Throughout life there are things that make sense then others that, when looking back, maybe weren’t the best moves. And one thing that comes to mind is companies hiring social media managers to take the reins and guide the path, but many times they end up in a pickle.
When you take a step back and really think about what goes into someone being a good social media manager, it’s all about understanding the core mission, creating/guiding content that jives with target markets, and having knowledge of the legal side of the equation to protect your company/client before posting versus having to deal with the ramifications afterwards.
Over the past 15 years of guiding companies on social media strategy and getting every question you could imagine, when it comes to hiring social media managers/teams these questions come up the most:
What Can a Social Media Manager Do for Me?
A social media manager with experience in your field that’s tasked with engaging and implementing the vision/directive they were given can work wonders, however many go rogue. Social media managers can be both a blessing and a curse.
Should My Company Hire a Social Media Manager?
This has always been a tough question to answer because it’s so vague, and it’s not so much what a social media manager can do, but the person and their ability to produce results. Who is doing the management? What is their experience? Can they communicate with customers on the same level? These elements lead to what can actually be done and whether it’s worth it.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Social Media Manager?
Hiring a social media manager and the costs associated with it are dependent on a variety of factors including the space you’re in, where your business is located, your goals, and the list goes on. For example, a social media manager at a startup may get $60k/yr whereas a social media manager at a company like Google, Tesla, etc. demands $100k+.
Is a Social Media Manager Worth It?
Many times smaller companies gravitate towards hiring a social media manager and this has been one of the biggest failures we’ve seen and also helped fix. Do you want someone with limited knowledge firing at the hip and hoping things stick? Probably not. There has to be a meaning/strategy behind everything.
How Do I Find Someone to Manage My Social Media?
The best way to find someone to manage your social media presence is to be social, explore what’s working and not working for similar companies, have a clear vision of where you want to be, then reach out to social media managers/companies who can help you get there.
The moral of the story is to hire a company/consultant with experience to guide the strategy on a high level that trickles down to social media managers who implement the vision on a daily basis instead of relying on them to create it.