We are living in the era of social media. You will see people browsing through social media on a bus or during a lunch break in the office. They are being bombarded with advertising campaigns from social media companies. Businesses can take advantage of massive internet usage. They can market their products or services to a huge audience. But what should your marketing style be? Should you invest in a social media company or follow DIY marketing? Well, there is no strict answer here. Let us compare both of them in detail:
Can DIY Match Professional Skill?
DIY means you are doing everything – here you will be the leader. When you take the DIY route, you will be dependent on your team’s skills. Most of the time, it follows the concept of: learning as you go. In this way, marketing will be under your control, and you will get flexibility; it also means getting into multiple hurdles.
There will be a lot to work on – content creation, scheduling, analytics, and customer engagement. These are just a few aspects of marketing. Even if you take advantage of the free tutorials and tools, it would be hard to keep up with the changing social media algorithms. Following the trends as soon as they come is not a small feat.
Social media companies can be active in this aspect. They have a team of strategists, designers, and analysts who will bring up campaigns according to your audience’s demands. For example, they know how to utilize Instagram’s Reels or TikTok trends. This can skyrocket your engagement. A 2023 survey revealed that 73% of marketers who worked with agencies reported higher ROI compared to those managing campaigns solo. If you value professional execution social media companies will be the safe side.
Upfront Savings vs. Long-Term Efficiency
Cost is the aspect that many people rely on. This is the deciding factor between picking a DIY or outsourcing your work. At first glance, DIY will be a cheaper option. You can use free tools such as Canva to design posts and free scheduling apps to manage your calendar.
Yet, hidden costs are what people will ignore. They will come up in the form of time and possible mistakes. A poor ad campaign will waste hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. If this happens, your team will spend hours creating content instead of focusing on the major business functions.
Now, let’s talk about social media companies. They will demand upfront investment as they often optimize budgets better than in-house efforts. What’s the best part? You will get access to premium tools (such as advanced analytics platforms). They have the power to create high-performing ads that guarantee that your money is spent wisely. Over time, this efficiency can make outsourcing more cost-effective than DIY trial-and-error. If you have a limited marketing budget, the trade-off comes down to if you can afford the time required to make DIY successful.
Time Requirements
Handling social media is more time-intensive than most people realize. This is not a piece of cake. People assume that you just have to post photos or videos. But here is what you actually have to work on:
- Research your audience.
- Analyze competitors.
- Set up a content calendar.
- Design fascianting posts.
- Write compelling captions.
- Respond to comments and messages.
- Track the performance metrics.
Small businesses mostly have limited staff, so this workload will get them overstated. It will ruin the productivity levels. According to a report, 46% of marketers say they spend six or more hours per week managing social media. This pulls their focus from other critical areas of the business.
Social media companies take this burden off your shoulders by handling these tasks for you. They come with a loyal team to turn around campaigns quickly. This way you can focus on growing your business.
Scalability of the Business
DIY marketing can work well if you are just starting out or targeting a small audience. Yet, if you own a business that is growing, or it has a large audience, this is not suitable. As your business scales, so do your social media needs. You have to create campaigns for multiple platforms and target variable demographics. Even more, managing the ad spend across channels requires resources that many small teams simply don’t have.
Social media companies are capable of handling growth. They can modify strategies for new platforms and even expand your brand to international markets. They will manage the complex campaigns without any hassle. For example, an agency will utilize influencer marketing with paid ads to increase brand awareness and conversions.
Results and ROI
In the end, the influence of your social media marketing is decided by your results. DIY marketing gives you full control, but if you dont have analytical you will misinterpret metrics. This way, you will miss opportunities for improvement.
Social media companies are exceptional at measuring ROI. They use advanced tools to track engagement, clicks, conversions, and ad performance in real-time. Plus, they will highlight the trends and modify their campaigns to improve their impact. Professional social media companies know that video content performs 30% better than static posts and adjust their tactics accordingly.
With DIY marketing, you cannot get to this level of precision. It demands extensive experience and tools that are typically cost-prohibitive for small businesses.
When to Choose DIY Marketing?
DIY marketing is suitable for your business if:
- You have a small team with some social media experience.
- You are working with a limited budget.
- Your focus is on local or niche audiences.
- You have the time to learn and experiment with strategies.
When to Hire a Social Media Company?
Social media companies are suitable if:
- You dont have the time and skills to manage campaigns.
- Your business is scaling quickly and demands strong social media profiles.
- You want to maximize ROI on your ad spend.
- You are competing in an oversaturated industry.
Final Verdict: Which One Wins?
In the end, the decision is yours. You have to consider if you prefer a long-term investment or quick savings. This is also dependent on your business’s demands and resources. If you have the skills and time, DIY can be a rewarding way. Yet, for most businesses, the results social media companies bring to the table are hard to match.
Though this is a good upfront, the long-term benefits will outweigh the costs. In the world of social media, the brands that succeed are the ones that never stop learning. Contact ALAANAK to get a free quote.
