You have started your own business. Congratulations!
Now what? Traditional marketing? Social media? Both?
It can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start or don’t feel like you have the time. It may be time to hire a social media manager! They have the expertise, knowledge, consistency and the time you don’t have to manage your social media effectively.
Here are some things to consider when deciding:
Can You Maintain It?
The only thing worse than having no social media presence is having an outdated social media presence. Dead accounts can look unprofessional and reflect badly on the company. You may have the best intentions when you create your social media accounts, but you’ll soon find that it’s easy to forget to update. Be honest with yourself and if you know you won’t maintain it long-term, a social media manager may be your best option.
Can You Afford It?
One of the biggest deciding factors will be cost. If you have a small business, it is likely there isn’t money set aside in the budget for salary and benefits for a full-time social media manager. Outsourcing to contractors or a social media firm is an option, but it’s important to make sure you understand the costs before you make that decision.
Do You Know the Market?
An expert in any field puts the time and effort into learning everything possible about that field. Talented social media managers spend hours watching the latest trends and employing the latest content strategies to make sure each post gets the best results possible. What works today may not work tomorrow and it’s the job of a social media manager to know what the latest techniques are. Social media managers also grow to understand each social media audience and cater to that in their work each day.
Do You Have a Plan or a Strategy?
It is the job of the social media manager to create a plan/strategy that will fit into the company’s objectives and ensure it is followed. If a business wants to promote a specific event or product release, for instance, a strategist will come up with a calendar that ensures posts are consistent in the weeks leading up to the event. Posting often enough to keep the information fresh on customers’ minds without making content seem spammy is essential to a social media campaign.
