your goals and get  to know your business inside and out and run with it.

Moreso than a freelancer, an agency will have a grander focus ; a clearer vision for something more. They’ll be able to guide your social media into something more transformative and think further than the usual, run of the mill strategies. With specialists who can create content, really delve into research and analytics and help you go where you may not have thought, the possibilities are endless.

Who is it for?
  • Businesses who know they need to be on social media but don’t know where to start
  • Businesses with a bit more of a budget and willing to try new things in social
  • Businesses who want long-term results and sustainable strategies

 

So make sure you know what you need for your business and your social. An agency might not be the answer all the time. If you’re unsure, set up a call with us and we can talk through your next steps.