How much time do you spend on Facebook? or Twitter? Maybe Pinterest? If you are like me, you could sit down to post something to your business page and get lost in reading or looking at everyone else’s posts and the next thing you know it’s 2 hours later! Is this happening during your business day? Maybe at home if you are working from home? Maybe you are not even on any of this for this exact reason?!?
There is a solution to this problem: a social media manager.
What is a social media manager? A social media manager (SMM for short) is a person who actively posts and comments on your social media platforms. Their job can range from just posting and replying to posting, replying and seeking friends/followers to handling everything exclusively.
Today I am giving you 4 reasons your business needs a social media manager…
- It is one person who is dedicated to expanding your brand online.
- Your SMM will be the one who seeks out new followers and fans. They market you online to their network and friends. Your SMM will be your business’ cheerleader.
- You will have someone to respond and engage with your customers/clients for you.
- Around 85-90% of posts on business’ Facebook pages are not responded to. Your SMM will respond to each post, tweet or Google+ share. People want to be acknowledged. With a SMM, they will be and a relationship will be built. Social media is called SOCIAL media, right?
- They take the think-work over for you.
- Ahh, they work so you don’t have to think! SMMs create exciting content that prompts response. With some direction from the business owner or not, they will shoulder all the work for you.
and most importantly…
- They free up your time to do what you love to do – run your business!
- What business owner wouldn’t want more time to help run their business? With a SMM, they do exactly that. You won’t get stuck on Pinterest for 3 hours looking at home decor or recipes (oh come, you know you do!) while you’re suppose to be entering yesterday’s sales!
Does this sounds like a great deal or what? The internet is crawling with social media managers, but I suggest you start locally and then branch out. Look for someone with experience and has a good following on all the social platforms. When investing money in a social media manager, you want to make sure they are qualified and are reputable. Your business depends on it.
I totally agree, Mandy! Most business owners I work with every day agree that social media is a vital form of marketing, but many are just overwhelmed with how to market thier business with social media. I think one viatl part of marketing businesses with social media is HOW. Like it or not, customers judge your business how you market it. It’s important to present your business on these platforms in a professional manner, and having a GOOD social media manager really takes the guess work out of the equation. Most large companies have someone deadicated to managing thier social media. This just proves that social media is a vital part of marketing for ANY business. One of the highest forms of media that drive people to our site is facebook and twitter. There is no doubt that “word of mouth” is the best form of advertising. Social media, if done properly, helps drive word of mouth advertising. Whiole social media does not need to be the only form of advertising, it does need a be a vital part of every businesses advertising plan. You do an awesome job of helping small businesses grow thier brand and client base through social media – and the best part is you are PASSIONATE about it!
Thanks Sharon!! I agree wholeheartedly!!
You know, it’s not a question any more of IF a biz needs a social media manager. Just like a website, it’s a “must have!” You bring out great reasons WHY!
Thanks Martha! A SMM is becoming a common position in marketing!
The absolute biggest take away here is “Time Saver”….Although we still need to be authentic, we can do that and still utilize the services of a manager 🙂
I agree Anita! A SMM saves the business owner so much time!!
cool post!
reading it right away!
great blog post Mandy
And, Mandy, the most important part is finding someone who can emulate your voice so the SMM’s and your tweets/posts/etc., are seamless.
That is very true Sharon! It needs to be someone who gets to know their business and their passion. Then the authenticity will come through.
Delegation is a great skill that most entrepreneurs don’t have. If you can delegate where possible so the time you do spend on the Social Networking online is authentic.
I agree Elaine! I see so many business owners that try to do it all and wear themselves out.
This really got me thinking about some things. I enjoy doing SMM work myself, but I agree that it is time-consuming (though fun). Hiring an SMM is something to shoot for. Thanks for the post!
Thanks Amy! It is a big decision for a business owner, but I think those that do hire one are happier in the end.
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Thanks so much!!
Thanks guys!!
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Thanks so much!
It is important to have someone that does the work as a natural part of their day. If it is hard for someone, it really won’t get done well.
I completely agree Sally! I would give it to someone who is passionate about it.
You hit it right on the head, Mandy. If social media isn’t your business, then you need someone who’ll make it theirs for you. Business owners need not and should not try to be a jack-of-all-trades. By outsourcing to specialists, business owners can focus on what they do best and have a more profitable business.
I just want to shout AMEN to that Marie! You made the right point! Most business owners think they can do it all and do it right when in reality, they can’t while running a profitable business.
A SMM is a must have in a successful online business. It saves me countless hours every week. Great post, Mandy!
Thanks Lisa! I’m glad you are benefiting from a SMM! They are HUGE timesavers!
absolutely!! I agree and the necessity of doing due diligence to hire the one that resonates like you… now that could be trickier because your fan base kinda knows your tone and humor and serious levels! great job today!
Thanks Patricia! I think you have to get to know who you are working with. There’s no way I would manage for someone I didn’t know. I want to talk with them about their business, their goals and their customers.
Great post, Mandy. Truly, SMMs can be a great help to have a successful business online. But I also agree with Anita that we still need to be authentic even though we have SMMs. 🙂
Thanks Lorii! Authenticity is very important! No one wants to sounds like a robot. You have to get to know the business and the owner so you know how to tone what you post.
It surprises me how many bigger companies don’t have social media managers. It’s like social media is an after-thought that can just be handled by PR people, when really it should be a division all its own. Companies have to learn to change and grow!
I completely agree! In this day and age, you have to keep up, especially with your competition!
