Social media management (SMO) drives business growth by enhancing brand awareness, reputation, traffic, engagement, and various online presence aspects.
To extract the benefits from SMO, it is necessary to have realistic goals and adopt a strategy that is customized for the business.
As much as insight from a business is invaluable, an effective SMO strategy does demand the expertise of several digital specialists that can be found in social media management agencies.
Choosing the best out of many SMO agencies can be very overwhelming. This article will help you pick the right one for your business.
Why are social media management agency services important?
Research shows that users of Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter all say social media is one of the platforms that users will use to search for brands.
Let's examine some important data based on statistics of social media users in India:
- More than 462 million people in India are active users of social media platforms.
- About 26.8% of Internet users over the age of 64 see brands, products, and services through advertisements network.
- More than 70% of people who have a positive experience with a business on social media will recommend it to their networks.
- 90% of marketers say social media increases the visibility of their business.
- 96% of marketers say that they've increased exposure through their social media efforts.
These data show that social media is not used only for entertainment purposes. Businesses have realized the potential and benefits of social media and are increasingly using it as part of their business.
However, having social media accounts where you post occasionally is not a good plan. It’s not even a plan at all.
If you don’t have the knowledge about,
- What to post and when to post.
- Which social media platform is the best for your business.
- How social media management works.
Then seek wisdom before taking action. Hiring a social media management company will surely boost your business. But before that, let's look at some necessary points or precautions to be taken before hiring a social media agency.
Things to look for in a social media management company
1. Experience and Reputation:
Seek out a company with a well-established history of success in social media management. Evaluate their reputation by examining client testimonials, in-depth case studies, and comprehensive reviews.
This thorough investigation will provide insight into their reliability, effectiveness, and ability to deliver results consistently over time.
2. Expert Team:
There are better solutions than a solo performer.
If the agency has only one know-it-all specialist, usually an account manager, you should reconsider choosing them.
SM management not just includes a manager who posts regularly on your social media platforms but it includes a specialized team of content writer, SEO, graphic designer, technical support, and many more.
3. Understanding of Your Industry:
The agency you want to work with needs to have a deep understanding of your business and create the right content and ideas. Knowing your business allows for better ideas and content.
Ensure the company has experience working with businesses similar to yours. Familiarity with your industry can lead to more effective strategies and content.
Don’t just look at the number of clients they have worked with. Take a look at the reviews and testimonials within your niche.
4. Strategic Approach:
Errors are bound to occur, but it's crucial for the agency to proactively minimize them. This includes anticipating algorithm updates, staying abreast of industry shifts, and adapting to new trends and seasonal changes that are pertinent to your business.
The agency's response to challenges is indicative of its professionalism.
When addressing issues, damage control involves the following steps:
Promptly informing the client about the situation.
Acknowledging any errors that have been made.
Proposing viable solutions to rectify the situation.
5. Content Creation and Curation:
Check out the company’s profile on various social media platforms and observe their engagement with their audience.
This will give you the idea about the quality of content they will be providing.
Evaluate the company's ability to create high-quality, engaging content across various formats (text, images, videos).
Choose a company that emphasizes thorough analytics and consistent reporting.
This focus on tracking essential metrics such as reach, engagement, and conversions provides invaluable insights into strategy effectiveness.
Such a commitment to data-driven decision-making empowers you to optimize your social media presence effectively, ensuring maximum impact and return on investment.
7. Clear Communication and Transparency:
Ensuring transparent communication with the selected company is essential.
They should provide clear insights into their strategies, ongoing progress, and attained results.
This open communication fosters trust and collaboration, allowing for effective cooperation and alignment towards mutual objectives.
8. Under Budget Services:
Price is undoubtedly a significant consideration when selecting a social media management agency, but it shouldn't be the sole determining factor. Keep in mind that the highest price doesn't always equate to the best service.
The cost of an SMM agency's services varies based on factors like their expertise, experience, location, clientele, scope of services, and duration of the contract.
Choose an agency whose pricing aligns with your budget, but prioritize those that demonstrate a sincere interest in understanding your business goals, brand identity, and industry nuances.
9. Client Communication and Support:
Social media trends evolve rapidly, making it essential for the agency to address your inquiries promptly and involve you in their adaptation. You shouldn't experience prolonged delays in receiving responses. Even during busy periods, the designated contact person should acknowledge your message with a "We'll respond as soon as possible" email.
Do the agency's objectives align with yours? Do they share similar business philosophies? Compatibility is crucial; invest time in assessing how closely your approaches align.
10. Partnerships and Integrations:
Check if the company has collaborated with relevant tools or services such as CRM software and email marketing platforms.
These connections simplify workflows, easing the management of various elements of your marketing strategy.
Utilizing such partnerships can enhance the company's capability to deliver customized solutions that are both efficient and effective for your unique needs.
11. Client Success Stories:
Established SMM agencies should offer more than just a glimpse of clients' social media presence and follower counts. Request references such as client testimonials, reviews, and detailed case studies.
Don't shy away from asking pertinent questions:
What specific outcomes were attained?
What was the timeframe for achieving these results?
How did the SMM efforts impact website performance?
What were the associated costs of their services?
Feel free to reach out to past clients for their insights or explore agency reviews available in online directories.
3 Characteristics that Make a Great Social Media Agency
They Offer a Customized Service
They Have a High Level of Expertise
They’re Proven to Get Results
Steps for successful collaboration with an SMO company.
1. Establish Achievable Goals:
We've emphasized the significance of pinpointing business objectives earlier.
If you're uncertain about specific goals, that's perfectly acceptable. Based on an assessment of your social media presence, the marketing agency can propose an initial milestone.
However, if you have clear objectives in mind, articulate them explicitly. The agency can then provide an estimation of whether they can meet those objectives.
2. Provide Comprehensive Information:
Share extensive details about past marketing campaigns and their outcomes, as well as any ongoing initiatives. Supply all relevant documentation that offers insight into your brand, including guidelines, plans, and audit results.
If there's a distinctive style guide for your brand, make sure to share it. This allows the agency to grasp the tone and style your brand representation.
3. Communicate All the Way Through:
Transparent communication is the key to every successful collaboration.
Discussing previous marketing attempts, the brand’s style, and future objectives are necessary, but so is the communication all the way through.
If you find a way to communicate openly and efficiently, your social media strategy will be on point and on time. For example, inform the SM Management agency on time about all the information you want to include in new posts so they can adjust promptly.
Conclusive Thoughts
Selecting a social media marketing agency that aligns with your business goals can feel daunting, given the multitude of options available.
Follow our eleven recommendations for selecting a social management agency to streamline your decision-making process. Be proactive in asking questions, and anticipate the need to interview multiple agencies before finding the ideal fit.
This method will guide you towards discovering the perfect partner for achieving social media success.