What can a social media manager do for a business?
- Olivia Molton
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
Today’s blog post will give an overview of what you can expect a social media manager to do for your business if you’re looking to hire one. With everyone on social media nowadays, it may not seem like a “real job” but as you’ll find out, there’s a lot that can go into crafting a social media presence for a business.
What does a social media manager actually do?
Simply speaking, social media managers (which I’ll refer to as SMMs from now on) run your social media accounts so you don’t have to. Running your own business is hard enough without having to worry about social media marketing too. If you’ve given it a go, you’ve likely felt the immense overwhelm that’s looming over you, knowing that you need to stay consistent but also put out good content. There are so many different things to master when it comes ton making quality content that you end up spending more time doing that than your actual business! That’s
why it can be better for your business (and your sanity) to be able to offload all that work onto someone who has the time to invest into it all.
The work of a social media manager can be split into three general categories:
Account Management
The admin parts of social media that involve replying to comments, direct messages (DMs) and proofreading. It’s the little things that all add up to hours in your week (not to mention they’re usually the more boring parts!). One of the advantages of working digitally is that this can easily be done without ever meeting in-person, giving you so much choice in who to work with!
Content Creation
This involves actually making the content that appears on your accounts. It typically includes planning, shooting, editing and writing content like photos and videos. Some SMMs also include graphic design in this, think infographics and text posts. While a lot of SMMs aren’t professional photographers, they will have the knowledge to take photos that are meant for viewing on a phone. If you currently enjoy taking photos and videos though, you’ll likely be able to negotiate a more joint approach to content creation. It really depends on your industry and how many photo opportunities your business has day-to-day. Depending on your distance from the SMM, this is sometimes the only way content can be shot. If this is the case, the SMM should provide specific guidance for shots that they require.
Management & Creation
The most common combination SMMs offer is a mix of the above services. Because social media requires an array of skills to run smoothly, this makes the most sense in the majority of cases. There are also skills that I’d argue require both sides of SMM, such as content strategy and search engine optimisation (SEO). In my personal opinion, this is the best way to manage social media because both sides of the role complement each other. This is especially important if you’re looking for a SMM that can handle everything with minimal to no external help.
It’s for this reason that Ashen Rose Design offers both account management and content creation in one handy package, so you don’t have to worry about outsourcing multiple people.
Why do people hire a social media manager?
I’ve already hinted at the stress that running social media on top of your existing business can be, but there are reasons more specific to social media that motivate entrepreneurs to seek a SMM.
Engagement
For people not well-versed in social media, getting people to actually interact with your posts can be difficult. Trends change by the day and people go on social media to be entertained. The result? We have to give the people what they want to stand out from our competitors. SMMs balance memes, educational and relatable content with brand identity to craft your unique digital presence on each individual platform. Because social media changes so quickly, it’s vital that a SMM is just as, if not more, adaptable. Applying the correct approach to the correct app consistently results in building likes, shares, comments and followers.
Online Professionalism
It’s no mistake that planning and executing content takes a long time, even for professionals. Although I just spoke about how important engagement can be, it’s as important that your account looks shows that there’s a person behind the screen operating the business. This doesn’t mean telling your life story, but showing that you’re a professional business who customers can trust. Especially for businesses that exclusively operate online, your digital image can be the difference between someone booking with you or choosing your competitor. Therefore, it’s important that you maintain your brand image across all digital platforms and ensure continuity. Often your social media is the first exposure someone will have to your business, making it as important as your website or shopfront.
Local brand awareness
If you’re a business that includes local operations, you’ll obviously need your community to know you exist. Physical flyers can be effective, but especially in today’s digital age, you also need a social media presence to show that you’re the one to go to. This means creating content that will make someone down the road want to come to you, like showing off your rows of stock or the results of your services. It’s also a great way to connect with your customers as they can develop a sense of familiarity with you, making them more emotionally invested in your brand. Not to mention it’s far easier for someone to leave a comment than it is to visit or call if they have a quick question.
Is it worth paying for a social media manager?
Did you really think I’d say no? Ultimately, it’s up to your budget and whether you trust someone else to capture the essence of your business! But, I’d say that if you’re serious about building your online presence, then it’s something definitely worth looking into. There are a lot of SMMs who all offer slightly different things so it’s important to compare packages to what you want out of it. The most common method is a monthly retainer package, where you pay a set fee for a month of work. Because building a social media audience takes time, many SMMs will only allow a contract of multiple months at a time. It’s also worth noting that although SMMs will manage your accounts, it doesn’t mean that they have free rein! While we’re the experts, our job is to work with you. That’s why it’s so important to not feel obliged to go with the first SMM you speak with if you’re not completely sold. Have a snoop at their About page, their portfolio and have a chat to see if you’ll be a good fit. Most SMMs understand that their services can be a big investment (especially for smaller businesses) and should be happy to answer any queries you have!
For example, I make it clear that I am open to discussing the kind of service I’d provide anyone who shows interest in my services. I send out a questionnaire out to get a better understanding of where they’re at in their social media journey, then we then meet in-person or virtually and discuss their answers in further detail. It’s only after I’ve sent a proposal that I’ll send over a contract for them to sign. A contract is a good piece of mind, as it ensures the SMM will also uphold their end of the bargain.
Looking for a social media manager?
With all that being said, I’d love to have a chat if you’re looking for a SMM. I offer a bronze, silver and gold package that include both social media management and content creation. I also offer content creation commissions if you want to customise a package further, or just want to try my services before you commit to a package.
I’ll also take the time to highlight that that I don’t use artificial intelligence (AI) at any point in the ideation, creation and analysis of my SMM work. All the work you get from me has been created by myself.
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