There are a number of signs to look out for, that could indicate your business needs a social media agency.
The first is a drop in engagement – whether that be fewer likes and comments than normal, or signs that your following is starting to plateau.
The second is a lack of time on your part, leading to your social media platforms becoming neglected. Crucially, this doesn’t always mean that you’re not posting – after all, content can be scheduled well in advance to avoid a drop in posting. Rather, it often translates to a lack of responses to comments and messages received from followers.
The third is a lack of inspiration and ideas. Social media is a creative outlet for engaging content, and standing out is key. If you lack ideas, it may be that you need an overhaul in your strategy and approach to the platform.
Any one of these can drive a business towards seeking social support. Which begs a question – where should that support come from? In this blog, we’re identifying the key differences between social media agency support and freelancers, with tips on how to find the right one for you.
The Benefits of Social Media Freelance Support
A freelancer is a sole trader who works alongside you as a silent partner, easing the workload on your plate by taking on whatever work you need them to do.
When it comes to social media specifically, freelancers will often help with content creation and with strategy building, with ad hoc management services available too depending on your budget.
In terms of the benefits of a freelancer, the first and most important for business owners is that you will be working directly with the individual you reach out to. This ensures a personalised service with gives business owners maximum control over how the brief is shared and communicated with the freelancer.
Freelancers offer flexible services and will often be both the cheaper and the more flexible option – able to pick up tasks as needed, with adjustable packages and services.
Why Businesses Are Often Drawn to a Social Media Agency
What freelancers deliver in terms of flexibility and value, they can sometimes lack in capacity and diversity – which is where agencies come into their own.
Working with a social media agency grants access to a diverse range of professionals who all bring their own unique skills and expertise to a project. This creates a comprehensive service package that ticks every box of a refreshed social media strategy, giving you great bang for your buck and a much broader approach to social media.
Agencies tend to keep on top of trends and become an extension of your business with an ability to scale projects and expand into other areas of work and support. While you might contact a social media agency seeking support with content creation, over time this partnership could span an overhaul of your web design, fresh email content, and other areas.
Finally, working with an agency tends to mean better accountability. Agencies work within contracts and will have more formal protocols in operation compared with freelancers, which can mean better protection and guarantees for businesses.
Is One Better Than the Other?
For most clients who we meet, the choice between a social media agency and a freelancer revolves around budget and the kind of support they need.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive overhaul of your strategy, social aesthetic, content, and backend management, then working with an agency brings in expertise from all corners of the social sphere – engineered by a team who know how to steer a business to social success.
If you simply need some support with content ideas and creation, or with posting due to a lack of time on your part, a freelancer can bring flexibility to your project – and can save you money.
In short, it depends on what you need. Remember, social media is becoming an increasingly valuable part of the digital marketing sphere and is not just good for engagement but also for discovery and building brand awareness. The best way to leverage all of the opportunities presented by social media is to build a strategy and stick to it, with regular posting and a blend of unique content and trending topics.
For more advice and to chat to our inhouse social media team, to get their ideas on how to boost the value of your profile, get in touch today.
