How to find the best social media agency for your brand

How long have you spent looking at social media today? (Don’t worry, this is a judgement free zone!)

It probably doesn’t come as a shock to you that as of April 2024, the average amount of time we spend checking our socials is 2 hours and 23 minutes every single day.

With 62.3% of the world’s population on social media (your potential customers included), many social-savvy brands are making the most of this increasingly important marketing channel with strategic posts designed to amplify awareness, grow their market share and boost sales.

Whether you’ve already dipped your toe into the water with social media marketing but don’t have the time to regularly post, or would like some help launching your brand’s presence on a new platform, you may be considering hiring a social media marketing agency.

If this sounds like you, read on to find out exactly how to find the best social media agency for your brand…

What is a social media marketing agency?

Simply put, a social media agency is a company that provides social media marketing services to businesses. These services often include creating and managing social media accounts across multiple platforms (think Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram), planning, creating and scheduling content, as well as running paid social media ad campaigns.

You’ll work with a dedicated social media manager who’ll get to know your business – and your competitors’ businesses – inside out, to create a holistic social media strategy as opposed to single, drop-in-the-ocean posts.

If you choose a full service agency – like Bubble! – your social media team may even collaborate with other creative departments within the agency to build multi-channel campaigns across social, SEO campaigns, email and offline channels.

Social media agency vs in-house social media manager

It’s a question we get asked a lot during the pitching stages of new clients. Both sides can bring something to the table, but which is best? Here are a few things to consider…

Cost to hire

Hiring an in-house social media manager may appear more expensive at first glance as their salary presents a bigger upfront cost. Agency hiring fees can vary significantly, and due to ongoing payments may cost more than a new team member in the long-run.

However, when you choose an agency, you’ll often have access to several specialists beyond your main account manager, providing additional value, expertise – and bang for your buck.

With an agency, you’ll save on additional costs for taxes, pensions, national insurance, desk space, IT costs, sick days and benefits – all expenses associated with a new in-house team member.

Experience and expertise

Hiring an in-house social media manager means having someone who knows your business intimately at the helm.

On the other hand, agencies tend to provide a much more diversified set of skills and expertise as they’ve run successful campaigns for a wide variety of industries. Agencies also tend to have the resources to stay in-the-know about how trends and online cultures are evolving day-to-day.

Access to tools and analytics

When you hire a social media manager in house, chances are you’ll also need to invest in a number of tools, including analytics and scheduling platforms. With an agency, this is all part of the package!

Choosing the best social media agency: 8 things to look out for

When choosing the best social media agency for your needs, there are certain things you’ll need to consider, like…

1. Experience and Expertise

Industry Experience: Look for agencies that have experience working with businesses in your industry. This means that they’ll be more familiar with your target audience and competitive landscape.

Platform Expertise: Make sure the agency has proven expertise in the social media platforms most relevant to your business.

2. Services Offered

Range of Services: Assess the range of services offered, such as social media strategy, content creation, community management and analytics.

Competitor Insights: Check whether the agency will keep tabs on the competition so you’re always one step ahead. At Bubble, we can include competitor monitoring as part of your service, but this may be overlooked by some agencies.

3. Strategic Approach

Strategy Development: Understand their process for developing social media strategies. Do they conduct thorough research and provide a clear plan with measurable goals?

Creativity and Innovation: Evaluate their ability to produce creative and engaging content. You could even take a look at the agency’s own social media accounts to gauge if they’re a good fit. (Give the team at Bubble a follow!)

4. Communication and Reporting

Communication Style: Ensure they have a clear and efficient communication process. Regular updates and responsiveness to your queries are crucial.

Reporting and Analytics: Look for agencies that provide detailed and transparent reports on performance metrics. They should use data to continuously optimise campaigns and strategies.

5. Team and Resources

Qualified Team: Find out more about the team that will be working on your account. Are they experienced and specialised in their respective areas?

Resources and Tools: Check if they use advanced tools for social media management and scheduling to streamline processes and improve effectiveness of your campaigns. Here at Bubble, we use one of the world’s leading social media tools for social listening, Brandwatch.

6. Cultural Fit and Values

Company Culture: The best social media agency for your brand will have culture and values that align with your own. There’s nothing like working with an agency that ‘gets’ you!

Transparency and Integrity: Try and find out whether the agency operates with transparency and integrity, providing honest assessments and realistic expectations.

