Social media marketing is one of the most important aspects of online marketing. It hit a staggering $41.5 billion in 2020, and the projected growth is even higher. You see, social media allows businesses to connect with their customers and followers in a way that feels more personal and interactive.
However, the process is more complex than it seems, and most businesses need to hire professional social media marketing experts. Now, the real trick is in finding reputable experts who will take your business to the next level.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips for choosing the right team to help you with your social media marketing campaigns.
Do They Practice What They Preach?
It’s one thing to talk the talk; it’s another to walk the walk. An agency that preaches social media best practices but doesn’t actually use them itself is probably not worth your time or money. Do they share content regularly?
Are they engaging with their followers? Do they have a genuine interest in social media, or is it just another tool to check off the list? If a social media expert can’t even get their own social media accounts in order, what makes you think they can help you with yours?
The reason it’s so crucial to find an agency that practices what they preach is that social media algorithm is ever-changing. What worked last year may not work this year or even next week. You need a team constantly ahead of the curve and familiar with the newest best practices, those that have already been tested by brands just like yours.
Are They Transparent, Communicative, and Quick to Adapt?
Being a business owner is tough. You want your team to be transparent and communicative so that you know exactly what’s happening with your social media marketing campaigns at all times.
If an agency is slow to communicate or adapt to changes, it could spell disaster for your social media marketing strategy. Things move quickly on social media, and you need a team that can keep up. An excellent way to test this is to ask the agency how they like to communicate.
Some agencies prefer in-person meetings, while others are happy with phone calls or email. It depends on the agency and on what you’re most comfortable with. Regardless, make sure that your expectations are clear from day one—as well as theirs—so that there are no misunderstandings down the road.
Check for Red Flags
Any social media marketing expert can put on a good show. However, not all of them are legitimate, or they may just be plain lying to you. Whatever the case, it’s essential to know what red flags to look out for before hiring an agency that could end up wasting your time and money (or worse).
Here are some things to watch out for:
- An agency that guarantees or promises overnight success
- An agency that asks for a long-term contract before doing any work
- An agency that charges too little or too much money
- Agencies who are vague about their services and what they will do for your brand
- Agencies who guarantee you a certain number of likes, comments, or shares
- An agency that doesn’t ask about your business before offering their services
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to choose an agency that’ll be a good fit for your business.
Check Their Referrals and Customer Reviews
The best way to do this is by reading customer reviews on review platforms like Google My Business, Facebook, or Yelp. If the agency you’re considering has a lot of negative reviews, it might be time to look elsewhere. However, having mostly positive reviews with a few negative ones could be a good sign.
That said, don’t just rely on the overall rating. Dig into the individual reviews to better understand what people are saying. Are they consistently happy with the work, or is it sporadic?
Furthermore, to get an accurate representation of what it would be like working with a particular agency, it’s important to ask for referrals. When you talk to their current or former clients, be sure to ask them about the work they did for them and what kind of results they received.
Do They Understand Your Industry?
It’s crucial that you choose an expert who has experience working with businesses in your specific field. It’ll save time and money when developing a marketing strategy for you. If the social media marketing experts don’t understand what makes up your target audience, they won’t create content that resonates with them.
It’s also vital that the agency understands how your business operates. This enables them to develop excellent ideas for blog posts or social media campaigns.
Do They Have a Strong Portfolio?
A social media marketing agency’s portfolio is probably one of the first things you should look at. The best way to determine if they can do what they say they can do is by getting to see it. The portfolio will give you an idea of their style and approach, as well as any industries they may specialize in.
They should be able to point you toward a few case studies of past clients, too. Many agencies will have their portfolio on display somewhere on their website. If not, ask them for samples or screenshots of some of the more impressive posts from past campaigns that show off their style and range.
Consider Their Prices and Your Budget
When it comes to choosing social media marketing experts, price is always a factor. You want to work with an agency that’s within your budget, but you also don’t want to compromise on quality.
It can be helpful to get quotes from a few different agencies before making your final decision. This will give you an idea of what they charge and whether or not their pricing is in line with your budget. If you have a specific budget in mind, be sure to let the agencies know when getting quotes so that they can give you accurate prices.
It might also be worth considering whether or not the agency is willing to work with your budget on a project-by-project basis. The more flexible an agency seems about its rates, the better off you’ll be in the long run.
Do They Have Clear KPIs?
One of the biggest mistakes that many businesses make when choosing social media marketing experts is not having clear KPIs. This means Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These are indicators that tell you how well your campaigns are performing and can be anything from likes on Facebook to sales conversions.
Without these metrics in place, it’s difficult to measure the success (or failure) of your campaigns. As a result, it’s essential to make sure that any agency you work with has clear KPIs in place and can track them effectively.
Choosing the Best Social Media Marketing Experts
The search for the best social media marketing experts may seem daunting, but these tips will guide you right through. A good agency will be able to provide you with consistent results that are in line with your goals without leaving you in the dark.
Are you looking for the best social media marketing agency for your business? If so, feel free to give us a call, and we’ll be glad to help you with your social media marketing goals.
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