Thinking about ramping up your business’s social media strategy? Fantastic! You’re on your way to building your social presence, attracting more followers and getting new customers through your doors. 

But before you get started, you need to decide who will own your social media strategy. One decision you’ll make is whether you’ll use a social media management company or an in-house marketing team. 

In this guide, we’ll talk about the differences between in-house vs. outsourced social media management, and how to choose what’s best for your business by looking at four key points. 

#1 Team

First, think about your existing team. Do you have a marketing department? Is there somebody with social media experience who can take on your social media management?

If there isn’t anyone with previous social media experience, you’ll need to find someone who has the time and know-how to manage your business’s social media strategy. You can either:

Hire someone new

While hiring new employees is a popular solution when you need new talent, it can be expensive. From the time and money spent recruiting and on employee benefits to purchasing new equipment, salary isn’t the only cost associated with a new hire. 

Using an outsourced team

Using a social media management company is more flexible than bringing a new hire on. Depending on the company’s packages and plans, you can test out social media management for a few months to see if it drives your desired results. If not, you can part ways with the company easily. Plus, you won’t need to worry about hidden overhead costs, like benefits and equipment.

#2 Time

Think about your current team’s schedule, and how much time there is to commit to building your social media presence. Between creating social content, like images and videos, writing captions, setting up campaigns and monitoring social mentions, social media management takes time and effort. If you or your marketing team is already pressed for time, your social media marketing strategy may suffer. 

Using an outsourced social media marketing team can save you valuable time while also ensuring your social media campaigns are in good hands. 

#3 Industry knowledge

Of course, you want whoever is running your social media strategy to be in the loop of current industry events, know how to outshine your competitors and know how to “talk the talk.” When you hire someone on your team, you have the benefit of training them in person and making sure they’re well-versed in industry knowledge. 

While business owners may be wary that an outsourced team won’t “get” their company, reputable social media companies take time to research your industry, get to know your business and fine-tune your brand voice. 

If you’re considering hiring a social media company, make sure to ask them about their onboarding process. Questions you can ask include: 

• How do you create my social media content? 
• How do I review social posts before they are scheduled? 
• How do you come up with a social post calendar? 
• Will you use my current brand voice? 
• How do you measure the success of my social media campaigns? 

A professional social media manager, like those on Marketing 360®’s social team, takes the time to learn everything they need to know about your business and industry and will work with you to create social media strategies that can grow your business. 

#4 Social media expertise

Last but certainly not least, you want your social media manager to be well-versed in social media. From staying on top of emerging trends to navigating social platform updates and changes, your social media manager needs experience and knowledge to make the most of your social media management. 

About Marketing 360®’s Social Media Management

When you need help growing your business through social media marketing, trust the experts at Marketing 360. Learn more about our plans and pricing today.