Should You Outsource Your Social Media?

Should you outsource social media or manage internally? This is the dilemma many businesses face at one point or another. Social media has grown at an exponential rate with no signs of slowing down. It’s no longer seen as an experiment, rather a crucial marketing element of your businesses success. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn… If you’re not active on more than one social platform, you're not maximising your potential.

However, managing multiple platforms is a lot of work, especially as each platform is continuously evolving. If you don’t have the time or resources to commit to managing your brand online, then outsourcing social media can be an excellent option. Here are several reasons why you should consider outsourcing your social media:

Save Time

It takes time to understand each platform, keep up-to-date with the latest changes, create content and analyse campaigns. Experts recommend dedicating several hours per month to manage each social media platform proficiently. If your business is only on Facebook and Instagram, can you afford to set aside ten hours a month to maintain these? Add in Twitter, Pinterest and a range of other platforms, and a small task quickly becomes a full-time job.

Outsourcing social media to an agency can be a significant investment, especially without the guarantee of results. However, a dedicated agency can help free up your time (and that of your employees) to focus on the more pressing tasks in your business.

Consistency

It’s not enough to simply post every now and again. You need to be actively invested in each social platform to see an adequate return. Consistency is the key, and your followers will thank you for it. There’s nothing worse than looking at a blog that hasn’t been updated for a few months, or even a few years.

Hiring an agency can ensure you have a consistent flow of quality content, which can help keep your audience engaged, in addition to increasing traffic.

Expert Knowledge

If you want to see results through social media, you need to assign an experienced and knowledgeable individual. Someone with specialised digital skills who understands each platform and knows how to develop an effective strategy that gets results. If there’s no-one in your organisation who fits this build, an agency may be your best option.

A social media company has a team of qualified and experienced individuals who specialise in different areas: Community management, influencer outreach, sales, SEO and analytics to name a few. And you get access to all of them. While your customer service team may be doing an excellent job at managing your social media, they simply won’t be able to match the in-depth knowledge and experience that an established agency brings.

Systems and Processes

Do you know a lot about Facebook, but struggle to get your head around Instagram? Each platform is different and requires a specific approach. If you haven’t established systems to manage these yet, you probably aren’t achieving your full potential.

A good social media agency will have tried and tested systems in place for scaleable results. You should be able to see an increase in efficiency almost immediately. They understand the best practices on each platform, optimum posting times and where to find great content. Additionally, they will be able to react and adapt to changes more quickly.

Cost

Are you thinking of hiring a social media manager internally? A full-time Social Media Manager will cost you in the vicinity of £25,000+ per year. While it can be a huge benefit to have a dedicated in-house employee, there are also many variables that can make it very risky. How much experience do they have managing campaigns? Can they track social ROI? Will they need additional assistance? How much training have they had?

A simple solution that can save you thousands is outsourcing. With an agency, you are guaranteed knowledgeable social media professionals that have proven experience, and for a lot less than a full-time wage. A social media company will also continuously train their consultants in the latest updates, so you don’t have to.

Let us Help you with Social Media

Outsourcing your social media can be a big decision. However, an agency can help take your social presence to the next level. You need seasoned professionals who understand your business and can work alongside you. It’s not a simple ‘set and forget’ structure, but a partnership guided by social media experts with your goals and objectives in mind.

If you are you having trouble getting on top of your social media, or maybe looking for some expert advice, we are here to help. Our friendly consultants can handle all your social media requirements, so you can focus on growing your business.