What are the things to consider before working with social media experts? A couple of weeks back, I wrote a post on 5Ways to leverage your social media clout. While I’ve always believed that leveraging social media ain’t rocket science, there are times when a business is better off hiring a social media expert rather than risking a Do-It-Yourself approach. From a business perspective, terms such as social media strategy and best practices can be a whelming, especially for newbies in the social networking world.
Hiring a social media expert is easier said than done for several reasons. First, the one size fits all approach just doesn’t work in social media world. What works perfectly for another business may be a perfect recipe of disaster for your business. Secondly, a number of internet marketers and SEO professionals pitch themselves as social media experts.
If you are a business pondering over how/ why to work with a social media expert, consider the following 5 key points before you take the plunge.
Does Your Business Goals Demand Working with Social Media Experts?
At the end of the day, there’s a business to be run. And no business is successful unless it generates profits. Have crystal clear objectives in mind about your social media campaign before you start working with an expert. Are you trying to revive your company’s online reputation with social media? Do you want to use social media as an alternative means of customer service? Or is brand-awareness the primary objective of your social media plans. Once you have clear goals, it’s much easier to evaluate and choose relevant social media experts for your business needs.
Social Media Experts and Your Resources
Working with an expert helps streamline your social media strategy. However, there’s a cost associated with it. And it’s not just the monetary aspect, there’s a time investment as well. If you are fully committed to social media, an expert can help you succeed. If you are unsure and adopt half measures, the results will be half as good. Of course, hiring social media experts saves you valuable time which is better spent on managing your business.
In-house or External Social Media Experts?
Will your business benefit by creating an in-house social media team or hiring an external expert. For starters, I strongly advise working with an external expert till your in-house team has developed the required expertise. An expert makes you aware of the best practices as well as crucial pitfalls that your business should avoid. Working with a “Been there, done that” expert minimizes risk and also helps groom your in-house social media team.
Skills
I’m often quizzed about what specific social media skills are crucial to be labeled as a social media expert. While there is no definitive answer to that question, a social media expert should know how to leverage the leading social networks including Facebook, Twitter and others for boosting your business. One of the key considerations before working with a social media expert is determining their ability to measure performance or ROI of the planned social media strategy.
Innovation
I strongly believe that social media thrives on innovation. Just being able to build an impressive Twitter profile or Facebook Fan page isn’t equivalent to being a social media expert. Unless you have a “wow factor” associated with your social media campaign, it’s likely to be labeled as just another member in the crowd. Seek a social media expert with a proven track record of innovation, it pays!
Conclusion
Are you a business planning to work with a social media expert? How do you evaluate prospect candidates? Do you think building an in-house social media team is more effective than hiring external social media experts? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.
I would like to use Facebook to promote my practice but is there any evidence that social media works for therapists whose clients want confidentiality ?
Social Media would work for any company but the method of usage is where the difference comes in. If your business thrives on confidentiality, that should be emphasized in your social media selling/value proposition. Make your value clear, then emphasize your commitment to confidentiality. I hope that helps.
i heard that is not a true
Hi Douglas,
This is a great guide! Especially like the point about innovation. I believe it really matters that there is a “Wow” factor attached just like you say. Big brands will always attract a large following I guess, so the only thing to measure real impact is to provide something extra through innovative campaigns!
Let me Buffer this, loved the post! 🙂
Thanks for the contributive comment Leo. Success in any business is sustained only through innovation. What works today is not guaranteed to work tomorrow. To become successful with your social media campaign is to firstly, study what works and secondly customize it to fit your market and continue to improve on your results.
Business Goals are very important. Every one out there doesn’t need a sm campaign, same way companies should not think sm as a facebook fan page creation. Defining your objective is the first thing that is required. Thanks Douglas 😉
With the current modern technology, most of the activities are done through the internet. And social media is the good and improved way to market a product effectively. All the tips are very useful while working with Social media.
Great post. One thing I’d like to add about hiring an outside source – if you’re a small business – it’s best to hire someone locally. Social media is reliant not only on communication with your audience but also providing great visuals to capture their attention. If you’re working with a partner who isn’t local – you have to rely on yourself to snap/send those fab Instagram shots vs. having a local partner see your vision and execute it quickly on your behalf.
I just want to tell you that I am beginner to weblog and honestly enjoyed you’re page. More than likely I’m going to bookmark your site . You certainly have incredible articles and reviews. With thanks for sharing your blog.
Just to let you know your webpage appears a little bit unusual on Safari on my netbook using Linux .
This website has got lots of really useful information on it! Thank you for sharing it with me.
Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
When I open up your Rss feed it appears to be a ton of garbage, is the issue on my part?
In todays news reporting clever journalists work their own slant into a story. Bloggers use it promote their works and numerous just use it for fun or to stay in touch with pals far away.
Im getting a javascript error, is anyone else?
Could you email me with a few tips on how you made this site look this cool , I would appreciate it.
fairly useful material, overall I imagine this is worthy of a book mark, thanks
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this blog. I really hope to see the same high-grade blog posts by you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my very own blog now 😉
An intriguing argument about casino and betting agencies is definitely worth to comment. I believe that you need to write more about this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t speak about these subjects.Casino online gambling it’s the most trusted and safe means to place your bets at this time. The signup bonuses and promotions are really an eye-catching approach for online poker. Most people will likely never get these features in any brick and mortar casino.
How did you make this blog look this good. Email me if you get the chance and share your wisdom. Id appreciate it.
I tried taking a look at your site on my blackberry and the format does not seem to be correct. Might wanna check it out on WAP as well as it seems most cell phone layouts are not working with your website.
bookmarked!!, I love your web site! http://nudecelebleaks.com/
I enjoy your wp web template, where did you get a hold of it?
I love that site layout ! How was it made. Its really cool.
An cool blog post right there mate . Thank you for posting .
legal professional site Uncovered
How come you do not have your site viewable in wap format? Can not view anything in my iPhone.
Could you email me with some pointers about how you made this website look this awesome, Id appreciate it.
really beneficial material, all round I imagine this is worthy of a bookmark, thanks a lot
Just to let you know your blog looks a little bit strange in Firefox on my pc using Linux .
I’ll right away grab your rss as I can’t find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Im getting a tiny problem. I cant get my reader to pickup your rss feed, Im using bing reader by the way.
Mira Head Of Hair Oil Scam : Does This Product Surpass Its Claims
100% natural solution to hypothyroidism & having a baby issues. Should you be concerned about your current unborn babys health this can be the option to suit your needs
100% natural solution to be able to thyrois issues & having a baby issues. In case you are focused on your own unborn babys health this is the answer to suit your needs
Re: Whoever made the statement that this was a good site really needs to have their head reviewed.
This video post is really impressive, the echo quality and the picture feature of this video post is actually amazing.
This blog site is extremely cool. How did you make it !?
Amazing article, thanks, I will bookmark you now!
The Best Way To Grow Long Mane Fast – Figure Out How To Be The Rapunzel That You Would Like