Gone are the days of using social media purely for, well, social reasons. Today, social media plays an important role in any business – building an audience and boosting brand visibility.
But, with the growing pressures of a consistent social presence, growth-minded CEOs will all eventually face one crucial decision: Should we keep a handle on our handles in-house or outsource that work to a professional social media manager?
Because social media plays such a pivotal role in your brand awareness and customer engagement, you know it’s important to make the right decision.
In this article, we’ll help you decide which option is best for your business by exploring the pros and cons of DIY and professional social media management.
So, whether you’re running a small startup or an established company, read on to find out how to decide which is right for you.
The Importance of Social Media Management
As much as many hate to admit it, social media matters. According to research from Statista, worldwide, there are 4.89 billion people using social media in 2023. This is roughly 60 percent of our global population, with that number likely to change by the time you read this.
Because 4.7 new users join social media every single second.
Social media is no longer just the place where people go to connect with old classmates and new coworkers. It’s where they go to stay in the loop with world news, find local restaurant recommendations, and keep up with their favorite businesses.
In the U.S., the average adult will likely spend 2+ hours on social media a day.
If you’re wanting to connect with new consumers, social media is where you have the greatest chance of doing it.
According to Hootsuite’s Social Trends 2023 Report, confidence in social media marketing is higher than ever. Their survey found that 83% of marketers felt confident with the return on investment (ROI) they received from social media (only 68% of them had felt confident the year before.)
But to gain the best results from social media, it’s important to remember that social media marketing is a specialized field that requires expertise and experience to achieve optimal results.
Here’s why expertise and experience matter:
- Strategy Development
Developing an effective social media strategy requires a deep understanding of your target audience, platform algorithms, and industry trends. An experienced social media manager can help you develop a strategy that aligns with your business goals and maximizes your chances of success.
- Content Creation
Creating compelling and engaging content is essential for capturing the attention of your audience. A social media manager with experience in content creation can help you develop a content strategy that resonates with your target audience and drives meaningful engagement.
- Data Analysis
Social media platforms provide a wealth of data and analytics that can inform your marketing decisions. However, interpreting and analyzing this data requires expertise. A social media manager can help you make sense of the data and identify areas for improvement.
- Staying Ahead of Trends
Social media trends and algorithms are constantly evolving. An experienced social media manager stays up-to-date with the latest trends and changes, ensuring that your marketing efforts remain effective and relevant.
While it’s possible to acquire some level of expertise through self-learning and research, hiring a social media manager brings immediate access to someone with specialized knowledge and experience.
Now, let’s look at the role of a social media manager.
The Role of a Social Media Manager
Social media managers are responsible for developing and implementing social media strategies to increase brand awareness, engage with customers, and drive traffic to your website or physical store.
A good social media manager will be someone who is skilled in managing various social media platforms, creating compelling content, analyzing data and metrics, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and algorithms.
Ultimately, their goal is to create a cohesive and consistent brand presence for your business across all social media channels, while also driving results and achieving your marketing objectives.
Now that we have a clear understanding of their role, let’s explore the pros and cons of doing your own marketing.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of DIY Social Media Management
Doing your own marketing can be an appealing option, especially for small businesses with limited budgets.
Here are the two primary reasons business owners choose to DIY their social media marketing:
- Cost Savings: By doing your own marketing, you save money upfront. This can be particularly appealing to startups and small businesses with tight budgets.
- Control: When you do your own marketing, you have complete control over your brand’s voice and messaging.
But it’s important to remember that doing your own marketing also comes with some drawbacks:
- Time-Consuming: Managing your own marketing requires a lot of time – particularly if you’re hoping to generate engagement with your audience.
- Lack of Expertise: Without the expertise needed to develop and execute effective strategies, you leave your business susceptible to subpar results and missed opportunities.
- Limitations: Without access to the tools and analytics professionals use, you hinder your ability to measure the success of your efforts and make data-driven improvements.
Now that we’ve explored the pros and cons of doing your own marketing, let’s turn our attention to the pros and cons of hiring a social media manager.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Outsourced Social Media Management
Hiring a social media manager can provide you with expert knowledge and experience, freeing up your time to focus on other aspects of your business.
Here are the most popular benefits of bringing in a professional:
- Expertise and Experience: Social media managers are skilled professionals who have a deep understanding of social media platforms, algorithms, and trends. They come to you with experience in developing effective strategies and creating engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
- Time Savings: By outsourcing your social media management, you can save valuable time that can be redirected toward other areas of your business. This allows you to focus on your core competencies and strategic initiatives. When you recall that “time is money,” those upfront savings that come from DIYing don’t seem so helpful after all – not when you can increase your ROI with professional help.
- Access to Tools and Analytics: Social media managers have access to advanced tools and analytics that can provide valuable insights into the performance of your social media campaigns. This data-driven approach allows for continuous optimization and improvement.
Despite these advantages, hiring a social media manager also has some downsides:
- Cost: Hiring a social media manager can be costly, making it potentially not the right choice for small businesses with limited budgets. If your business does not fall into this category, though, the return on investment you get means the benefits outweigh the costs.
- Dependency on External Expertise: Hiring a social media manager means relinquishing control, and that’s a big step for any business owner. To get past this challenge, take time to find a social media manager who inspires confidence that they are experts in their field and can represent your brand’s messaging and voice to your satisfaction.
Now that we’ve examined the pros and cons of both options, let’s discuss the factors you should consider when making a decision.
What To Consider As You Make Your Decision Between DIY and Outsourced Social Media Marketing
As you face the decision between DIYing your marketing and hiring a social media manager, give careful consideration to these factors:
- Your Skills and Capabilities: Assess your own skills and capabilities in social media marketing. Do you have the necessary knowledge and experience to develop and execute effective strategies? Be honest with yourself and consider whether you have the time and resources to upskill if needed.
- Available Resources: Consider the resources at your disposal. If you have a limited budget, doing your own marketing may be the more viable option. However, if you have the financial means to hire a social media manager, it may provide you with the expertise, time savings, and ROI you need.
- Strategic Priorities: Evaluate your strategic priorities as a CEO. Are you better off focusing on core competencies and strategic initiatives, or do you have the bandwidth to take on marketing responsibilities? Consider whether managing your own marketing aligns with your long-term goals and objectives.
- Long-Term Growth Plans: Consider your long-term growth plans for your business. Will you eventually need a dedicated marketing team or department? If so, hiring a social media manager can be a step towards building that team and laying the foundation for future growth.
By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and resources. Now, let’s delve deeper into the cost considerations of doing your own marketing versus hiring a social media manager.
The Bottom Line: Make The Right Decision For Your Business
In this comprehensive guide, we’ve explored the pros and cons of doing your own marketing versus hiring a social media manager.
We’ve discussed the role of a social media manager, the advantages and disadvantages of each option, and the factors to consider when making a decision.
Running a business often means wearing many hats – but it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.
At yorCMO, our fractional CMOs are on your team.
By partnering on the C-Suite, our marketing experts fully engage with your company, aligning your marketing strategy with the right tactics and giving you clarity for continued, predictable growth.
We’re here to help you achieve improved digital marketing strategies for increased revenue growth and greater agility in the changing marketplace.
Running a business often means wearing many hats – but it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. At yorCMO, our fractional CMOs are on your team.
By partnering on the C-Suite, our marketing experts fully engage with your company, aligning your marketing strategy with the right tactics and giving you clarity for continued, predictable growth.
We’re here to help you achieve improved digital marketing strategies for increased revenue growth and greater agility in the changing marketplace.