Social Media is all the rage amongst the business fraternity these days and the choice to work with a social media expert has become a puzzle. Social media gaining traction amongst the SMEs for exploring new avenues in advertising, marketing and customer service. A significant number of businesses tend to adopt the Do-It-Yourself policy for social media adoption while a relatively smaller proportion opts to hire a social media expert/ agency.
In my opinion, the low-adoption rate of social media experts is mainly due to ignorance. Whether you are a large enterprise or a small business operating at shoe-string budgets, a social media expert can make a world of difference to the eventual outcome of your social media aspirations.
Does your business need the services of a social media expert? Would it make a difference if you jump onto the social media bandwagon all by yourself? In this post, I present my 5 good reasons on why your business needs a social media expert.
1) A Social Media Expert vs. Online Marketers vs. SEO Professionals
Believe it or not, a number of businesses do not know the differences between social media experts, online marketers and SEO professionals. If you want to launch a one-off marketing campaign for your business, you should probably hire an online marketer. Similarly, if you are merely concerned about Alexa ranking and Google search results, SEO professionals can help you out. However, if you are serious about making social media work for your business in the long run, you’re better off hiring a social media expert. And the best part is that they can offer you the services of an online marketer and SEO professional (in some cases at least) so you don’t need to hire different people for various business needs.
2) Social Media Expert or Not, Creating a Social Media Strategy Isn’t a Piece of Cake
While social media is no rocket science, it’s no child play either. Developing a social media plan/ strategy requires a good understanding of the social media landscape, sound analysis of your competition as well as exemplary task management skills. I’m not suggesting that business owners can’t create the perfect social media strategy by themselves. All I’m saying is that if there’s a helping hand available to minimize risk, you shouldn’t be shy of holding it.
3) With or Without a Social Media Expert, Social Media is still evolving
I love the dynamism associated with social media. Though it’s been around for several years now, it is still evolving in some form or the other every day. YouTube ruled the roost for years, followed by LinkedIn and then Twitter and Facebook took over the reins. Further, Twitter and Facebook are ringing in the changes big time at a rapid pace in order to attract the business fraternity. As a business, it can often be overwhelming to keep track of such changes. A social media expert keeps you up-to-date in the social media world.
4) Measuring Social Media ROI
A number of businesses hop on to the social media bandwagon simply because their competitors are doing the same. Several surveys have shown that less than 15% businesses actually make any effort to measure the ROI of their social media efforts. Having a social media expert by your side helps you evaluate the outcome of your social media efforts.
5) Plan-B
Social Media isn’t a shortcut to success for your business. In fact, there is no guarantee that your social media plans will fetch the desired results. A number of businesses give up on social media simply because they tried it and it didn’t seem to work as per their expectations. Having a social media expert by your side gives you the comfort of quickly implementing a Plan-B in case things don’t go as per the plan.
Does your business have an active social media presence? Have you ever sought the services of a social media expert? In your opinion, is it better to adopt a DIY social media approach for any business? Please share your social media experience by leaving a comment below this post.
Watch out for the next segment, “5 Things to Consider before Working with a Social Media Expert“, in this two parts series.
Hi Douglas. Thanks for this very valuable article: great piece for clients and social media experts who offer their services. Your distinction between online marketing, seo and social media is very enlightening.
perfect article for me! you described it in such a good way! so exact words! and many thanks to the author!
For now I’m hoofing it myself, but I will be on the market for a SME shortly. More than anything I want a smidgen more experience before I spend the cash. Seems like the market is saturated with imposters.
Amie, I can sympathize with your concerns! A lot of people are out there right now, after shelling out a couple of thousands to enrol in many of the high-priced “anyone-can-do-it” courses out there, begin calling themselves “Social Media Experts” and start winging it, with a ‘templatized’ approached, without really knowing what they are doing. To help address similar concerns to yours and help separate the “imposters” from the real-deals, I’ll be coming up next in this two-part series, the “5 Things to Consider before Working with Social Media Experts” to help companies and individuals make informed decisions when they are ready to work with a social media expert.
