Social media continues to grow and change on a daily basis.  Still foreign to some, social media has changed the way businesses interact with their consumers.  Generating brand awareness to thousands of interested consumers is not an easy task.  But, there are still businesses that think making something "go viral" or growing their social media following is as easy as the click of a button.  This thought process blows the mind of social strategists everyday.  As social media becomes more of a force to be reckoned with, both small and large businesses alike are biting the bullet to invest in social media efforts. But, what is perplexing, is the thought process to some that social media needs no strategy.

That could not be further from the truth.

You would never build a house without a foundation.  So why would you allow a message to be displayed to consumers and potential followers that has not been laid out and crafted to further benefit organizational goals?

Social media is serious and a component of your business that you can't afford to ignore. It is here to stay and will only continue to grow as the world becomes ever more digital. So make sure you are strategic about choosing you social media team!

When seeking an agency or individual to handle your social media needs, we've provided 5 things that strong social strategists will either ask or do as well as what you should know before signing the dotted line.

1. Inquire About Your Goal

9 times out of 10 you are investing in social media to increase brand awareness, but your goals run deeper than that.  When the the time comes to build a plan and create content, your goals will lead the way. Make sure that agencies or consultants have a complete understanding of your goals.

2. Convey Their Social Expertise

Just because someone is great at Facebook and Twitter, doesn't mean they have the skills to handle Reddit.  This doesn't mean they can't consult with others on their team or in the industry to help build your brand, but you should know what you are getting into. Find out what their strengths are to make sure they align with what you are looking for.

3.Provide Realistic Expectations

No one, I repeat no one, can grow your social media following from 5 to 5,000 in a week. If you find them, call me. Or maybe, The Burnette Agency will figure out some magical strategy that blows your mind and increases your followers in record time. But we don't know anyone that has figured that out yet.  At least not with organic growth.  So don't let anyone lie to you. If they do, well, at least you've been warned.

4. Suggest to put a social media plan in place

Your business is important and is extremely valuable. Don't just hand over the reigns of your social presence to someone that is not going to create a plan and course of action on how you will move forward.  Just because they will post twice a day, doesn't mean the content will interact and engage followers.

5. Offer Measurement

With all of the analytics at our fingertips today, measuring the work that is being provided to you is essential.  The numbers won't lie.  In the social media world, ROI often times stands for the Return On Involvement.  But that involvement can still be measured.  And soon, that involvement will grow into an investment that you will be happy you made.

There are so many components and aspects to social media that could make this list go on and on. Every agency is going to be a little bit different and that's okay.  It is what makes each of us unique.  But, we stand by our opinion that these five components are non-negotiables when trying to find great social media agencies and consultants.

For help with your social media or communications needs, email us at info@theburnetteagency.com or call at 404.850.2081.