Back Office: Why should you outsource social media management?

In today’s digital age, a strong social media presence is essential for any business seeking to optimise its online visibility. However, managing social media requires time, skills, and resources that SMEs, startups, and freelancers may not have in-house. This is why more and more organisations are opting to outsource their social media management. Discover the benefits of this solution and how to implement it effectively to boost your digital presence.

What is outsourced social media management?

Social media outsourcing involves entrusting the management of your social media accounts to a specialised external provider. This back-office practice allows businesses to delegate all community management tasks to industry experts. Did you know? It’s also possible to outsource human resources management.

A solution tailored to all business profiles

Whether you’re an SME, startup, or freelancer, social media outsourcing can be adapted to your specific needs. Specialised agencies offer various packages, ranging from full management of your social media pages to one-time support for your social media strategy.

Diverse and customised missions

The service provider handles various essential tasks:

• Creating and planning social media content
• Engaging with your audience on a daily basis
• Moderating comments and messages
• Competitive and industry monitoring
• Performance analysis and reporting

Experts use professional social media tools to optimise management and maximise the impact of your posts. They implement a strategy aligned with your business objectives and brand identity.

What are the benefits of outsourced social media management?

Delegating social media management offers numerous advantages for business. Here are the main reasons why more and more organisations are choosing this solution.

1. Resource optimisation and cost reduction

Outsourcing helps to significantly reduce social media costs. It is generally more cost-effective than hiring an in-house Community Manager, as you avoid:

• Salary costs
• Ongoing training expenses
• Investments in professional tools
• Costs related to leave and absences

2. Free up time to focus on your core business activity

One of the main advantages of outsourcing is saving time on social media. By entrusting this task to a social media agency, you can:

• Concentrate on your core business
• Free up your teams for other strategic missions
• Avoid spreading thin your internal resources

3. Professional expertise and increased performance

By working with experts, you can improve your social media performance through:

• A professional social media strategy
• High-quality and regular content
• Constant monitoring of trends
• Optimised campaign management
• Accurate reporting and relevant analysis

4. Flexibility and adaptability

Outsourcing offers great flexibility:

• Adapting services to your needs
• Ability to adjust the level of intervention
• Increased responsiveness to market opportunities
• Managing peak activity without stress

While the benefits of outsourcing are numerous, it’s important to note that there may be some drawbacks, such as the need to communicate effectively with the service provider and maintain a certain level of control over your brand image. Therefore, choosing the right provider is a crucial step in your outsourcing process.

How to outsource your social media management: A step-by-step guide

To successfully outsource your social media management, it’s essential to follow a structured methodology. Here are the key steps for a smooth transition.

Step 1: Define your needs and objectives

Before embarking on social media outsourcing, start by:

• Identifying your online visibility goals: Determine the targets of your social media strategy, such as increasing your audience or engaging your community.
• Evaluating your current resources: Analyse the social media skills and tools already available in your company to determine what to outsource.
• Defining your budget: Set a realistic budget for community management services while considering the cost of outsourcing.
• Listing your expected results: Specify the performance indicators you want to achieve, such as engagement rate or number of new followers.

Step 2: Choose the right provider

Choosing the right provider is crucial for the success of your social media strategy. Prioritise a social media agency that:

• Has proven experience in community management: Look for an agency with a strong track record in social media management, demonstrating their ability to create effective strategies.
• Understands the specifics of your industry: Ensure the provider is familiar with your field to tailor social media content to your audience’s expectations.
• Offers verifiable references: Choose agencies that can provide client testimonials or case studies proving their expertise.
• Has a qualified team: Look for a specialised team, including skilled community managers, content creators, and strategists to effectively manage your social networks.
• Uses professional social media tools: Verify that the provider has powerful analytics and management software to track and improve the performance of your posts.

Step 3: Establish a detailed list of requirements

Formalise your expectations by detailing:

• Social networks to manage: Specify the specific platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) on which you want an active presence.
• Posting frequency: Define the number of weekly or monthly posts to maintain consistent visibility without overwhelming your audience.
• Desired social media content types: Specify the preferred formats (articles, videos, infographics) to reflect your company’s image.
• Performance indicators to track: Identify key metrics (engagement, reach, click-through rate) to measure the effectiveness of social media management.
• Validation processes: Determine the steps and deadlines for validating content, ensuring that each post meets your quality standards and tone.

Step 4: Implement effective collaboration

For a successful transition, be sure to:

• Organise regular meetings: Schedule frequent meetings to discuss progress, adjust strategies, and anticipate new actions to be taken.
• Share your resources and key information: Give the provider essential elements (graphic charter, brand values, internal documentation) to ensure the consistency of publications.
• Define clear validation processes: Establish a fast and well-structured validation process to approve content before publication.
• Establish a communication plan: Implement a detailed calendar that aligns community management activities with your company’s milestones and objectives.

Boost your brand with ProContact’s social media management

Tired of struggling with social media? Our team at ProContact can help you achieve your marketing goals. We offer custom social media solutions designed to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales.

Our experts will create engaging content, manage your community, and analyse your results to ensure you’re getting the most out of your social media efforts. Let’s work together to build a stronger online presence. Contact us today!