Good deal! Looking forward to it 😉 I can’t tell you how many of my clients ask me to provide this service. I am quick to share my limitations, but I would rather have a resource to help them on the search. So get writing! LOL
I think this is the main concern I have as someone who works within this field. There are more ‘social media experts’ writing about Social Media than there are ‘social media experts’ actually performing Social Media. It’s frustrating as each campaign can takes months to tailor to the individual client yet a simple Google on the discipline appears to show that this stuff is as simple as starting a Facebook page and Twitter account.
A Virtual Assistant who specialty is social media marketing is qualified to be your social media expert, as well as your online marketer and SEO professional.
Hi! Great article, I’ll have it in mind when persuading my potential customers. I posted a spanish version of it on my blog, I hope you don’t mind! I’ve added a link back!
I’m glad it helps with your prospecting.
I’m glad it helps with your prospecting.
I’m planning to hire a social media expert for my business, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the cost to my business. My business offers online research services to everyone.
I agree that if a company isn’t use social media to promote they definately are behind!! This article has offered some good points – I am working on improving our social media marketing strategies and this article has some brilliant points. The stats you’ve given about the amount of people on Facebook is incredible – to think that it is possible to promote to all those people through just one method.
Our organisation is more of a B2B company and so we tend to promote ourselves via Twitter – which seems to be working fairly well so far.
The questions you have given that we should ask ourselves are good, I’ll be asking myself them as don’t want to waste my time. http://www.self-esteem-tips.com/
Am I the only one who dislikes the term ‘Social Media Expert’? By claiming to be an expert, you are claiming to know EVERYTHING about social media. There is NO way that is possible considering it is an ever-changing landscape. I would never, ever label myself an expert and I spend more than 80 hours per week working with it. I prefer different labels – nerd, specialist, analyst, community manager, etc. But expert, I am not…nor would I ever claim to be. To be honest, if I were a biz looking to hire someone, I would be even more hesitant to hire someone claiming to be an ‘expert’ because odds are, they’re not.
SEO professionals can handle these things so you can focus more on areas that are you are better at such as Internet marketing.
I simply want to tell you that I am all new to blogs and actually liked you’re web-site. Probably I’m planning to bookmark your blog post . You amazingly come with good well written articles. Kudos for revealing your web-site.
You ought to really control the commentary here
How come you do not have your site viewable in mobile format? Can not see anything in my iPad.
Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based on the same information you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
As soon as I at first commented I clicked the Notify me any time new comments are added checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the exact same comment.
Just to let you know your blog appears a little bit different in Safari on my laptop using Linux .
This data is magnificent. I recognize and respect your clear-cut points. I’m impressed with your writing style and how properly you express your thoughts.
Im having a teeny problem. I cant get my reader to pick up your feed, Im using yahoo reader by the way.
It looks to me that this website doesnt load up in a Motorola Droid. Are other folks having the same issue? I enjoy this blog and dont want to have to skip it when Im gone from my computer.
An interesting argument on casino and betting agencies is worth a comment. I do think that you should publish more about this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not discuss these issues.Casino internet bets it is the most respected and secure methods to place your bets as we speak. The bonus deals and special deals are an attractive choice for online poker. You will probably never get these kinds of possibilities in any traditional casino.
100% natural solution to be able to thyrois issues & having a baby troubles. If you’re focused on your current unborn child’s wellbeing this is the answer to suit your needs
Although I genuinely like this post, I believe there was an spelling error near to the end with the third paragraph.
Most of the remarks on this blog page dont make sense.
Brilliant, thanks, I will visit again soon.
When I at first left a comment I clicked on the Notify me when new comments are added checkbox and currently each and every time a comment is added I receive 4 email messages with the exact same comment.
Amazing video, really a nice quality, this YouTube video touched me a lot in terms of features.
If you could message me with a few hints on how you made your site look this cool, Id be appreciative.
Have you considered adding several social bookmarking links to these sites. At least for bebo.
Healthy Hair Growth- Simple Tricks To Grow Long Hair Without Having Side Effects
Avoid Dry Hair Now With This Particular Amazing Hair Essential Oil
Many of the remarks on this weblog dont make sense.
Wanted to drop a remark and let you know your Rss feed is not functioning today. I tried adding it to my Google reader account and got nothing.
Jesus Christ there is plenty of spammy comments on this web page. Have you at any time thought about attempting to remove them or installing a extension?
Re: Whoever made the comment that this was a good internet site truly needs to possess their head examined.