Social Media Agency or In-House: What’s the Best Move for Your Brand?
Let’s face it - managing social media in 2024 is no joke. Between constant algorithm changes, new platforms popping up, and all the content you need to pump out, it’s easy to feel like you’re always playing catch-up.
It can be daunting to figure out your social media strategy by yourself, and even more daunting to figure out if it’s working or not. You need a team, but you’re unsure if you should build one in-house or outsource to an agency.
Let’s chat about what it looks like to build your own team or hire an agency, and spoiler – both options have their perks, but only one might be the right fit for your business.
Skills: Generalists vs. Specialists
In-House Team: Your in-house social media team is like the Swiss Army knife of marketing. They probably know a little bit about everything - content creation, posting, maybe some basic analytics - but they may not be masters of any one area. Sure, they’ll keep your feeds active, but when it comes to serious growth or mastering things like Facebook Ads Manager or Instagram’s evolving algorithm, they might hit a wall.
Agency: When you hire a social media agency, you’re not just getting a couple of content creators - you’re getting a whole squad of experts. We’re talking strategists, ad specialists, analytics gurus, and content creators who live and breathe social media. If you need to be aggressive with your goals (whether it’s engagement, reach, or conversions), an agency’s got the specialized skills to make it happen.
Costs: DIY Expenses vs. One-Stop Shop
In-House Team: Building an in-house social media team means paying salaries, benefits, and the cost of tools (social media schedulers, analytics platforms, design software - you get the idea). And if you want someone with specialized skills? Expect to pay top dollar or shell out for extra training. Plus, don’t forget the hidden cost of managing it all…..time!
Agency: Hiring an agency can seem pricey upfront, but remember, it’s often a one-stop shop. You pay one fee for a full team of experts, access to premium tools, and no extra costs for training or new hires. In the long run, you might actually save money while getting more bang for your buck. You’re paying for results, not extra baggage.
Flexibility: Can You Keep Up?
In-House Team: Your in-house team might be awesome during calm times, but what happens when you need to scale up for a big campaign or handle a social media crisis? Your team might not have the bandwidth to go all-in, which can leave you scrambling for freelancers or temporary hires and they don’t know your business through and through. 😬
Agency: Social media agencies thrive on flexibility. Need to scale up quickly for a product launch? No problem. Need to pause or slow things down for a bit? Easy. Agencies can shift gears and adapt to your needs without missing a beat. No stress about juggling extra hires or overwhelming your in-house crew - an agency has got it covered.
Tools & Technology
In-House Team: Running social media in-house means you’re on the hook for all the tools. Think scheduling apps, design platforms, and analytic dashboards. Those tools can get expensive, especially when you need upgrades or fancy new features. And don’t forget, someone on your team needs to learn how to use them, so more training costs.
Agency: Agencies already have the top-tier tools, and you get to use them - without paying extra. From analytics platforms that track every like, comment, and share to design software that makes your posts look straight-up professional, agencies have everything they need to get the job done. Plus, they know how to use these tools to their full potential, which means you get better results, faster.
Speed & Efficiency
In-House Team: Your in-house team knows your brand, and that’s great. But speed isn’t always their strong suit. If your social media team is juggling multiple roles or responsibilities, things can move at a snail’s pace. Need a quick pivot or a fast response to a trending topic? Your team might not be able to react in real time.
Agency: Agencies are built for speed. Whether it’s hopping on a trending topic, adjusting an underperforming ad campaign, or launching a brand-new initiative, agencies move fast. Their teams are structured to be agile and efficient, and they can execute new strategies in a fraction of the time it might take an in-house team.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Here’s the deal: choosing between an in-house social media team and a social media agency comes down to what your business needs right now. CLEARLY we think agency is the way to go. But truth be told, here is the most transparent advice we can give. Ask yourself this ONE question: “Am I willing to let go of control and trust experts?” If your answer is “no” that’s okay - we understand that it’s hard to let go of that control and sometimes it’s just not a good time to let it go. But, that means you aren’t ready for an agency and you should hire in-house instead. When you’re ready to fully trust your hired agency for the experts that they are, it’s most often a smarter move.
In-House Team:
✔️ Great for larger businesses with the resources to hire, train, and manage a team.
✔️ Dedicated to building your brand’s social media presence from the ground up.
✔️ Perfect if you need your hands involved and want to have a higher level of control.
Agency:
✔️Perfect for businesses that want access to a team of experts, more flexibility, and better tools. ✔️Faster results without the long-term commitment or overhead costs.
The bottom line? If you’re looking to grow your social media presence with a highly specialized team, agencies are often the better bet. But if you want to keep things super personal and have the budget to build a team, going in-house can work too!
Not ready to build out an in-house team but still want people who care about your business? Contact us to see how we can transform your social media game that actually meets your goals!
For more straight-to-the-point conversations, head over to our Instagram!
Until next time,
The HM Team
