Ready to amp up your social media game? Don't leave your strategy to chance; learn how to hire a social media manager today! Hiring a dedicated social media manager can make all the difference. A good one can drive engagement, ad clicks, and overall success on your social platforms. But where do you start in finding the right person for the job?
Do I Need a Social Media Manager?
Short answer: Yes. An ineffective social media presence can negatively impact a business. Poor social engagement hinders connections with customers. This situation results in missed sales and brand recognition opportunities.
However, managing social media campaigns can be challenging, particularly for marketers with limited experience or a heavy workload. A social media manager can efficiently execute these tasks and deliver quantifiable outcomes.
How to Hire a Social Media Manager: Timing
Choosing to hire a social media manager can be a challenging decision for small businesses. Some businesses may cut costs by allocating social media responsibilities to current employees. They might also have an employee with a different job title manage it.
This approach can be detrimental as it needs to consider the extensive work and planning required for a successful social media strategy. A dedicated, full-time social media manager offers better-quality strategies than an employee with a heavy workload.
When determining if you're ready to hire a social media manager, there are a few key questions that you should ask yourself:
Is social media a priority for your business?
Social media should be one of your priorities if you want to increase brand awareness, drive sales, or engage with your customers. A social media manager can help you execute a strategy aligned with your goals.
Many companies now rely heavily on social media for lead generation, customer acquisition, and audience engagement. To maximize your success, it's vital to ensure that your social media efforts are optimized for conversion.
Do you have the resources to support a social media manager?
Hiring an in-house social media manager means budgeting for their salary and benefits. You also need to provide the necessary tools, software, and technology to support their efforts. If you hire an outsourced SMM, you only have to pay for their per-hour rate or a flat monthly fee.
Do you have the time and expertise to manage social media yourself?
If you are already stretched thin and need more time or expertise to manage your social media channels, it may be time to hire a social media manager. They will take the burden of social media management off your plate, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.
Do you see the results you want from your current social media efforts?
It's essential to measure the ROI of your social media efforts. If you do not see the desired results, it may be time to bring in an expert to help you refine your strategy and improve.
By answering these questions, you can better understand whether or not it's the right time to hire a social media manager. While it can be a significant investment, it can also be a powerful tool for growing your business and reaching new audiences.
How to Hire a Social Media Manager: In-house vs. Outsourced
Hiring a social media manager is an important decision for any business. While many companies opt to hire an in-house manager, outsourcing this role can be a more cost-effective and efficient solution. Outsourced social media managers have specialized expertise and often work with a team of professionals.
This allows them to bring a broader range of skills and knowledge to the table, beneficial for small businesses. Additionally, outsourced managers can focus solely on social media. In contrast, an in-house manager may have other responsibilities that can detract from their social media efforts.
They also have access to more advanced tools and technology to ensure that your social media campaigns are effective. Furthermore, outsourcing allows you to save money on employee benefits, insurance, and other overhead costs.
Tips on How to Hire a Social Media Manager
To manage successful social media accounts for a business, the ability to make quick and expert judgment calls is essential. Social media managers must know how each channel operates in real time and be able to capitalize on trending topics before they become outdated. They must also be able to create a diverse range of timely social media content and communicate effectively in the brand's voice to respond to followers promptly.
A professional network of influencers and the ability to lead a team of freelancers such as graphic designers and content marketers are also necessary. Hiring a skilled social media manager can help establish a dedicated audience for your business. To find the right SMM fit for your business, it is essential to consider the necessary steps and questions to ask during the hiring process.
Decide Which Social Profiles to Delegate to Your SMM
Deciding which social media profiles to delegate to an assistant is necessary as it can significantly impact the effectiveness and efficiency of a business or personal brand. Social media is a powerful tool for building relationships, engaging with customers and followers, and promoting products or services.
However, managing multiple social media profiles can take time and effort. By delegating specific profiles to an assistant, you can free up valuable time to focus on other vital tasks while maintaining a solid presence on social media.
