You see its potential and you know that community management is a fundamental part of your marketing strategy.
Community management has become so much more than just responding to comments on social media. It’s about creating connections between fans and creators, building communities around your work, cultivating brand identity and driving traffic to your website or blog.
With a role that important, should you hire someone in house? Or should you hire an agency?
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both approaches:
What’s the best thing about having an in-house community manager?
You’ll have the advantage of being able to work with someone closely who knows your product or service well enough that they can feel confident sharing their knowledge with others online. Since they’re working on your brand full time, they’re readily available to manage your online communities.
What’s the worst thing about having an in-house community manager?
The biggest drawback of hiring a community manager in-house is the lack of having a team to fall back on. Every community manager has their weaknesses and they need a team to consult with when it comes to more complex customer and PR issues.
Community managers who work for agencies are usually more experienced and have more knowledge about the industry because they’re constantly being exposed to new trends.
What’s the best thing about hiring a community management agency?
The best thing about hiring a community management agency is that we have the expertise and resources to handle any campaign. We are a team with experience in several industries, so we can provide different insights on how to improve your strategy and make your community fall in love with you. Read our blog post on the benefits of hiring a community management agency.
What’s the worst thing about hiring a community management agency?
The biggest risk of hiring an agency is that you can’t control the process. You have to trust them, and depending on what you’re looking for, that might not be ideal. Another potential concern is that they handle many accounts so they won’t always be there to manage your community 24/7.
So, when do you engage a community management agency?
There are many reasons why an agency may be a better fit than in-house community management. Here are some examples:
- If you don’t have the time or expertise to do it yourself, an agency can help you get started with a range of services—from strategy, training and onboarding to ongoing moderation and engagement.
- If you don’t have the budget to hire a community manager, an agency will be able to offer you competitive rates while still providing quality work.
- An agency’s larger team will allow them to scale their efforts as your company grows and expands. Their size also means they can provide more specialised experience than one person can.
Either way, any kind of community management is better than none. Whether they are full-time, part-time, or outsourced, community managers can help you build your brand, generate more revenue, and save your brand’s reputation in times of crisis.
If you’ve decided to hire an agency, our seasoned team at Hearts Agency has got your back. Our specialty is in community management, and over the years, we have mastered the art of creating campaigns that bring results. Get in touch with us and let’s grow a community of avid followers for your brand.