I had hired a virtual assistant to send messages to new facebook friends and send out sample packets to people who wanted them, and to add new social media friends into my contact manager…. but actually speaking to them— facebooking and tweeting with them— I’d always felt that was my job. I’m learning from you why it doesn’t need to be, and hiring an SMM might be in my future….. many thanks.
As long as you stay in contact with your SMM and they know how to post like you, most people wouldn’t know the difference. I have a few clients that we collaborate on their pages – we both post and answer questions. It works quote well.
Great post, Mandy! Yes, we all certainly could benefit by having a SMM. This is on my “to hire” list one day very soon! Thank you for bringing this to light!
You’re welcome Alexandra!!!
I couldn’t agree more! Social media is such an important part of a successful business so you wouldn’t want to turn it over to just anyone! Thanks!
I completely agree!
Good one!
Thanks Martha!
Great points, Mandy!
Thanks Marie!
I completely agree. While I enjoy the interaction with my readers running the magazine, it does eat up my time! 🙂
It does eat up a lot of time! You can still watch, but if someone else is doing the leg work, it won’t take up as much!
I love this. Its so hard for a business owner to run their business and run their SM platform! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
You are so welcome Stacy!
Knowing when to delegate is important in every business. You raise some really good points here, Mandy, about why a lot of businesses need a social media manager. Great post!
Thanks Sherie! I wish more businesses would do that!
Rocking it my dear!
Thanks Liz!
Great post Mandy! 🙂
Thanks Sweetie!
Read this article yesterday and commented there … such valuable information on a much-needed topic!
Yes! I especially like this comment ” People want to be acknowledged. ” Sooo true and unfortunately so many are just broadcasting and not connecting at all.
I agree Kim! That is something that gets on my nerves. Someone else made the point, “you would just ignore someone in real life?”
You’re so right that everyone needs a social media manager. I know I do … social media is the most time consuming part of my day, and ad much as I love it, that’s not good for productivity when you’re a one-person show.
I am with you Helena! I’m a one-person business too right now and it’s very easily to get distracted!
Great post!
Social Media Managers can definitely be of benefit, Mandy. Those who do, should do it right! Hire a professional with experience in this area, not your neighbor’s kid down the street or a friend of a friend who wants to work from home and likes social media. SMM’s keep up on important changes on these platforms, understand the “lingo” and are competent in averting a crisis, too (crisis=more facebook changes lol). Thanks for this great post!
You’re welcome Theresa! You hit it right on the head!
I can’t wait til I can get one for myself..;) LOL
I could not agree more! if you have a person dedicated to working on your social media it will help you get ahead faster!
I hired one and have seen a great deal of growth in my social media than when I was doing it on my own. Very well Done Mandy.
I hired one and can say I have seen a great amount of growth in my social media since I started. It is hard to do your social media part time.
You are so right Barbara!
Excellent post! Thank you for sharing the importance. Social media is here to stay and those trying to build their brands either in business or their career need to be utilizing social media correctly. What better way to do this than to outsource it to a professional who can manage it for them. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sarah!
Great post!! No doubt, a social media manager can help free up business owners to focus on what they do best! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jennifer!
This really is important. This then leaves so much more time to do what we are really good at!
Exactly!
Excellent and convincing case. Social media managers take on some of the work ‘on’ the business so we can work ‘in’ our business.
That’s how I see it Lorrie 🙂
Absolutely…saving me time and energy is my FAV reason! Can’t wait to delegate my SM efforts a bit someday soon, once my fledging endeavors bear a bit more fruit!
They will soon Elise! You are doing a fabulous job!
Brilliant article Mandy! I totally agree – The Social Media Manager will free up your time to do what you love to do – run your business! 🙂
Thanks Anastasyia!
I’m sold. That is certain to be one of my first investments when the consistent income begins!!
🙂
That is so true about having a social media manager to help free up your time so you can spend your time on money making activities. Thanks Mandy!
Thanks for sharing Mandy! It still is amazing to me that up to 90% of messages are not responded to, wow. That is leaving a relationship on the table that could turn in to something great. Yes hire someone to help if you can’t keep up. Need that reminder 🙂
🙂 I still can’t get over how much goes unanswered! That could be a big sale or client for that business!
Great post Mandy… I may look into getting a Social Media Manager in the near future.
Well, I haven’t fallen into the Pinterest trap yet, I’m still able to get in and out of there pretty quickly, but your article certainly speaks to me. I am in the process of trying to figure out what I need from a social media manager and you’ve given me the motivation to speed it up. Being free from the social media overwhelm sounds really good right now!
I would like to do some social media management through my property management work for our property owners (shopping centers) – I would be creating a brand for each shopping center – does anyone have any tips on what the fee structure should be? We are charging a monthly management fee for management services. Thanks!
I would look around the web at what others are charging and go from there. Most, including myself, charge monthly, pre-paid. Send me your email and I can email you what I use 🙂
I enjoyed reading your post, Mandy. Where did you find out that THAT many businesses don’t respond to customers? Very interesting…
“they will shoulder all the work for you.”
And if the owner can’t seem to let go? Can’t seem to stop posting 5 minutes after the SMM or posting the equivalent of a blog post on their FB page?
How would you suggest we handle that one?
Good question April! I have a client who does what you mention! I always (kindly) message them and ask that they send whatever they want posted to me so I can make sure we are not overloading their fans. The way you approach it depends on the relationship you have with them. Some I can call and tell them to stop but some I have to bring it to their attention from the user standpoint. It’s a hard, fine line to walk.