Overwhelmed by all the social media agencies out there? Here’s help to wading through them all and finding the best one for your specific needs.
If you’re considering outsourcing your company’s social media, an agency can help.
But how do you hire a social media marketing agency—and what can you expect when you do?
Learn how to find the right digital agency for your business, whether you need content creation, community management, lead generation … or all of the above.
For some businesses, building an in-house social media team makes a ton of sense.
But you’re better off hiring a social media marketing agency if you want the following.
Do you want to outsource a small aspect of your organic social strategy? Would you rather contract out a series of high-budget paid campaigns?
Either way, an agency can move quickly. You won’t have to wait for an agency to hire and train new employees or test out tools.
Instead, an agency team can be ready to take action immediately.
Most agencies handle dozens of clients simultaneously.
By working with a wide variety of clients and projects, agency teams constantly gain new skills and master cutting-edge techniques.
They can put their expertise and enterprise-level social media tools to work for your company, helping you achieve impressive results.
Even if an agency handles the majority of your social media marketing, your in-house team can learn from their expertise.
By using advanced tools and analyzing agency reports, your team can improve their skills and add more value.
You may think your business just needs social media management. But what does that really mean?
Some digital agencies specialize in a single area of social media, while others provide a wider spectrum of services.
Take some time to think about your marketing goals and what kind of assistance you need.
Many businesses hire social media marketing agencies for services like:
You want to hire the best social media marketing agency.
But how much are you willing to spend?
Think about the value an agency would provide to your business and how much you can afford to spend on a social media budget.
On average, agencies charge anywhere from $500 to over $5,000 per month.
Agencies typically charge monthly retainers based on one of these standard pricing models:
Once you’ve decided on goals and a budget, you can start your search for a social media marketing agen
Although a Google search can deliver some results, you’ll have better luck with one of these options:
Use Social Agency Scout to help find the best social media agency for your specific needs.
When you have a shortlist of candidates, head to their websites to get a better feel for what each agency does.
Look for service descriptions to make sure they handle what you need, and check for pricing structures to see if they fit into your budget.
Next, read reviews of each agency to find the best fit. Directories like Social Agency Scout feature reviews and allow clients to rate agencies based on the value, service quality, communication, and results that they deliver. Google reviews can be another helpful source for client comments and ratings.
Reviews on Social Agency Scout
Then skim some of the agency’s published case studies or reach out to ask for one.
As you read, pay close attention to the types of problems the agency has dealt with and the way they seek solutions. Case studies can also give you a good impression of the agency’s areas of expertise and the kind of results they might be able to achieve for your business.
When you’ve narrowed down your list of candidates, reach out to set up an introductory call or an initial consultation with the top few.
Before the call, write out a list of questions that can help you decide if the agency is right for you:
Once you’ve decided to move forward with a social media agency, work together to set appropriate expectations.
Here are a few to consider:
With so many agencies to choose from, hiring the right one can seem like a serious challenge. By following these steps, you can find the ideal social media marketing agency for your brand and start making progress toward your marketing goals.