In today’s digital era, small businesses are leveraging technology to transform operations, market effectively through digital channels, utilize cloud computing, analyze big data, and enhance customer experiences with AI and mobile technology. E-commerce platforms extend their market reach, while cybersecurity measures protect their digital assets. BUT... it's also eating away at your valuable time!
Who has time to: Do research on trends and audiences, define goals, generate ideas, plan a content calendar, take photos and video, create an asset collection, create content, schedule content, engage your audience, optimize strategy... etc. etc. The list goes on and on!
"Having a social media manager is one of the best ways to save money, increase marketing ROI, and consistently engage your target audience"
We all know that a robust social media presence is essential for brand visibility and growth as it serves as a digital showcase for your brand’s personality, values, and offerings. It allows businesses to engage with a broad audience, foster customer relationships, and enhance brand loyalty. With billions of users on various platforms, social media is a critical touchpoint for brands to increase awareness, drive traffic, and ultimately boost sales.
Small business entrepreneurs often grapple with several challenges when managing social media. A significant hurdle is generating high-quality leads, with 21% of small businesses citing this as their top challenge. Additionally, gaining new followers and increasing audience engagement are common difficulties, faced by 19% and 17% of small businesses respectively. Consistency in posting content and the creation of content itself are also notable obstacles, with 12% and 11% of businesses struggling in these areas. These challenges are compounded by the limited resources and time constraints typical of small businesses, making it difficult to keep up with the rapid pace and changing trends of social media platforms. The solution? Delegate to a Social Media Manager!
“If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to learn to delegate.” – Richard Branson
What is Social Media Management?
Social media management is a multifaceted discipline that involves overseeing and guiding a brand’s presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It encompasses creating and publishing content, monitoring engagement and mentions, growing a community of customers and influencers, and reporting and analyzing the results of social media efforts. Social media management services provide expertise in these areas, helping businesses to create and schedule content, analyze audiences, monitor campaign results, and launch social media ads. The key components of social media management include a content strategy, online reputation management, community management, and paid social media strategy. The role of a social media manager is to develop and implement strategies that maintain and grow a brand’s social presence, manage content creation, campaign strategies, analyze reports, and ensure the brand’s voice is consistent across all social channels.
...and a management service can accomplish this ALL at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full time in-house social media manager/content creator.
Benefits of Hiring a Social Media Management Service
Hiring a social media management service offers several benefits for businesses looking to enhance their online presence and engagement. Here are some key advantages:
Time Efficiency: This is a biggie! By outsourcing social media tasks, you can save time and focus on other critical aspects of your business operations.
Increased Brand Awareness: A social media manager can help consistently post quality content that resonates with your target audience, which can lead to more customers.
Heightened ROI: Social media experts can develop a content marketing strategy tailored to your goals, potentially leading to a higher return on investment.
Improved Engagement: With a dedicated social media manager, your brand can maintain active and engaging communication with your audience, fostering a loyal community.
Enhanced Customer Service: Social media managers can provide timely responses to customer inquiries and feedback, improving overall customer satisfaction and service.
Expertise and Experience: Social media managers bring a wealth of knowledge about platform algorithms, content trends, and audience behavior, which can be leveraged to your advantage.
Consistent Content Creation: They ensure a steady stream of engaging and relevant content, keeping your brand top-of-mind for your audience.
Strategic Planning: Social media managers can craft and execute a comprehensive strategy that aligns with your business objectives, ensuring that every post contributes to your overall goals.
These benefits highlight the value of investing in professional social media management to drive growth and success in the digital landscape.
Having a social media manager is one of the best ways to save money, increase marketing ROI, and consistently engage your target audience especially for entrepreneurs who are already strapped for time and resources. In my experience, taking this one aspect of running a business off your plate can increase your work efficiency, and putting an expert in the driver’s seat of your social media will help to increase your brand recognition especially for new business!
Statistical References:
5 social media challenges for small businesses. Visual Objects. (n.d.). https://visualobjects.com/digital-marketing/blog/social-media-challenges
93% of small businesses struggle with common social media challenges. PR Newswire: press release distribution, targeting, monitoring and marketing. (2021, March 2). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/93-of-small-businesses-struggle-with-common-social-media-challenges-301238532.html
Day, V. (2023, November 20). The top 8 social media challenges for small businesses. VujaDay Creative Digital Agency. https://vujadaydigital.com/the-top-8-social-media-challenges-for-small-businesses/