Social Media Marketing Q&A

Ask to see previous examples of their work to gauge if they are able to create the type of content you are looking for. Also ask them to create 3 -5 pieces of content for your company and see if they are aligned with your message and they type of content you want to be putting out there. Ask them how much time they think it will take each month to create the amount of content you require. And finally ask how much it will cost - you don't want to be hit with any hidden costs when you receive the invoice. 

Hi Christine (and Maree)
If the business is just closing for the short term while restrictions are in place then - YES! Definitely keep your social media accounts active. Social media's main purpose in your marketing is not sales promotion, it's for communicating and fostering strong relationships with people to build loyalty. 
Think about how you can continue the conversation with your audience during this time. How you can add value, support them or even just entertain them! 
I would also be considering what ways you can pivot your business to offer services or products remotely. Although one way is now closed, there could be other ways. What are your audience wanting to achieve? How can you help them? 
Now more than ever, social media is important but you need to adjust HOW you use it to remain relevant and appropriate. 

And if the business is closing for good - the question I would have is whether you might start up again in the future with something similar? If so then it's of value to you to keep the social media accounts. You can choose to build your audience in anticpation of launching a new business once this is all over. I would always advise to keep this asset of your business rather than close them down. 
If you absolutely have to, just put them on hold - announce you're going offline for a while but you'll be back. 

Yes I use Pinterest to0 post Images for my clients to see.

It is fascinating that whenever this type of question is
raised that there individuals who respond with essentially unquantified 3rd party examples or references to expert guides published by social media proponents. Never (yes never) have I had the pleasure of reading one attributable quantified response that delivers real data and a commercially realistic ROI.

The total absence of any examples either means that Social Media is so fantastic that everyone who has mastered it now wants to keep their secret, alternatively that it really doesn’t work, and all the hype we are bombarded with is simply snake-oil propaganda peddled by the social media industry.

Is there anyone out there who can provide real evidence to prove me wrong?

@Erik Bigalk shared a great example of a successful social media marketing campaign in this discussion:  https://www.savvysme.com.au/question/4003-How-much-do-social-media-campaigns-cost

Go with google adword

Hi Matthew

There are pros and cons for using a management company versus doing it yourself.

Time and money are big influences, but in my experience the best value is gained by partnering with an expert who is very clear about your audience, your tone and your growth objectives and can then harness this knowledge in a way that not only has you seen in the right places, but builds meaningful connections with your audience.

I strongly believe that the 'flick and stick' approach to posting to social media sends your money quickly down the drain.

I work collaboratively with my clients to determine the level of interaction and contribution we feel adds value without being too time consuming, and then provide them with some structure for doing this consistently.

Ultimately, effective social media marketing demands that you be just that: social. Otherwise, it quickly turns customers off as just another sales pitch.

Good luck!

Megan

This is a question I have also been wondering!