Most experts agree that all businesses need to be active in social media marketing. But if you take the time to do it right, you may not have time left over for the rest of your job responsibilities. Plus with its constant changes – including the additions of channels, apps and functions – social media is getting more complex. It can be mind-spinning! No wonder so many firms are choosing to outsource this marketing function. As Media Relations’ Social Media Community Manager, I’m frequently asked to describe what makes a well-qualified social media marketing firm.
Here are four essential guidelines to consider.
1. How will the agency listen and respond to what others are saying? Social media is a modern-day version of the corner store. People talk. They give their opinions. Someone representing your best interests better be listening. Our team listens to all the chatter out there to identify where the talk is happening about your product and/or industry. Then we engage in conversations on these various forums, blogs and social channels to drive people back to your website.
2. How will your social media marketing be integrated with the rest of your promotional programs? Will you have to facilitate conversations between two different agencies? How much time will that take away from your already busy schedule? Because we also manage our clients’ media campaigns, we are intimately familiar with their target audiences, value points and messaging. That puts us in an ideal position to develop plans that connect our clients’ social media marketing with their other marketing efforts. We even optimize all content posts on their web and blog sites to flow smoothly through their social channels to reinforce their company/product messages.
3. Does the staff have processes in place to keep up with this constantly changing marketing channel? Our social media team regularly attends social media conferences and listens to webinars from the country’s most influential industry leaders. We then apply what we learn to our clients’ campaigns.
4. Is the staff willing to educate you? We find that sharing what we’re learning with our clients helps to keep their social media channels fresh and cutting edge. Our clients don’t want to be left behind in the crowded Internet space.
We position our clients as the experts within their industries, and their websites as the go-to resources for information and education. If you’d like to learn how we can accomplish this for your business, call me at 952-697-5269.
