Though social media is necessary for most websites businesses, it can become as annoying as a crying 5-year-old pulling on your leg, whining to get your attention.
Are you one of those webmasters who feel your time could be put to better use? For those webmasters who feel social media is essential, yet you are morally opposed to tweeting, liking, posting, pinning, tumbling, and “plusing”, there is an option for you.
The answer is outsourcing.
Outsourcing is not only for the big budget companies. Small businesses can also outsource all or a portion of their social media campaigns and focus on other strategies.
Social media tasks are not that time-consuming for a professional and you may only need assistance with a few hours a week, which will keep the costs minimal. If your budget is tighter, outsource half of the tasks like posting, looking for people to follow and responding to inquiries, and handle more of the personal communication yourself.
Ready to outsource? Here are some tips to remember…
When choosing a consultant, be careful to check previous reviews, experience, and overall track record. During the interview process, ask for detailed information like past jobs, success rates, communication ability and work ethic.
Your Reputation
Trust is important when choosing a social media consultant. This person is not merely posting or tweeting for you. He/she is managing your brand and reputation.
Check the consultant’s website for reviews or testimonials. Research names or companies for complaints. Look for past clients that are reputable and influential in their industries. Ensure the consultant knows a little about your industry and any pertinent legal issues, if necessary.
Referrals are important when choosing a consultant. Ask the people with whom you trust if they know of any successful social media marketers. If you belong to a private LinkedIn group, request referrals from reputable website owners as well.
Strategy and Education Only
If you are concerned with the “trust” factor, consider using a consultant to help you streamline your campaign and devise strategies for you to expand it. A great social media manager will know the tools and resources that will help you cut down the time and energy you are expending so your effort is maximized for success.
If you have not set up profiles, a consultant can help you with this arduous task and then create a step-by-step strategy. For some webmasters, a repeatable strategy is all that’s needed.
Communication
Communication is crucial when managing a social media account. If you are handling the social media yourself, you may need someone to talk to about new ideas or to help you navigate through any unknown territory. Hire a consultant who will be available to you when needed.
Observe
If you hire a consultant to handle the posting and updates, monitor his/her work throughout the month to ensure the communication matches with your brand personality and messaging. It may take a little time to get it exactly right in the beginning, so your attention is crucial in the early stages. Over time, as trust builds and the consultant is more familiar with your audience, you can let go of the reins a little more.
If you are frustrated with your social media marketing campaigns or you just can’t seem to muster up the energy to post on a website whose mascot is a little blue bird, outsourcing is for you. Social media is very important in today’s online marketing world, so if time and sanity are valuable to you, give outsourcing a try.
Have you ever outsourced any of your online marketing tasks?
Jenna Scaglione is a content writer, internet marketer, and a lover of family, friends and life. Jenna enjoys learning, growing and discovering the newest and latest trends on the internet. Known as "Lady Content", she lives in sunny Socal where she helps her clients around the world increase brand awareness on the internet through content writing and social media.
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