Should I outsource social media management?

Every week, we answer a common question about marketing or business. This week, our question comes from a fan who entered our giveaway contest for a smartwatch. Today, we will answer the following question: “should I outsource social media management?”

We have talked in-depth in the past about social media and all of the different reasons why it is so vital for your small business. With millions of people on social media, it is no secret that it is a great way to reach your audience.

But let’s be honest with each other. It’s kind of a pain to manage.

Maybe you don’t have the time for it. Or perhaps you don’t like social media at all. Maybe you open up Facebook or Twitter and have no idea what to say.

If that sounds like you, outsourcing social media can be very attractive.

Consider Your Business Goals

Before you make a big marketing decision about whether or not to outsource social media, take a step back and analyze the current state of your business. Think about what you are trying to accomplish. Try to come up with a clear image of what you intend to do – think really big picture here.

Once you do that, think about where social media fits into the picture. Will you use it to generate new leads? Will you use it for customer service? Is it simply an extension of your corporate branding? Are you wanting to use social media because everyone else is?

All of these reasons are valid, including the last one. The point here is that you want to think about how social media fits into the larger picture so that you can make an informed decision about whether to outsource social media.

Outsourcing social media might seem like a luxury, but it’s really not. Fifty-six percent of B2B content marketers outsource at least one part of their content marketing. That number jumps to sixty-two percent for B2C content marketers. It’s very common!

Why You Might Want to Outsource Social Media 

The main reason to outsource social media is to gain back time. Running your own social media is a pain and a time sink, and marketers with experience can usually do it faster and just as well. For a small business owner, every second counts. How many of those seconds do you want to spend replying to Instagram comments? For many people, the answer is “as little as possible” because they want to focus on other aspects of their business.

Similarly, if you just don’t get social media, that’s a good reason to outsource as well. Countless people do get social media and are more than happy to help you. Marketers – at least the good ones – are matchmakers. They help businesses be seen in their best light so customers fall in love. This is to say, when you outsource social media, it can take away a lot of the awkwardness you feel when trying to fit on Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, and so on.

Lastly, social media specialists may charge more per hour, but it’s often cheaper than hiring an intern or a dedicated worker to handle your social media for you. There is no payroll tax, worker’s compensation, benefits, or onboarding costs. Social media freelancers and agencies can hit the ground running with a minimum of training. When you consider that social media is a marginal concern for most business owners, this is yet another good reason to outsource.

Final Thoughts 

Social media looms large in our modern world. Billions people are engaged online with seemingly endless websites. Understanding how to push your business further through social media can seem confusing. If you don’t have time for it, don’t get it, or don’t want to hire a full-time employee to handle it, consider outsourcing social media. You’ll be glad you did!