Well-executed social media marketing is a great way to drive traffic to your site and strengthen your brand. In the last few years, this method of online advertising has transitioned from a “nice to have” to an almost indisputable “must have.” Consider this:
92% of consumers trust “earned advertising” above any other form of advertising (Nielsen)- 83% of marketers indicate that social media marketing (SMM) is important for their business. (Social Media Examiner)
- Social media marketing has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing. (State of Inbound Marketing, 2012)
You’re probably chomping at the bit to get a piece of this action! But before you immerse yourself in a sea of tweets, Likes and pins, think about the benefits of outsourcing your social media to qualified social media management agencies rather than adding another thing to your to do list.
5. It Never Ends
If the idea of filling out three or four profiles to get your accounts set up gives you a headache, you need to realize that regular maintenance is an inherent component of social media. Fresh content, regular updates, and interaction with your followers and communities are all required to nourish marketing efforts. Businesses that employ social media marketing platforms and cut corners and are not consistent are spinning their wheels — followers know when they’re being used, and are increasingly able to spot advertising that has no value.
4. It’s Complicated
Setting up and maintaining your social media sites is a good start. But each service possesses unique characteristics. As an example, Facebook and Twitter marketing each have their own set of best practices for optimal time of day to post, as well as the most compelling types of content to use on each platform. Social media marketing experts have done the research and know how to cater to the needs of each. Choose an agency for the same reason you wouldn’t see a podiatrist for chronic headaches: because you need the right specialist.
3. It’s a Numbers Game
How do you know if your efforts are paying off? Is that Pinterest account really generating leads, or just consuming resources better spent elsewhere?
Unfortunately, performance tracking can feel overwhelming. That’s probably why only 47% of social media marketers are measuring their success (Awareness, Inc.). Agencies have the necessary tools that provide analysis to help you see where you are receiving the greatest ROI and can monitor the performance and tweak accordingly to achieve the greatest effectiveness.
2. It’s Time Consuming
The majority of marketers (59%) are using social media marketing for over 6 hours or more each week (Social Media Examiner). Most small businesses simply don’t have the resources to devote 30 plus hours a month to social media management. Outsourcing this task may initially feel like a luxury to bootstrapping business owners, but when viewed in context, the expense is minimal. How much is 30 hours of your time worth? Wouldn’t you say that…
1. You Have Better Things to Do
Operating your own business is challenging enough without having to add “tweet that one thing” to your to-do list. Or the burden of doing the research required to find and connect with prospective customers on a daily basis.
Looking for and writing quality content, scheduling posts and keeping an eye on reputation management and competitors online can be a full-time occupation. It requires skill as well as commitment. That’s why entire agencies are dedicated to this rapidly evolving marketing channel – allowing you to focus on other important tasks that are vital to your businesses success.
There’s no question: investing in social media can reap dividends in today’s economy. The question is do you have the time and resources to do it yourself or should you outsource it for a fraction of the cost it would cost for you to bring on a qualified full time employee. Its your call but if you want something done right its best to always go with a pro – the same holds true for social media marketing!
