Building a successful brand today requires a strong online presence, and an active, engaging social media presence most of all. More small businesses and startups are recognizing this and setting up Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts. But many owners underestimate how much work goes into managing those accounts well. Gaining traction on social media means producing relevant content, engaging with followers, and posting consistently, and for busy owners, social media is usually the first thing to slip. The best way to prevent that while still growing your following is to hire a social media manager or management company.
A good social media manager knows the major platforms, can produce creative content, respond to followers, and keep your accounts up to date. It's a cost-effective, convenient way to strengthen your presence. But how do you find the right one? As demand has grown, so has the number of people and agencies offering these services, so it's important to make sure they're the right fit before hiring. A great manager is tech-savvy, reliable, trustworthy, and able to juggle many tasks at once. Interview candidates carefully, and ask these key questions:
What makes you different from your competitors?
There's no shortage of social media managers and agencies, which can make choosing one difficult. A strong candidate should be able to answer this question clearly and come prepared with concrete proof, case studies and a solid track record, that sets them apart.
Do you have experience with both social media marketing and customer service?
A social media manager's job is multifaceted. Beyond producing great content, they need to interact with your audience. If your page has incredible content but no sign of engagement, it tells customers you care about image over relationships. Look for someone experienced in both the marketing and customer-service sides, and ask for examples of each.
Have you published your own content?
A qualified manager understands the importance of content creation. One of their biggest responsibilities is producing relevant, engaging content, so ask whether they create it for themselves. Do they have their own blog, or work published on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium? Seeing their own work gives you a sense of what they can do for you.
What are your goals for my accounts, and how will you achieve them?
A common misconception is that social media is just a numbers game. In reality, the quality of your followers and the depth of your engagement matter far more than raw follower counts. If a manager's answer is simply "get as many likes and followers as possible," they're not as qualified as they claim. Look for specific strategies to build a relevant, engaged audience.
Which platforms should we focus on, and why?
This question reveals whether they've researched your brand. A good candidate should arrive understanding what you do and who your audience is, which points to the right platforms. Every platform has different demographics, so the answer should be tailored to your business, not generic. A strong manager can clearly explain why a given platform would or wouldn't work for you.
There are countless benefits to hiring a social media manager: a consistent brand voice, new customers, added credibility, and more. But you'll see none of them if you hire the wrong one. Asking the questions above helps you screen out the inexperienced and find the right fit. Looking for a management company that posts to your pages daily at a low cost? 99 Dollar Social might be the right fit. Check us out here and schedule a call with our team.
