Outsourcing ‘roles’ is a big step for any business. It’s usually a sign that your business is outgrowing its current structure – very often one that sees you or you and your small team, wearing too many hats at once. Or possibly even worse, doing jobs you’re not qualified to do.
If this sounds familiar to you – keep reading. Because in this article we’re going to help you decide if Social Media is one of those jobs you’re ready to outsource.
But first, what is Social Media Management and what does a Social Media Manager do?
Social Media Management Is…
Social Media Management is the process of strategically creating, publishing and promoting content on social media platforms and monitoring a brand’s presence there too. Whilst Instagram and Facebook are popular platforms for businesses, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin and YouTube all offer opportunities depending on your audience.
A Social Media Manager is someone who manages that process for your business.
Let’s break that definition down into the tasks
that fall under Social Media Management for a clearer picture:
- Analysing social media audiences
- Developing a strategy designed to put a business in front of their target audience
- Creating and distributing content for social media profiles
- Monitoring online conversations
- Collaborating with influencers
- Entertaining audiences
- Monitoring, measuring and reporting on social media performance and ROI
When you see Social Media Management broken down in this way, it might be clear why you would like to engage a Social Media Manager. Managing your social media is a lot of work. And as your business grows so do the demands on your time. Meaning that every day you’re needing to make decisions about what needs your attention most urgently. Which is not the best way to run a business.
The Quick Guide to Whether you Should Outsource Social Media
- There aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything I need to do.
- I don’t understand how Social Media works.
- I don’t know what to post or what content to create. And again, I don’t have time to do it.
- I struggle to spend time on social media at all, let alone having conversations with people there.
- I never check our social media results.
If you said YES to even one of the items on the above list, it’s probably time to consider Social Media Management. But if you want to be sure, here are five clear signs, it’s time to hire a Social Media Manager.
#1 You’re Neglecting your Business
in Favour of Showing up Online
If your activities online are driving sales and growing revenue in your business, you probably don’t need to read any further. You’re doing something right and you might be better outsourcing something else in your business to give you more time for social media. But if you’re not making sales online and you’re neglecting other revenue making activities in your business – you need a Social Media Manager.
Successful Ecommerce business owners know what their talents are – they step into those things and other hire people (like a Social Media Manager) to do the work they’re talented at.
#2 Your Business has Outgrown your
Social Media Knowledge
Here’s an overview of the Social Media process we use with our clients:
Social Media Strategy
Your plan for what content you will create and how you will maximise engagement and interactions across social media to achieve your marketing objectives.
Content Creation
Turning words, images, ideas and inspiration into shareable content that connects with your ideal customer.
Community Management
Engaging with your community on social media by replying to comments, answering DM’s, asking questions, commenting on other people’s posts and generally being visible and available to your audience.
Tracking Results
An analysis of key metrics as they relate to your social media objectives, so you know what’s working and what isn’t and can adjust accordingly.
No, social media is not as simple as just showing up on your platform of choice and whacking up a post whilst you wait for your youngest to finish dance class.
If you’re not confident in applying yourself to any of the four steps outlined above, you should at least talk to a Social Media Manager. Whilst you may need a Social Media Manager, it’s also possible that you just need help with your social media strategy and coaching to help you expand your knowledge and skills.
#3 Social Media Comes Last
If ‘social media’ is always on your to-do list, but never done – it could be time for a Social Media Manager. Social Media Marketing can be incredibly effective for Ecommerce businesses, but it needs to be done strategically and it needs to be done consistently. Trouble is, it’s time consuming to do well. If you’re struggling as a small business owner to get through your daily to-do’s and social media is always coming last or being moved from one day’s task list to the next, you could be missing out on opportunities to connect with new customers and drive revenue in your business.
#4 You’re not getting Engagement/Engagement Rate is Low
Engagement is the number of people who liked/commented/shared/pinned etc. the piece of content you posted.
Engagement rate is that number divided by the number of people the piece of content reached. Engagement should be one of your social media goals. High engagement lends itself to the algorithm ranking a piece of content as more relevant, which can lead to it reaching more people. And this can lead to more sales for your business.
If you’re not getting likes, shares, and comments on your posts a Social Media Manager can help you figure out why and turn it around.
#5 You’re Not Sure it’s Working
Let’s talk about results.
There is no point pouring hours of your time into a social media marketing strategy, unless there’s a ROI (return on investment).
And if social media hasn’t worked for you in the past, you may be tempted to discount its value for your business.
But the problem might be that you don’t have a strategy that is aligned with your goals. And that you’re not tracking the results of your efforts. Knowing how to assess what’s working and what isn’t takes skill and practice. An experienced social media expert can help you to create a strategy, set goals and then analyse the data so you know what you need to do to move forward and achieve the goals you’ve set.
What Comes Next?
In this article we’ve given you five clear indicators that you should at least consider hiring a Social Media Manager. The biggest reason is that social media can drive sales in your business – when it’s consistently done well and in a way that is aligned with your brand.
If you’re ready to maximise opportunities for your business on social media, we’ve got you covered. Socialised by Keetrax is currently taking on new clients for Social Media Management.
Social Media Manager, Alice, has several years of experience working in digital marketing and managing multiple social media brands. She brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and experience to her clients. Why not book a call with Alice to find out more about Social Media Management and how it could help to drive sales in your online business.
