How to Outsource Social Media Marketing Without Losing Control

Social media marketing has become an essential part of building a business. It’s where your audience is, where they interact with brands, and where they make buying decisions. But let’s be real: keeping up with your social media while juggling the day-to-day operations of your business can feel like a full-time job—because it is. Between creating content, engaging with followers, analyzing metrics, and staying on top of trends, it’s no wonder so many business owners feel overwhelmed.

Outsourcing social media marketing has become an attractive option for many businesses looking to free up time while still maintaining an active and engaging presence online. But outsourcing can feel intimidating, especially when you're concerned about keeping control over your brand’s voice, message, and direction. The good news is, with the right approach, you can outsource social media marketing without losing control. Let’s explore how you can do this effectively.

What Is Social Media Outsourcing?

Social media outsourcing involves hiring external experts, whether freelancers, agencies, or virtual assistants, to manage your business’s social media marketing. It’s the process of delegating social media responsibilities to someone else so that you can focus on other areas of your business.

This could mean hiring a social media manager to create and schedule posts, handle customer interactions, or develop ad campaigns. It could also mean working with a team of virtual assistants who can take care of specific tasks like managing your Facebook community or crafting engaging tweets.

For example, let’s say you run a small local bakery. You might not have the time to post daily about your fresh products or engage with customers online. By outsourcing, you could hire a freelance social media manager who will handle those tasks, leaving you to focus on baking and running the store. This approach ensures that your business stays active online without pulling you away from your core operations.

Outsourcing does not mean that you give up all control. Instead, it’s a partnership where you retain oversight of your brand’s identity while delegating the daily management to professionals who know how to get the best results.

What to Consider When Outsourcing Social Media

When you decide to outsource your social media marketing, it’s crucial to consider a few things to make sure the process runs smoothly. Here’s a breakdown of the most important factors to consider:

1. Your Goals and Objectives

Before outsourcing, you should have a clear understanding of your goals. Are you trying to increase brand awareness? Drive more traffic to your website? Improve engagement with existing customers? Once you know your objectives, you can choose an outsourcing provider that specializes in meeting those needs.

For example, if your primary goal is increasing sales through Facebook Ads, you’ll need someone with expertise in Facebook’s advertising platform. If you want to build community engagement on Instagram, look for someone experienced in crafting highly shareable posts and running interactive campaigns.

2. Your Budget

Outsourcing costs can vary depending on the scope of work and the provider. Freelancers may charge hourly or per project, while agencies often have set packages. Consider what fits your budget, and remember, quality matters. Don’t just go for the cheapest option; focus on the value you’re getting for the price.

For instance, a freelancer might be a good fit for smaller, more hands-off tasks like scheduling posts or responding to comments. However, if you need more complex services such as running multi-channel campaigns or developing a full social media strategy, a virtual assistant agency like Smart Vas might be the better choice.

3. Experience and Expertise

Look for someone who knows your industry and your audience. An experienced social media manager can craft content that resonates with your target market. Ask potential outsourcing partners about their previous work and whether they have experience in your field.

For example, if you run a fitness business, you’ll want someone who understands how to speak to health-conscious individuals. If you own an online store, a social media manager with e-commerce experience could be more effective at running ad campaigns that convert followers into customers.

4. Communication and Reporting

Communication is key when working with an external team. Ensure that your outsourcing provider keeps you in the loop with regular updates, reports, and progress reviews. You’ll want to have a clear line of communication to make any necessary adjustments along the way.

Whether through weekly check-ins or using collaborative tools like Trello or Slack, staying connected ensures that you remain in control while having the flexibility to make changes or provide feedback when needed.

How to Successfully Outsource Social Media for Your Business

Successfully outsourcing social media marketing comes down to preparation, clear communication, and ongoing collaboration. Here’s how you can ensure that things run smoothly:

1. Set Clear Expectations

The first step to outsourcing social media marketing is to clearly outline your expectations. Share details about your brand’s voice, target audience, and the types of posts you want to see. This includes things like tone (formal or casual), content themes (product promotions, behind-the-scenes, customer stories), and posting frequency.

The more specific you are with your expectations, the easier it will be for the outsourcing team to understand your vision. If your company’s voice is professional and formal, let them know. If you want more casual, engaging content, be upfront about that too.

2. Create a Social Media Strategy

A solid social media strategy is crucial for long-term success. Collaborate with your outsourcing provider to create a strategy that aligns with your business goals. A comprehensive strategy includes objectives, target audience analysis, content themes, a posting calendar, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

For instance, if your goal is to increase website traffic, your strategy should focus on creating content that drives clicks, such as blog post snippets or calls to action that direct followers to your website. The strategy should also include a content calendar that outlines the specific posts and campaigns you want to run each month.

3. Use Collaborative Tools for Transparency

In order to keep things running smoothly, use collaborative tools that allow you to review content, track progress, and ensure everything is on track. Tools like Google Drive, Asana, Teamwork, or Trello make it easy to track tasks, set deadlines, and share documents with your outsourced team.

This transparency ensures you can approve content before it’s posted and have a clear understanding of your outsourcing partner’s workload and progress.

4. Monitor Results and Provide Feedback

Outsourcing doesn’t mean you can completely step away. While your provider handles the execution, you still need to monitor performance and provide feedback. Regularly check key metrics such as engagement rates, follower growth, and traffic to your website to ensure that the social media efforts are aligning with your business goals.

For example, if engagement rates are low on Facebook but high on Instagram, this might signal that you need to adjust your content strategy or target audience on Facebook. Providing feedback allows you to maintain control and adjust the approach as necessary.

How Much Does It Cost to Outsource Social Media Marketing?

The cost of outsourcing social media marketing varies depending on the level of expertise required and the amount of work involved. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

1. Freelancers

Freelance social media managers usually charge between $500 to $2,500 per month, depending on the scope of the work. This price range typically includes content creation, scheduling, and basic engagement tasks.

2. Agencies

Agencies tend to be more expensive, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $10,000+ per month. Agencies typically offer full-service packages, including strategy development, campaign management, reporting, and ad management. They may also manage multiple platforms at once, giving you a comprehensive approach to social media marketing.

It’s essential to factor in your business goals, the complexity of your social media needs, and your budget when selecting an outsourcing option.

Outsource Your Social Media Marketing with SmartVAs

At SmartVAs, we specialize in providing a team of virtual assistants to help businesses handle their social media marketing without sacrificing control. Our VAs are trained to handle everything from content creation and post-scheduling to engagement and analytics, leaving you free to focus on growing your business. But more than that, we also have separate VAs who can handle graphic design, video editing, and even Google and Facebook Ads, to make sure the content you put out there reaches its full potential.

Whether you’re looking for someone to manage just one platform or an entire social media strategy, we offer flexible packages that suit your needs and budget. Our VAs work as an extension of your team, ensuring that your brand’s voice is consistent and your social media efforts are aligned with your business goals.

Ready to take the hassle out of social media marketing? Let’s connect and make outsourcing your social media management simple and stress-free. Book a call now!

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What tasks can I outsource in social media marketing?

You can outsource tasks like content creation, scheduling posts, responding to comments, running ad campaigns, tracking performance metrics, and engaging with followers.

2. Can outsourcing handle all my social media platforms?

Yes, outsourcing can handle multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even platforms like TikTok or Pinterest. Just make sure the person or agency you hire is experienced with the platforms that matter most to your business.

3. How do I measure the success of outsourced social media marketing?

Success can be measured by looking at engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments), follower growth, website traffic, and lead generation. You can also track conversions from ads or sales directly linked to social media campaigns.