Navigating the world of social media is no easy task, with dozens of new platforms, updates and features introduced to the world every day. There are no guarantees that what worked for your brand yesterday is the best bet for your brand today – and that can be tough to grapple with if social media isn’t your forté, or you simply just don’t have the time to be keeping up the latest and greatest trends.
Enter: a social media agency. They’re your right hand when it comes to managing all things social for your brand, and are a real game changer when it comes to reaching your business goals. We’re talking the whole shebang; from coming up with the strategy and creating killer strategic content, to managing your growing community and implementing targeted ads to reach your customers. Partnering with a social media agency can take a whole lot of green beans and brussel sprouts (the not-so-nice bits) off your plate!
But there’s just one catch to all this – you need to make sure that you partner with the right agency for you, otherwise you’ll find yourself wasting valuable time and money. So, if you’re in the middle of planning for next financial year, or are just looking to give your current social media presence a little shake up, here’s our top 4 tips for choosing the right social media agency that your future self will thank you for!
1. Do your research
A social media agency is essentially an extension of your team, so you’ll want to treat the hiring process much the same as you would a regular employee. This means thoroughly checking their references (what other companies have to say about them); their employment history (how long they’ve worked with their clients); their skillset (the services on offer); their point of difference (over and above activities); and their portfolio (their social channels).
The main thing you’re looking out for in this initial research is their alignment to your values and business objectives. A good place to start would be to write down a list of what your business goals are over the next few years, particularly in the digital space. Keep that list next to you when you’re doing your research and use it as a checklist as you narrow down your list of potential companies. Can they help you tick off this list of goals? You wouldn’t hire an employee that didn’t share your vision or could help you grow.
2. Ask the right questions
You’ve got your shortlist of potential agencies, now it’s time to get down to business and ask the hard questions – like can you crash their Friday night drinks? Just kidding (or are we?), but we do have a few suggested questions in mind to help you really narrow down your list and find your perfect match!
Think of this as the second stage of your interview process. Tee up a time chat with the agency’s Director or CEO about exactly how they can help you reach your goals. By this stage you already know what services they offer, but now you’re more-so looking at their strategic execution and how it differs from other agencies. The biggest questions you’ll want a clear answer on are:
– How will your social plan help me achieve my business goals?
– We don’t want to blend in – how will you differentiate our business from our competitors?
– What kind of analytics and insights can you provide me?
– Are there any above and beyond activities your existing clients love?
– What content has your team produced recently that you’re most proud of?
– What about paid advertising – how can you help me succeed in that space?
If you don’t feel confident in the answers provided by the agency to those (or any other) questions asked, don’t be afraid to follow up with more questions. You won’t appear annoying or doubtful, just passionate about your brand and the work you do. If an agency isn’t receptive to your questions or seems uninterested, then it’s probably best to let them go! On that note…
3. Learn to say no
Much like dating in your teen years, you’re going to have to go through the rough of the agencies to find your diamond. That’s why it’s so important to do your research before locking in to any contracts. Some agencies may appear incredible on paper, but just aren’t the right fit for you in reality, and that’s totally okay! In case you’re unsure or having your doubts, here’s our recommendations on when it’s best to say sayonara to an agency:
– When their strategy doesn’t align to your goals and objectives
– When the quality of their content isn’t up to scratch
– When their client turnover rate is high
– When they aren’t up to date with trends
– When they aren’t transparent and honest with you
– When you just don’t connect or mesh well
4. Reach out
Feeling a little flustered with the bank of agencies out there? Just reach out to us! We’ve worked with 1000’s of global and local brands across multiple industries and are passionate about creating magic as we go. We know that finding the right social media agency can be tough, but we want to make the process as stress-free as possible, so drop us a line and let’s chat about your goals and objectives, and how we can help you get there!
