We have reached the final day of the 10 in 10 series and today we answer the question, “What about outsourcing?” If this is your first day checking out the series you can find the links for the first nine days here.  This is somewhat of a thorny issue in the social media space, so we wanted to touch on a few of the reasons we think outsourcing is just fine.

Everyone talks about how the new year allows each of us to start with a clean slate.  We can make a resolution to lose weight, get in shape, or become a better person.  The same can be said for our social media activities as well.  The new year brings the opportunity for us to change some things about our online identity in much the same way as we do offline.  In that spirit we have compiled a list of the top 5 things to consider when outsourcing your social media marketing:

1. I will consider the size of my organization. - Many organizations are simply not large enough to hire someone who's sole purpose is to perform a social media marketing function.  If this sounds like your organization having a conversation with a social media marketing company about your goals is a great first step.  This conversation can help clarify your need for a social media campaign managed by a third party.
2. I will agree to provide access and assistance. – For an outsourcing arrangement to work the social media company will need to have access to data and information about your customers in much the same way that traditional marketers would request information.  You must agree on the front end to providing access and assistance to your marketers.  Social media marketing is much more fluid than traditional marketing.  A social media campaign will not be successful if your social media marketing company does not have the access and assistance from your staff.
3. I will be open to community. – The biggest difference between social media marketing and traditional marketing is the sense of community that evolves from a well executed campaign.  You must be open to receiving criticism and negative feedback from your community.  If you are unwilling to listen to your community they will move on to a competitor that is willing to listen and address their concerns.
4. I will think outside of the box. – Online communities tend to require lots more "free" stuff than offline communities and customers.  You must be willing to give some stuff away for free.  The overall feeling online is that people should share ideas and in some cases tangible goods for free.  This is not to say that you cannot sell items online, but if your product is good and you give it away for free to several people odds are they will tell everyone else that its a good product and sales will increase.  This type of outside the box thinking is a hindrance at first, but when you get used to it, it can be a very valuable tool to increasing your profile.
5. I will be active online. – In order for a social media campaign to work you have to remain active online.  This is the most crucial part of the campaign.  Outsourcing takes the burden of updating and interacting with customers away from you.  This way your brand will remain active online.  If customers show up to your blog, Facebook page, or Twitter feed and see inactivity the odds are they will not be back.

In short: Outsourcing is not a dirty word in social media if it is done correctly.  Outsourcing can help propel your brand through the social media space by eliminating the ramp-up and learning curves.

What have we missed?  Any other things to consider when it comes to outsourcing social media?  Let us know in the comments.