Can you outsource your company’s social media strategy and management successfully?
The short answer is yes, you can outsource your social media management.
The longer answer is yes. You can outsource your social media management and strategy. However, if this is the route you decide to take, make sure you have considered and understood the risks you are potentially exposing your business to. It is crucial to spend the time to select the right person/agency to outsource something as valuable as social media.
Your social media feeds are, or at least should be considered, business assets; they are tools with which you communicate with your potential customers and current clients.
Would you let just anyone pick up the phone and call your clients and speak on your behalf?
In effect, that is what you are doing when you outsource your social media. You are giving someone the ability to speak on your company’s behalf; you are trusting someone to take control of a valuable business asset and use it publicly.
Should you choose the wrong person to be at the helm of your social media accounts, your business could be damaged both in regards to reputation and your bottom line. You should consider how much damage could be done to your business by an ill-informed / un-trained staff member, especially if they have no idea of the laws and regulations surrounding marketing products and services. Just because someone uses Facebook in their personal life, does not make them the right person to handle business social media feeds.
Before you hand over the passwords either internally to a staff member or an external social media manager/agency, think about, references, insurance, qualifications and Institute affiliations.  Do they understand the rules and regulations of marketing, do they know and understand the importance of any additional rules and regulations related to your industry, (professional services – Solicitors for example) do they realise the impact and consequences of breaking the rules and regulations?
Do they understand your business and marketing strategy?
The marketing communications messages that come from your social media feeds should resonate with your company’s business plan and company ethos. Social media posts should be an integral part of your marketing plan. Whoever you choose to manage your social media feeds, let them become immersed in the business so they can be confident they represent you in the right way. There should be a regular two-way flow of information to enable the best possible outcome and ROI or reward for your efforts.
If you would like to speak to us regarding advice, training, a review of your social media platforms, or handing over management, please contact us.
