The case for—and against—outsourcing social media

If you work at a marketing communications agency, one of your clients has probably told you they do not have budget for [insert marketing campaign here]. Instead, they will rely on social media. If you are a marketing director, you may have even said that to one of your suppliers.

Social media is so time-consuming it is hard to see why experienced business people view it as a low investment proposition. There is definitely a cost involved when internal staffers are dedicated to the task. Social media is also fraught with challenges, especially when you consider the serious missteps some brands have made, such as Kenneth Cole’s recent tweet regarding a possible airstrike on Syria.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both outsourcing social media and do-it-yourself. How do you pick the best approach for your organization? To help you decide, here is a short summary of the case for—and against—outsourcing social media marketing.