Social media marketing has blown up in the last decade; it has now become a large player in the digital marketing landscape. Both large and small businesses alike are taking the plunge and embarking on some form of social media marketing.
Like all forms of digital marketing, social media requires know-how and expertise. Not all organisations have the skills required to execute a successful social media marketing strategy.
More often than not, it can be a smarter strategy to outsource this part of your business if you aren’t confident in taking it on in-house. Social media marketing, like any other form of advertising, is intensive when it comes to resources, skills and expertise.
Just because you may not have the key resources required to undertake social media marketing, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t integrate this form of digital marketing into your overall marketing strategy.
There are nearly 3 billion social media users around the globe; if you don’t see this as a golden opportunity then you may be looking in the wrong place. Social media marketing could be the difference between taking your business to the next level, if done well, or risk being left behind in an ever-changing digital world.
In saying that, social media marketing needs to be undertaken strategically and professionally; having a substandard strategy can have adverse effects for your brand, and leave you in a worse place than where you started. Do it properly or don’t do it at all.
If you can’t take it on as a serious marketing strategy within your business, then outsource it. There are hundreds of social media companies in Melbourne that are masters when it comes to everything social media.
Social media is simple if you utilise the basics, but can become more complicated the deeper you delve into it. A social media marketing company in Melbourne will not only have an in-depth knowledge about how each platform works, but they’ll know how to best utilise them to ensure that your marketing goals are achieved. They look at the overall picture, while having the expertise to work with the finer details.
If you do go down the route of outsourcing this aspect of your business to an expert, you need to find a partner that you can work with longer term. Social media is a long-term strategy so it takes time; finding a partner that will tirelessly work for your brand on an ongoing basis is essential to getting it right.
Taking into account all the elements of social media marketing, how do you choose the right fit for your business? And once you’ve made the choice, how do you know that they’re doing what’s right for your brand?
Although you may not be a social media marketing guru, there are some key aspects to look for when selecting a social media marketing company in Melbourne, as well as ensuring that they’re looking after your best interests along the way.
We at ADV Marketing pride ourselves in being innovative, creative and results orientated. We have our customer’s best interests at heart, so if you don’t choose us for your social media management services then we want to help you make the right choice.
Here Are 5 Top Tips On How To Sort The Wheat From The Chaff When It Comes To Choosing The Right Social Media Marketing Company In Melbourne:
1.Decide What You Want
The first step to finding a social media marketing company that suits your business is to determine what you want. Do you want creative, ads or both of them?
Ads
The various social media platforms have incredible advertising tools that make it as easy as possible for all types of businesses to advertise their offerings. However, you need to remember that it does take time and effort; planning, executing and monitoring social media campaigns aren’t a walk in the park.
You need an understanding of the various platforms, which ones are best suited to your goals, how the advertising tools work, as well as have the knowledge to dissect the analytics.
If you’re looking for an agency to manage Facebook and Instagram advertising for your business, the first thing you should ask is if they are Blueprint certified.
Facebook Blueprint eLearning is a series of free online courses and learning paths, that individuals can take to get a better understanding about Facebook and Instagram advertising.
The courses are difficult to complete, but the knowledge that’s gained is priceless when it comes to ad creation and implementation. There aren’t any other courses that come close to Blueprint, so having this knowledge is key. Being savvy is a must when it comes to social media marketing.
Creatives
When it comes to creatives, having unique content is so important. Your customers are shopping smarter; they want brands to show them that they’re appreciated. If you don’t take the time and effort to create unique, engaging content, then they won’t take the time out of their busy schedules to be loyal to your brand.
In a fast-paced digital society with hundreds of choices at the click of a button, engaging your audience quickly is critical. Creating content that is intriguing will grab your audience’s attention; boring content that doesn’t add value just won’t fly.
If you want an agency that can handle organic social media management for you, make sure that they’re handling it in-house. Request a meeting and insist on an introduction to the employees that are going to handle your creatives. Ask to meet the copywriters, photographers, account managers, and anyone else you think is critical to the process.