Additionally, an assistant can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas. Ultimately, deciding which social media profiles to delegate to an assistant is a strategic decision that requires careful consideration of your goals, audience, and resources.
Prioritize Responsibilities and Duties For Your SMM
A social media manager is responsible for developing and implementing a social media strategy to increase brand awareness and engagement with a target audience. Some of the specific responsibilities of a social media manager include the following:
- Creating and curating content such as posts, images, and videos
- Scheduling and publishing content regularly while monitoring engagement and analyzing metrics to measure success
- Engaging with followers and customers by responding to comments, messages, and reviews
- Identifying and building relationships with influencers and ambassadors
- Keeping up-to-date with social media trends and best practices and making adjustments to the social media strategy as needed
- Collaborating with marketing, sales, customer service, and other departments so that social media efforts align with overall goals
- Measuring and reporting on the success of social media campaigns using tools such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social
- Monitoring industry trends and competitor activity to stay ahead of the curve
- Creating and managing paid social media campaigns
- Continuously monitoring, listening, and responding online
Write a short paragraph about why the client should decide what to prioritize.
Define Your SMM's Must-Have Skills
A social media manager must possess diverse skills to manage a company's social media presence. Firstly, they need to be great with words to craft engaging posts and communicate with followers.
Additionally, a solid understanding of social media platforms and their algorithms is necessary for creating compelling content and strategies. Knowledge of graphic design, photography, and video production can also be valuable for creating visually appealing content.
Understanding SEO and analytics tools are also essential to measure social media campaigns' success and to make data-driven decisions. A social media manager should also have industry knowledge and a strong understanding of the target audience.
How to Hire a Social Media Manager: Where to Find the Best Talent
When hiring a social media manager, one of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether you want to hire an in-house employee or outsource the work to an agency or freelancer. This choice will determine the best places to look for potential candidates.
LinkedIn is a great place to find a social media manager. Many professionals in the field have a presence on the platform and can be found by searching for keywords related to social media management. LinkedIn allows you to view a person's professional experience and qualifications, making it easier to find a qualified candidate.
Upwork
Upwork is another popular platform for finding a social media manager. It is a website that connects freelancers with businesses and individuals looking for their services. Social media management is one of the many services offered on the platform, and you can find a variety of professionals with different levels of experience and expertise.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a similar platform to Upwork, but it focuses on providing a wide variety of services at a lower cost. While you may find fewer social media managers on Fiverr than on Upwork, the platform is still a sound option for budget-conscious business owners.
Managed Assistant Platforms
Managed assistant providers are another option for finding a social media manager. These providers offer a team of professionals who can handle various tasks, including social media management. This can be a good option for businesses that need more comprehensive support. One example of a managed assistant provider is Wing Assistant.
How Much Should a Social Media Manager Get?
When determining a salary for a social media manager, it's essential to consider factors such as experience, qualifications, and the specific responsibilities of the role. According to Glassdoor, a US-based social media manager earns approximately $58,000 annually.
However, this can vary depending on the company's location and size. Some social media managers may also earn a performance-based bonus or commission. It's also important to consider whether the position is full-time or freelance, as freelance social media managers typically charge by the hour or project.
Upwork says the average hourly rate for a social media manager is around $14 to $35, but this can vary depending on the individual's experience and qualifications. Ultimately, the salary or rate for a social media manager should be fair and competitive within the industry. It's best to research and compare average salaries and rates in your location before setting a budget for a social media manager.
Are You Ready to Hire a Social Media Manager?
Hiring a social media manager from Wing Assistant is an intelligent decision for any business. Social media is now an inextricable part of marketing strategy. A dedicated social media manager can help you effectively create and implement a plan to reach your target audience.
Wing Assistant's social media managers are experts in crafting compelling content, engaging with your followers, and analyzing data to make informed decisions about your social media strategy. Get in touch today to learn more!
Aya is Wing Assistant’s blog manager. When she’s not wrangling content briefs, editing article drafts and handling on-page SEO, she is crafting messages for Wing’s other communication materials. Aya writes about SaaS startups, marketing for startups, search engine optimization, and pop culture.
