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Sunday 22nd December 2024
What are the Pros and Cons of Using a Social Media Marketing Agency?
So, you’re thinking about outsourcing your social media. And you’re thinking, “But wouldn’t it be better to hire someone and mould them into our culture?”. Well, you’re on the right lines there, but there are (as always) pros and cons to this question and we’re pretty well-placed to answer it.
We’re very honest here (no bull, just beef is our strapline) so here are the pros and cons of using a social media marketing agency.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
What are the Pros and Cons of Using a Social Media Marketing Agency?
The pros of outsourcing your social media to a marketing agency
Outsourcing your social media marketing comes with a whole heap of benefits, if we do say so ourselves. These pros include…
Expertise!
Firstly, marketing agencies are usually experts in this kinda stuff. (That said, some of them wouldn’t know the difference between a Reel and a TikTok so be careful!) But on the whole, when you hire an agency, you hire experts. And not just one – a team of them! This expertise is often the combination of years of experience across multiple industries and trends. There are a lot of transferable skills and tools in marketing, so an agency will bring a lot to the table for their fee.
Time-saving!
You’re good at what you do, and you probably do it really efficiently. We’re the same with social media. To us, creating content for Instagram or LinkedIn comes as second nature. It’s a habit – it’s a way of life. To you, maybe not. So, outsourcing to an agency will be quicker and save you time to do the things you’re good at.
Access to expert tools!
You know how it is. Another piece of software and you can only really make it work if you have the Super Mario expert upgrade. Yikes – another SAAS product for your accountant to deal with. With an agency, you don’t have to worry about that. They have the high-level SEO tools and social media scheduling and listing tools already. For them, it’s like Office 365 – it’s just an essential everyday tool.
Consistency!
You’ll have every good intention to make your social media work. We know that. But life and business get in the way. You’ll favour your customers or clients over social media and before you know it there’s tumbleweed on your Facebook! Whoops! When you outsource it – so long as you give the agency what they need to create – you’ll have a consistent stream of social media, helping you to look professional and up-to-date.
Scalable team and output!
Good news – the social media is working. Let’s do more of it. You can with an agency as they can assign more hours or team members to you but in-house you may have to hire a new team member. Not quite so simple, cost-effective, or quick!
The cons of outsourcing your social media to a marketing agency
Okay, we’ve gone over the pros, so what are the cons? Some issues you may run into when outsourcing your social media marketing include…
The cost!
There comes a time when you have to weigh up the options in terms of money. Is it more cost-effective to hire someone who can not only do your social media but also manage your blog, website, enquiries and phones for the same price as outsourcing? Possibly, yes.
There’s a point where we feel you’re better off hiring someone and that’s after the growth stage from start-up phase:
- When you start – do it yourself.
- When you’re in growth – outsource it.
- When you make it – employ someone.
Lack of control
Yup, even with a super amazing agency like us, you’re never going to have 100% control. We have a great tool called Planable which gives you the option to easily sign off your content and you’re welcome to offer ideas and edits to us. You can help drive the content, but you won’t have as much control as someone on your team doing it. It’s not a massive way off, but it’s a factor to consider. Are you ready to let go of your control freakery?
Lack of brand consistency
It’s also a risk to your brand when you outsource your social media. Will it be on brand? Will every message be the way you’d have wanted it to be? Could an agency really ‘be you’? In many cases, an agency like Spaghetti Agency will create the tone for you and grow it from strategy meetings and alignment sessions, but your thoughts and opinions might get lost if the agency you’re working with doesn’t ‘get’ you.
Lost in translation?
At times, what you’re looking to do or say can be lost in translation on calls, Teams, and other channels. It’s a very real challenge when working with an outsourced agency on your social media that the eventual output just isn’t you. It might also be a little later than you’d have wanted it, and it might not be as responsive as you wish; especially when things happen out of hours.
Cut and paste social!
And this might well happen to you. Outsourcing your social media to an agency might just create another cookie-cutter approach to social and make you a client in a long line of processed content that all follows the same trends, the same structure, and the same tired old ways. It’s easier for everyone to be on the same system, after all, huh?
Should you outsource your social media?
Social media marketing agencies do offer expertise, time-saving benefits, and access to advanced tools, ideas and scalability. But they also come at a cost and with potential for less control and a slippage on your brand’s tone of voice. You also risk building something you can’t continue in-house when you hire as the systems, expertise and experience take time to build.
That said, we feel that the sweet spot of outsourcing your social media is in that growth stage after start-up and before big growth where you look to build a full marketing team in-house. We often then spend time training the new in-house team as we hand back the reins.
Looking to outsource your social media? We might be right for you. Heck, we might not be and vice versa, but we’re always up for the conversation. Drop us a line and let’s chew the fat…
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1 comment on this article
brandsjar at 12:13pm on February 15th 2024
As a seasoned marketer, I found this article insightful in weighing the pros and cons of employing a social media marketing agency. It aptly highlights the benefits of expertise and time-saving that such agencies offer. However, it also addresses valid concerns about costs and relinquishing control over the brand’s voice. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance and understanding the unique needs of your business. As someone who values informed decision-making, I appreciate the thorough analysis provided here, shedding light on the nuanced considerations when opting for a social media marketing agency. Great read!