When it comes to content, creativity is key. Don’t focus on the equipment or software they use, request some samples of their work or jump onto their Instagram to get a feel for their talents.
Instead ask yourself: Does their work fall in line with your brand vision? Is the imagery professional and high-quality? Are they doing something different?
2.Check for a bought following
Purchasing engagement and likes is not uncommon in the race to the top, but it’s not best practice.
Many social media companies in Melbourne have been known to purchase engagement, likes and follows, which isn’t in line with long-term brand development. Buying likes and follows may be a quick way to appear to be increasing your following, but it won’t work long-term.
Building a solid social media presence comes from putting in the hard work. An engaged audience is worth its weight in gold, and can’t be bought.
Although an expert will be looking after your socials for you, you still need to be involved. Keeping an eye on how your socials are tracking is in your best interest. If you see a sharp rise in likes, followed by a steady decline, you can be pretty sure that your agency has purchased likes.
Steer clear of these types of social media management companies; you’re paying them for their skills and expertise, not their ability to purchase a following.
3. Make sure it’s the right fit for you
Ensure that you know who you are and what you want; if you have a solid brand identity, then you’ll know how to find an agency that’s right for you, as well as be easily able to communicate your goals clearly.
A great way to get a feel for the type of work a social media marketing agency is producing, is to delve into their online presence. Their social media accounts form part of their portfolio, and will be an indicator of their work.
Facebook or Insta stalking may be to your advantage here. If you like what you see, then you’ll probably like what they’ll do for you. Do some digging, it can’t hurt.
A good social media manager brainstorms constantly to find new solutions to challenges, stays on top of current updates, and has an understanding of how social media fits into your complete digital marketing strategy.
If that’s not the case, then you may need to reconsider. Social media is hugely competitive, so you want an agency behind you that has what it takes to stay in the game. If your social media manager isn’t innovative, then your social media program won’t be either. If they don’t fully understand your brand vision, then your program won’t reflect that either.
4. Ask How They Plan To Measure The Success Of Your Socials
Requesting how your agency plans to measure the success of your social media program is a fantastic indicator of expertise. At the end of the day, you’re paying them to see results; they should be able to outline the key performance indicators of their efforts at any time.
They need to be able to provide you with regular updates in regards to the performance of your program, if they can’t, then that’s a red flag. Metrics like social media reach, engagement and lead generation are all metrics that you as the customer should have access to.
Your agency should also provide you with tailored metrics that are directly related to your social media marketing goals; there’s no point in receiving stats relating to metrics that doesn’t align with your goals. Relevance is key here.
If you’re keen to see solid results, request a case study that provides details about metrics that matter to you. An actual example of their successes is one way to demonstrate their previous achievements.
5. Communication is crucial
A strong partnership is based on good communication.
When it comes to the dynamic environment of social media, communication is key. You need to have peace of mind that you can check in with your agency when you need them. You also need to know how regularly they’ll get in touch with you.
Frequency Of Communication
Consistent communication is ideal. Due to the nature of social media, constantly discussing progress and goals is a must.
Is it enough for you to receive a monthly report via email or do you want face-to-face interaction? That’s up to you. But it’s important to establish this at the start so you’re both on the same page.
Ease Of Communication
How easy is the agency to get in touch with? Having regular catch ups booked into your calendar is one thing, but easily being able to get in touch with your agency in the event of an urgent situation is another.
Establish the accessibility of your contacts to ensure that you will be able to get in touch with them when you need to.
Another determiner of ease of communication is the number of client accounts their employees manage. Getting a bit of detail about their client portfolio can’t hurt, if it seems like it’s too many then you’re most likely not going to receive the attention that you expect.
Conclusion
Whether you choose us at ADV Marketing as your social media marketing company in Melbourne, or not, we hope these 5 pointers make the choice that much easier for you.
Social media marketing has the ability to give your brand a global reach; it can transform your business if it’s done the right way. Consider outsourcing if you’re feeling out of your depth, it could do your business the world of good.
Do the work upfront and use these 5 critical elements to select a social media management company that will produce results for your business. If you have a clear vision upfront, then the journey will be that much smoother.