Now, talk to the fellow who invented the SMMA wave. I am speaking of Iman Gadzhi; when he was 18 years old, he founded his social media marketing agency. He scaled it so high that he became a self-made millionaire. Now that you read that, do you realize that for him to be able to sell his services, he needed clients who honestly believed they could scale up their businesses by investing in a good social media agency? Yes, that’s exactly what we’re saying. Your startup too requires an SMMA if you want to scale up your business.
What Is a Social Media Agency?
So, okay, let’s just take the term ‘agency‘ and sort of drill into what that actually is. An agency is basically just a business that is licensed to deliver a service on behalf of another company. So say you run a record company and you want to promote your new artists. You will either hire a public relations expert and bring them in-house, or you’ll go to a PR agency and hire them.
For most companies, of course, the latter choice is the obvious one because when you are hiring someone full-time, not only are you making the decision to pay them, but you’re also making the decision to pay them if they’re sick, to contribute towards their pension. Whereas if you hire an agency, you can fire them at any point; again, there may be a minimum term in the contract, but at least you know the services you’re paying for, and you don’t take on any of the risks of having an employee either. And agency workers tend to be more experienced, right? Because they’re dealing hands-on with a wider range of clients. This is said because they deal with more business types and get encouraged to be updated on the current trends and what’s working.
Therefore, investing in a good social media agency is necessary for your startup. But how can we do that? Let’s look at it below:
Define Your Goals: Start with ‘Why’
Before you start looking for that right agency, fundamentally, you need to know what your objective is. Why would you need a social media agency: brand awareness, lead generation, or traffic to your website? How will you even define success with engagement in your content with your target audience?
For example, if your startup is selling products that are eco-friendly, then your desired outcome could be to create enhanced branding among those who are sensitive to the environment. Knowing what you need will lead you to the right kind of agency that specializes in meeting that specific goal.
The knowledge of your ‘why’ enables the agency to approach and strategize their work so as to meet your expectations.
Experience in Your Niche: Specialization Matters
Experience in your niche is paramount while choosing a social media agency. What’s right for one industry might seem utterly wrong for another. For instance, an agency that has experience in the tech startup niche will know the best ways to craft appealing messages addressed to highly technical audiences. On the other hand, a fashion startup may need an agency skilled in the art of creating gorgeous Instagram campaigns.
Look for agencies that have experience in your industry or with business models similar to yours. Experience in your niche likely translates into a better understanding of your audience, which should result in superior outcomes for you.
Social Network Mastery: Do They Walk the Talk?
A good agency should also have a robust presence on the social media front. At least, if they can’t do an even better job of marketing themselves, how are they going to market your startup? Their own profiles serve as a real-time portfolio. Take a closer look at their engagement, the quality of the posts, and the number of followers.
Are they actively engaging with their target market? Are they on top of trends? Does their copy look creative and rich visually? These are signals for how they will handle your social media accounts.
Client Testimonials: What Others Say Matters
Another important factor in your decision is the feedback from previous clients. You get insight into what an agency can do through testimonials and case studies. You want success stories that indicate they can reach goals close to yours.
For instance, an example of a reference from one of the customers for whom the startup organization saw a 200% spike in engagement after working with this agency will be a good barometer of their effectiveness. If possible, go to your earlier clients and seek to know their experience.
Transparency: Clear as Day
Meanwhile, while you are deciding to hire or not hire a social media agency, you should concentrate on transparency, at least with respect to the work of the agency. That would first mean very transparent pricing, clear communication, and easily understandable reporting of the progress of your campaigns.
No surprise charges. No report was created based on obscure and esoteric methods of measurement. You must understand exactly what you are paying for and what they deliver to you. The agency you choose should be able to deliver what they say and never overpromise but underdeliver.
Creativity and Innovation: Stay Ahead of the Curve
Social media trends are moving way too fast; thus, the agency needs to find innovative ways to operate. Think of an agency that comes up with out-of-the-box ideas, produces new, interesting content, and is on top of every trend that can either go viral on TikTok or interesting, eye-catching stories on Instagram, which in that way separate brands in a crowded marketplace.
Analytical Approach: Data-Driven Decisions
While creativity is so paramount, the shift to evidence-based decision-making also creates genuine momentum for social media strategies. Agencies that are able to use data and analytics to inform their campaigns, track performance, and make adjustments to bring better results into the campaign achieve success. Inquire of the agency if they use metrics such as engagement rates, conversion rates, and ROI to measure campaign success.
A good agency will ensure to provide you with regular reports on key metrics so that you can see the tangible impact of their work.
Responsiveness: Time Is Money
These days, time is money and is fast moving. In how much time do they answer your inquiries? Will they give prompt updates on the campaigns? Social media changes like the speed of light, so you will want an agency agile enough to react to trends and feedback with promptness.
Compatibility: It’s a Relationship
Your agency relationship is more of a partnership. Any relationship is based on compatibility. Is the culture of an agency something you see eye to eye on? Do they share the values and vision of your startup? You will be working closely with them, so make sure they are good at communication and understand what you’re working for.
Future-Proofing: Ready for Tomorrow
The world of social media is constantly changing. Whether it is new sites or new features, your agency needs to be future-proof. They must stay updated with the latest trends in social media and remain prepared to adapt in a way that could suit the change.
For instance, agencies that could update you about the newest trends, like Instagram introducing a new algorithm or the emergence of TikTok as a viral platform, could better aid in making you come out on top in competition.
How Viral Omega Can Help Your Startup Thrive
We at Viral Omega realize what your startup requires to get a strong footing in the digital world. Here’s how we can aid you:
- Customized Social Media Strategies: A Lebanese restaurant received our customized approach and saw a 40% increase in footfall.
- Budget-Friendly Solutions: It is cost-effective and scalable according to the budget size of your startup.
- Audience Engagement: For a real estate CRM company, our Facebook ads brought in 25% more qualified leads.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Analytics-driven strategies pave the way for the right success.
Let Viral Omega be your strategic partner to drive growth and success! Read more success stories here.
Hiring a social media agency saves time, provides expertise, and ensures your startup effectively reaches target audiences, drives engagement, and achieves growth through tailored strategies and data-driven approaches.
Identify your needs like brand awareness, lead generation, or sales. Clear goals will guide the agency in creating a strategy that aligns with your business objectives.
Look for agencies with experience in your industry or niche. Their understanding of your market will ensure they create relevant, effective campaigns.
A good agency should be responsive within 24-48 hours. Quick communication reflects how they’ll handle real-time issues for your campaigns.
