Hiring a social media content manager is a major step for a business owner, especially if you’re used to doing everything yourself. While wearing all the hats in your business may seem stylish at first, let me tell you, they get old FAST! 

Taking on every role for your business may work for a bit, but at some point, you’re going to be the one thing standing in your way of growing your business. And when you’re ready to hit that net growth milestone and start scaling, the logical next step is outsourcing! 

One of the first – and most common – things business owners outsource is their social media, and in this post, I’m going to show you why (and what to look for when you’re ready).

Get Honest With Yourself

Before we go down this road, I’m curious to know. Does this sound like you?

• You notice you no longer have time to be consistent on social media.
• When you do show up, you don’t have the time or tools to post quality content.
• You’re no longer engaging with your audience, so you’re not seeing any engagement, traffic, or leads in return.
• You’re barely gaining new followers. (Sure, it’s not the most important metric, but follower count is still a growth indicator!)
• You feel anxious or overwhelmed at the mere thought of creating social media content or even opening those apps.
• You don’t understand why everyone around you seems to be so successful on social media because you’re not seeing results from your efforts.

If found yourself nodding along, wondering how I know you so well, you’re ready to hire a social media manager! Let’s break down what to look for when hiring an Instagram social media manager.

1. History of Success as a Social Media Content Manager

What does a social media manager do? And what don’t they do?! First the abbreviated answer: A social media manager develops social media marketing strategies, creates content, and maintains audience engagement. However, these pieces are part of a much larger puzzle that has a couple of purposes, like:

• Helping clients grow organic brand awareness and authority
• Improving client or customer engagement in more meaningful ways 
• Driving traffic to your website, offers, products, services, courses, etc. 
• Enhancing a business’s overall digital presence

If you’re looking to hire a social media manager, you’ll want to ask about their success with past clients. But remember that success goes beyond just growing accounts! (Notice how I didn’t include increasing followers on the above list?) When you’re prepping your interview questions for social media manager, make sure you ask your social media content manager candidates if they know how to drive traffic into your business’s marketing funnel and understand how to leverage social media to make you money. Because that’s what real success looks like!

2. Experience in Your industry

Feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to find a manager for your brand? Focus on social media content managers who have experience in your industry (or similar niches). Let’s say you’re an eco-conscious clothing brand. You probably wouldn’t hire an Instagram social media manager who has only worked with big-box retailers! If you hire a social media manager who knows your industry, you’ll already be one step ahead, as they’ll have a good feel for your industry and what works in terms of strong content. Plus, you won’t have to spend as much precious time onboarding or explaining the basics because they’ve done it all before. They know exactly what it takes to show up strategically in your unique industry.

3. Knowledge of Social Media Strategy and Marketing

Ready for a truth bomb? Posting on your feed every day and liking as many photos as possible is NOT a strategy! Read that again. 

While posting every day and liking feed content may get you a boost in visibility, and even followers, it isn’t strategic or sustainable. If a social media content manager tells you that you must post every day to be successful, run! 

Instead, hire an Instagram manager who has deep knowledge of social media strategy and how it fits into an overall marketing mix. A badass Instagram social media manager will create a strategy that focuses on your target audience. They’ll know how to get your content in front of the right people at the right time. They’ll research and use relevant hashtags for your business – not random ones that have nothing to do with your brand. And a social media manager who understands social media strategy will connect you with your dream clients, so more money lands in your bank account. (My personal favorite!)

4. Passion for Analytics

Analytics. You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. If you fall into that second category, it’s probably time to hire a social media manager. What good is a social media strategy if you don’t know or understand the results?! (Hint: It’s no good!) Your social media content manager should fully understand all the social media metrics – not just follower count. Not only should they understand engagement rate, impressions, and reach, but they should use this data to constantly improve and tweak your content strategy so it’s as impactful for your audience as possible. If you’re somewhere between love, hate and a little curious to learn more about Instagram analytics, read this article from Later.

5. Creative Content Creator

Being creative on social media is crucial for your business. Check out the content your potential social media content manager posts on their account. And definitely don’t be afraid to spy on clients they manage! Pay close attention to how the content looks and how it makes you feel. Does every piece of content look the same? What about the quality? Do the captions grab your attention? Is the content just blah? Red flags! 

You want a social media manager who can create and suggest content that speaks to you and your personality, reflects your brand, and resonates with your audience. P.S. It’s 100% okay to request a portfolio before hiring an Instagram manager. You can check out my portfolio here.

6. Adept with Social Media Manager Tools for Scheduling and Communication

As a remote social media manager, knowing how to leverage social media management tools is critical. From in-platform analytics to native and third-party scheduling tools, a successful social media manager is also a master of systems.

I also know how important it is for clients to get in touch with me quickly (and vice versa), so you’ll want to consider how your prospective social media manager communicates with clients. Do they limit communications? Are they only available via email? You need to know! If you prefer one communication method over another, be honest about it so you can decide if they’re a good fit for you and your business early on.

I love providing knowledge, and I hope this post answers two important questions for you: “What does a social media manager do” and “What do I look for in a social media content manager?” If you’re ready to hire a social media manager, these tips will definitely help you make the right decision for your business. Still feeling stuck? Check out my social media management services and let’s get to work!