7. Budget and Pricing

Cost Structure: Understand their pricing model, for example, here at Bubble we offer flexible pricing plans to suit your budget.

Value for Money: Assess whether the cost aligns with the value they provide. Sometimes paying a bit more for higher quality means better long-term results.

8. Client Retention and Satisfaction

Retention Rate: A high client retention rate is a good indicator of client satisfaction and the agency’s reliability.

Feedback: Check out their reviews and case studies from past and current clients to work out the agency’s ability to deliver results.

What questions should you ask before hiring a social media agency?

To make an informed decision about whether or not to hire a social media agency, you should get to know them first. Here are a few questions to help you figure out whether they’re the best social media agency for your business…

Who will I be working with?

Get to know the team! It’s important to understand who will be handling your account and whether you’ll have a dedicated point of contact. Building a good relationship with your agency’s team can make a huge difference in how effectively they can represent your brand.

What will I need to provide?

Find out what materials and information you’ll need to supply. This could include brand guidelines, logos, photos, and access to your existing social media accounts. Knowing this upfront will help you prepare and ensure a smooth onboarding process.

How do you develop social media content?

Ask about their content creation process. Do they have in-house designers and copywriters, or do they outsource? Understanding their process will give you insight into the quality and consistency you can expect in your social media posts.

How do you develop a social media strategy?

A good agency should have a clear strategy development process. They should take the time to understand your business goals, target audience, and industry before crafting a tailored strategy. Make sure their approach aligns with your vision and objectives.

Which key performance metrics will you measure?

Metrics matter! Ask which key performance indicators (KPIs) they track to measure success. Common metrics include engagement rates, follower growth, website traffic, and conversions. Knowing this will help you understand how they define and measure success.

Will I get to see social posts before they go live?

It’s important to know if you’ll have the opportunity to review and approve content before it’s posted. This ensures that all posts align with your brand voice and messaging.

Can you post reactive content?

In the fast-paced world of social media, being able to respond to trends and real-time events is crucial. Ask if they have the capability to create and post reactive content to keep your brand relevant and timely.

How will you set my brand apart from competitors?

Find out how they plan to differentiate your brand from the competition. This could be through unique content, innovative campaigns, or a distinct brand voice. Their approach should make your brand stand out in the crowded social media landscape.

Who responds to queries through my social media channels?

Customer engagement is critical on social media. Ask who will be handling responses to comments, messages, and queries. It’s important that the person managing these interactions understands your brand and can respond appropriately.

What kind of results can I expect from organic vs paid social media marketing?

Organic posts are a great tool for gaining brand awareness, whereas paid posts provide more opportunities to directly target potential leads and drive conversions.

What other digital marketing tactics can you support with?

Expanding your digital marketing efforts can help you reach more customers and grow your business. If you work with a full service creative agency, you may also be able to bolt on additional services, including SEO, web design and branding.

5 top tips for working with a social media agency

1. Come prepared

To get the most out of your social media campaigns, you should come prepared to any monthly or weekly meetings armed with the information they might need. You know the ins and outs of your business, from seasonality to customer quirks, and sharing your knowledge ensures an effective campaign with minimal delays.

2. Embrace experimentation

Social media is an evolving marketing channel. There are always new trends and topics to try. Your social media agency might try and push you out of your comfort zone with out-of-the-box posts – and you’ll often find that’s where you yield the best results!

3. Share news

Social media agencies provide more than just a service. It’s a partnership! From team building days to milestone achievements, you’ll need to share your exciting news with your agency to make sure they’re covering the things that matter.

4. Assign a point of contact

Especially in the early days of using a new agency, your social media team will need time to gain a background understanding of your business and what makes your customers tick. Assigning a point of contact means any questions can be swiftly answered and feedback comes from a single source.

5. Trust the process

Like many types of digital marketing, social media strategies take time. You may wait as long as 6–12 months to see financial results while your social team works on building brand awareness.

Let’s get social!

Whatever your social media marketing needs, the friendly experts at Bubble Design have got you covered. We’re a full-service agency with a dedicated team of social media specialists, meaning we’ve got the capacity to align your social strategy with other marketing channels, including email, SEO, PPC and offline marketing.

Want to know if we’re the best social media agency for you? Request a call back and see what we’ve got to offer!