There are quite a lot of factors to take into account when considering whether you should outsource your social media to a social media manager. Coming from someone who works in digital marketing, you may be here expecting me to say “Yes! Everyone needs an SMM, and what a coincidence, here I am, why not hire me??” It may seem counterintuitive, but maybe you don’t need to outsource (completely) to an SMM.
Allow me to explain.
For small businesses and sole traders, your business is probably a passion project. It’s probably something you started because you love it; whether it’s a product or a service, this is your baby. And no one knows your business like you know your business. I talk a lot about authenticity in social media, and how essential it is that your followers always feel like they’re interacting with a real person. So no bots, no comments with just a heart emoji, no follow / unfollow - nothing but genuine engagement. Big brands can get away with being a bit aloof, but small businesses absolutely cannot. When buying small, people like to buy from people. People want to relate to you and feel like they understand your story. So given that I’m all about authenticity, your authentic voice on your social media is more valuable than you might realise.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to have help. Content creation is time consuming. I know it, you know it or you wouldn’t be here, we all know it. That’s why when we get busy, social media can be the first thing that falls by the wayside. So what you might need instead of completely handing over your social media, is someone to collaborate with.
So what can a SMM help you with, without completely taking over? A SMM should have every intention of getting to know your business inside and out. By doing this, they can help you develop your unique brand voice and aesthetic, based on your personality combined with your company's goals and ethos. From there, they can:
- Work with you to craft captions and posts that are engaging and relatable for your audience, promoting a sense of trust and authenticity.
- Help provide guidance and structure to your social media plan, while ensuring you maintain your unique voice.
- Proof-read and develop upon your caption ideas, or provide a list of prompts.
- Assist with facilitating genuine interaction with your community by leaving authentic comments in line with your brand style.
- Research hashtags to make sure you're always reaching the most optimal audience.
- Ensure consistency in your posting schedule and your theme style.
- Create and edit content inline with your branding.
When considering bringing on a social media manager, it's important to find one that wants to work with you to achieve your goals while not negatively impacting upon your ability to connect authentically with your audience.
This is how I prefer to work with clients; as a consultant, creating a collaborative environment and providing guidance for establishing and maintaining a cohesive social media presence. Be sure to get in touch to find out more about how we might work together!
Cheers,
Laura x
[RELATED] Should I use Stock Images on Instagram?
[RELATED] What is an Instagram Theme and should I have one?
[RELATED] Why it's Time to Stop Blaming the Algorithm
