DIY Social Media Management Vs Outsourcing: Are You Saving Cost?

Fact: 70% of businesses today use social media to connect with their customers. Here’s another: Many business owners take the initiative to manage their social media accounts themselves (after all, who knows your brand better than you?). Surely, there are situations where this can be ideal, like for a small, local business with a well-defined target audience. However, here is another fact:  DIY social media management isn’t always cost-effective, as it often comes with hidden costs that can negate any initial savings. 

Managing an effective social media presence requires more than just posting the occasional update. It’s a strategic endeavour that demands time, expertise, and resources. These are hidden costs that negate any initial savings you may get from not outsourcing your social media needs. 

Let’s explore this in more detail.

Hidden Costs Associated with DIY Social Media Management

There are at least 5 hidden costs you will have to pay if you decide to handle your social media management by yourself. We mention 5 key ones below;

Hidden Cost #1: Time Investment

Have you ever spent hours scrolling through social media trends, trying to figure out what to post, only to end up with a couple of hastily thrown-together updates? Yeah. That happens. The DIY approach to social media can be a deceptively massive time sink. Here’s a breakdown of where the hours can disappear:

• Researching Trends and Best Practices: Social media algorithms and audience preferences change constantly. Keeping up requires dedicated time to research the latest trends and updates.
• Creating Engaging Content: Consistently churning out compelling copy, eye-catching graphics, or high-quality videos is no small feat. It requires creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of what resonates with your audience.
• Scheduling and Optimization: Determining the best posting times and maintaining a regular schedule takes planning and the use of scheduling tools.
• Community Management: The real magic of social media lies in engagement. Responding to comments, answering questions, and participating in conversations is crucial but time-consuming.

Remember, every hour spent on social media is an hour lost for core business tasks like product development, sales, and client interactions. For business owners and entrepreneurs, time is often your most valuable resource. Ask yourself, is DIY social media management the best use of your time?

Hidden Cost #2: Missed Opportunities

Beyond the significant time investment, DIY social media can lead to missed opportunities for growth, brand awareness, and audience engagement.  For example, social media management requires understanding the algorithms and targeting. Without this expert knowledge, your posts may get lost in the noise, limiting your reach and potential engagement. Again, agencies understand deeply how to leverage trending topics, seasonal events, and platform-specific features for maximum impact. A DIY effort might lack this strategic focus.

These missed opportunities translate to lower brand visibility, limited audience growth, and reduced sales potential. Simply, if you’re not fully leveraging the capabilities of social media platforms, you risk missing out on valuable opportunities to connect with potential customers and grow your business.

Hidden Cost #3: Employee Burnout (or Underperformance)

Assigning social media management to an existing employee on top of their regular workload is a recipe for trouble. It increases workload and can lead to stress and burnout, resentment, and decreased productivity across all aspects of an employee’s job.

Again, unless your employee is passionate and experienced in social media, the quality of the content and management will likely suffer, reflecting negatively on your brand. It may also lead to a neglect of core responsibilities when an employee is stretched thin. 

Hidden Cost #4: Inconsistent Brand Voice

Your brand voice is how you communicate your business’s personality, values, and mission. A strong and consistent brand voice across social media platforms is crucial for building brand recognition and trust. When you’re juggling social media in-house, it’s easy for this consistency to slip. And when a brand is inconsistent in its communication, it can cause customer confusion, diminish trust,  and dilute your brand identity, making it harder for people to remember and recognise your business.

Hidden Cost #5: Wasted Resources

DIY social media can lead to wasted financial resources in various ways through ineffective ad campaigns, under-utilised design software and premium stock subscriptions. If you’re investing in these tools and resources without the knowledge to utilize them effectively, you’re essentially throwing money away.

The Benefits of Outsourcing: A Counterpoint

By now, it’s clear that DIY social media can come with significant drawbacks. Outsourcing your social media management to a reputable agency offers numerous advantages:

• Expertise and Focus: Outsourcing gives you access to specialised professionals with years of experience and a deep understanding of social media best practices for each platform.
• Proven Strategies: Professionals implement data-driven strategies to maximize growth and ROI.
• Time Savings: By outsourcing to an agency, you free some time to focus on what you do best – running your business.
• Consistent, High-Quality Content: Agencies ensure your brand voice is polished and consistent across platforms, enhancing overall brand perception.

The Right Investment for Your Business

If you’re struggling with managing your social media, it might be time to consider outsourcing as a strategic investment. Rather than sinking time and resources into something that isn’t yielding the results you want, partner with experts to elevate your online presence and achieve your business goals.

Ready to take the next step? GrowTally would love to discuss how a customized social media strategy can transform your business. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!