Social media can get complicated, and it can be tempting to put it off. However, many elements of social media are easily figured out and managed with some time and hard work. On the flip side, there might be situations when you don’t have that time and need to outsource your social media management to an independent manager. So how do you know when to do it yourself, and when to outsource? Here are our thoughts:
You can do it yourself when…
You have chunks of time in your week to specifically devote to learning more about social media, and applying what you learn. There are lots of free articles and courses online to learn from, as well as courses and workshops you might be able to take at local schools and colleges. Many of the simpler elements of social media, such as setting up a business page on Facebook, can be managed by you if you have the time and energy to do it.
You should outsource when…
Your schedule is packed, and you don’t have the time to learn more. Knowing about how social media works can be a valuable skill, but especially so if you have the time to apply that skill to your business or organization. If you’re managing your work from dawn to dusk, it can be extremely helpful (and even lucrative) to have a social media manager take care of your social media accounts.
You can do it yourself when…
You already have experience with a social media platform. For example, once you’re familiar with Facebook or Instagram, setting up a page or account for your business is a fairly easy next step to take. You’ll already know about the major features and intricacies of a platform, so it makes it that much easier to harness them for your business or organization.
You should outsource when…
You are branching out to a new social media platform. If you’ve never used a platform like Facebook or Twitter before, it can be worth consulting with a social media expert to see if that platform will be beneficial to your business. Someone else might also be more experienced in that platform, and might be able to run your business account there more effectively than you, at least until you learn more.
You can do it yourself when…
You have the skills to succeed on a social media platform. For instance, high-quality photos and graphics are key on platforms like Instagram, so if you have strong photography or graphic design skills, Instagram might be a platform that naturally suits you.
You should outsource when…
You don’t have those skills to succeed on a certain platform. If you’re not strong in photography, you could consider hiring a photographer to curate a collection of product photos for you to use on Instagram. Or, if you’re not strong in copywriting, you could outsource your written content to an outside provider (such as us at Wreath Writing and Marketing Services!).
Want to learn more on what is involved with outsourcing your business’ or organization’s social media work? Contact us for a free consultation!
Wreath Writing & Marketing Services 